Book Review and JAMA Letter to the Editor

Photo Credit: Dr. Dan Diekema- HAI Controversies Blog

Thank you to Dr. Dan Diekema of the University of Iowa for this generous review of our textbook on the highly visited HAI Controversies Blog. We (the book editors) appreciate the kind words. Here is a photo from our 'book launch' at ID Week 2017.

Now, for words that were less than enthusiastic on our behalf (with my colleagues Dr. Dan Morgan and Dr. Richard Wenzel) I refer you to this Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) letter to the editor that was recently published. Our response follows immediately. The letter to the editor was a counterpoint to our JAMA Viewpoint on contact precautions for endemic pathogens (MRSA and VRE) published in summer 2017

Here is my perspective, again: mandates should be backed by the highest quality evidence possible. Short of high quality evidence, we should strive for pragmatic infection prevention practices that are sustainable and play out in the real world. These practices should match local needs and resources.

I prefer honest, scientific dialogue over dogma.