Follow-Up Blood Cultures: When Should We Do It?

This episode of the SHEA Podcast, presented by the SHEA Community Healthcare Epidemiologists and Stewards (CHES) group, explores career paths and professional growth in healthcare epidemiology and infection. Moderator Dr. Katie Passaretti is joined by Dr. Erica Shenoy and Dr. Louann Bruno-Murtha to discuss their career paths, key challenges, and strategies for success in infection prevention. The guests share insights on training for a career in healthcare epi, the biggest IPC challenges they face—staffing shortages, maintaining core practices post-pandemic, and constant disruptions—and how they find support through SHEA, CHES resources, and professional networks. They wrap up with advice for those entering or advancing in the field. Tune in for expert perspectives on thriving in healthcare epidemiology!

In this episode of the SHEA Podcast, moderator Dr. Sheetal Kandiah, Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Emory University Hospital, explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in antimicrobial stewardship with Dr. Richard Medford, ECU Health’s Chief Medical Informatics and Digital Health Officer (CMIDHO). Dr. Medford discusses how AI-driven tools are transforming antibiotic stewardship, improving prescribing accuracy, patient outcomes, and resistance management. The conversation highlights current applications, including predictive analytics and clinical decision support, as well as the impact of big data on stewardship programs. The episode also examines real-world successes where AI has optimized antibiotic use and enhanced patient care, along with key challenges in AI adoption, such as data reliability, ethical concerns, and provider trust. Looking ahead, Dr. Medford shares insights on future AI advancements that could further shape antimicrobial stewardship and healthcare innovation.

In this episode of The SHEA Podcast, host Dr. Leila Hojat is joined by Dr. Pretti Jaggi and Dr. Emily Spivak to explore the growing intersection of antimicrobial stewardship and sustainability in healthcare. The discussion highlights how stewardship programs can reduce the environmental impact of antibiotic production and use, particularly by addressing pharmaceutical waste. The guests share insights into how optimizing antibiotic use promotes more efficient resource utilization, contributing to a broader sustainability agenda. They emphasize the alignment of combating antibiotic resistance with the goals of sustainable healthcare, underscoring the long-term benefits of this synergy. Interdisciplinary approaches, blending antimicrobial stewardship with environmental science and public health, are highlighted as promising solutions to infectious disease management. The conversation also delves into future innovations in stewardship practices, including advancements in technology and collaboration, which are expected to drive significant progress in sustainable healthcare.

In this episode of The SHEA Podcast, Past President Dr. Tom Talbot sits down with SHEA’s 2025 President, Dr. David J. Weber, to discuss his inspiring journey in the field of infection prevention and control. Together, they discuss Dr. Weber’s background, his career path, and the experiences that shaped him as a leader. Dr. Weber also shares his perspective on balancing a demanding career, volunteer commitments to SHEA, and personal responsibilities. Finally, he outlines his vision for SHEA during his presidential year, focusing on fostering inclusivity, advancing the implementation of effective practices, and promoting the dissemination of evidence-based scientific knowledge to improve healthcare outcomes.

In this episode of The SHEA Podcast, Dr. Maroya Walters moderates an engaging discussion on the Colorado Antimicrobial Stewardship Endeavor (CASE), a collaborative between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Children’s Hospital Colorado. CASE supports hospitals across Colorado in implementing the CDC’s Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs to combat antimicrobial resistance. Guests include Dr. Lauren Biehle, Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacy Lead; Dr. Michael Bozzella, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Physician; and Dr. Joana Dimo, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellow. They share how CASE has grown from 17 hospitals in 2021 to 42 hospitals today, offering mentorship, workshops, and evidence-based tools like the Firstline app and CARE PATH adherence tools. Key topics include CASE’s origins in a statewide needs assessment, the roles of public health departments and hospitals in driving stewardship, and initiatives supporting rural and critical access hospitals through the CASE Collective. The team highlights the collaborative’s measurable impact on antibiotic use and patient outcomes and shares plans to expand their reach to underserved populations. The episode concludes with practical advice for hospital epidemiologists and public health professionals looking to develop similar collaboratives. Interested in learning more? Go to: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/antimicrobial-stewardship-endeavor-case

In this episode of The SHEA Podcast, SHEA Journal Club Chair and moderator Hannah Imlay is joined by guests Jennifer Cihlar and David Cluck to discuss two of the most impactful articles reviewed by the journal club this year. The first article, "Bacteremia From a Presumed Urinary Source in Hospitalized Adults With Asymptomatic Bacteriuria" by Advani SD, Ratz D, Horowitz JK, et al., examines the clinical implications of asymptomatic bacteriuria in hospitalized adults. The second article, "Identifying Effective Durations of Antibiotic Therapy for the Treatment of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales Bloodstream Infections: A Multicenter Observational Study" by Soto CL, Hsu AJ, Lee JH, et al., explores optimal antibiotic treatment durations for these challenging infections. Join us for an in-depth discussion on the findings and clinical impacts of these studies.

This episode of The SHEA Podcast is joint collaboration with The American Society for Microbiology (ASM). Today’s moderator, Dr. Francesca Lee, interviews Dr. Laura Filkins from ASM and Dr. Dan Morgan from SHEA. Listen as our guests discuss how the overuse or misuse of diagnostic tests impacts patient care and the potential ramifications in a healthcare setting, as well as common challenges or misconceptions surrounding diagnostic testing, and how diagnostic stewardship can reduce healthcare costs, improve patient outcomes and preventing potential harm associated with unnecessary testing.

This is Ep. 2 of SHEA's two-part series, Impact of Blood Culture Practices on Antibiotic Stewardship & HAI Surveillance & Management. This episode focuses on the controversy surrounding follow-up blood cultures after initial bacteremia episodes. The frequency of obtaining blood cultures and their role in scenarios like leukocytosis and fevers will be explored. Speakers: Joshua Thaden, MD, PhD Rachel Wattier, MD, MHS Moderator: Hana Winders, PharmD, BCIDP

This is Ep. 1 of SHEA's two-part series, Impact of Blood Culture Practices on Antibiotic Stewardship & HAI Surveillance & Management. Speakers discuss effective preventive measures for reducing healthcare-onset bacteremia rates. Speakers: Mark Rupp, MD Anna Sick-Samuels, MD, MPH Moderator: Patricia Pichilingue-Reto, MD, FAAP, AAHIVS

On today’s episode of The SHEA Podcast, Dr. Jorge Salinas is joined by Joseph Perz and Melissa Cumming for a conversation on the existing public health infrastructure for addressing healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance. Listen as they discuss public health’s role in healthcare, specific to communicable diseases, as well as how public health programs interact with partners—such as healthcare systems, professional associations, or quality improvement organizations and how to create effective partnerships.