VCU-UVA Infectious Diseases Case Conference Fall 2017: The Tradition Continues

Yesterday we hosted the Fall session of the Virginia Commonwealth University - University of Virginia Clinical Case Conference. The twice yearly event was resuscitated after a nearly 20 year hiatus. Images from the event, hosted at the VCU Alumni House, are below.

Why do it? 

Because rarely does one person, group or organization 'have it all.' We learn through collaboration, dialogue and the sharing of expertise. Plus, collegiality leads to an output which is greater than the sum of the parts.

Thank you to UVA ID Division Chair Dr. Bill Petri for his ongoing collaboration. A special thanks to Dr. Jane Cecil for running the event.

Last, a very special thanks to my two assistants Peggy Andrews and Krystle Shaw. Without them much of my professional agenda would be chaotic and unfulfilled.

The 3rd Annual Gordon Archer Research Day, a VCU ID Division function, is around the corner. 

Stay tuned.

L-R: Dr. Jane Celic, Peggy Andrews and Krystle Shaw

Drr. Jane Cecil

Case Conference

Writers, Poets, Artists and Collectors: The Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is a city of writers, poets and artists. 

Some, like writer Oscar Wilde, add to culture by creating, others, such as Sir Chester Beatty, add by collecting- so that the rest of us may have a chance to marvel at rare books and manuscripts.

The Chester Beatty Library, quite possibly the largest private collection of manuscripts and books from antiquity to the present, is on display as a public museum.For those who are captivated by books and reading this is the place to be.

Back to the USA and back to the consult service tomorrow.

Statue of Oscar Wilde in Merrion Square

Bram Stoker Festival 2017: Dublin, Ireland- Royal College of Surgeons Lecture

By happenstance I learned of the annual Bram Stoker Festival celebrating one of Dublin's many famed writers and obtained tickets to attend a lecture titled 'Slayers and their Vampires' at the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland. The lecture was held in the Aula Magna, the Albert Lecture Theatre.

The academic panel included Bruce McClelland, Maura McHugh and David Skal, a Bram Stoker biographer.The discussion covered the the historical, folkloric and metaphorical aspects of the Dracula story. It was unlike any other academic lecture I have ever attended at a medical college.

Images are below.

Perhaps Virginia Commonwealth University should host an annual Edgar Alan Poe festival.

Albert Lecture Theatre, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland

Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland

Thank You University of Nebraska Infectious Diseases Blog!

Thank you to Dr. Jasmine Marcelin for her kind blog post regarding my medical grand rounds lecture last week at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

I thoroughly enjoyed the event, summarized here.

I am still in Ireland, blogging light.

Literary Fascination! Dublin, Ireland

I like books, as previously posted, so forgive me this aside. 

I am currently in Dublin, Ireland, where I visited the famed Trinity College, viewed the Book of Kells exhibit and strolled along The Long Room, of the institution's vaunted library. Later, a stroll to the pubs frequented by Samuel Beckett, James Joyce and Oscar Wilde.

Images below.

Grand Rounds at University of Nebraska Medical Center: Infection Prevention: Processes, Pragmatism and Controversies

University of Nebraska Medical Center Campus

Arriving early at the Durham Research Center auditorium, prior to loading the slides

Thank you to Dr. Mark Rupp and the rest of the infectious diseases, infection prevention and healthcare quality team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for graciously hosting me as the invited grand rounds speaker on October 20, 2017.

My lecture, titled Infection Prevention: Processes, Pragmatism and Controversies, covered much of what is interesting to me in infection prevention. Of course, the presentation heavily referenced pragmatism, bias in hospital  epidemiology and a satisfice approach to infection prevention. So as not to disappoint, the use of gowns and gloves and the  de-escalation of contact precautions was explored along with physician apparel, bare below the elbows and accountability. 

Thank you to the audience for listening.

Discontinuation of Contact Precautions: Back in the Literature

Like a recurrent bad dream for some, the discontinuation of contact precautions for the control of endemic MRSA and VRE is back in the medical literature.  

A meta-anlysis, published here, by Alex Marra, once again suggests that the cessation of contact precautions for the control of endemic MRSA and VRE is without adverse consequences.

My colleague Mark Rupp also published this manuscript in ICHE summarizing the University of Nebraska's positive experience with the discontinuation of contact precautions for the control of endemic MRSA and VRE.

I am off to the University of Nebraska Medical Center tomorrow, to give an invited medical grand rounds lecture on infection prevention- policies, pragmatism and controversies.

I might just talk about the discontinuation of contact precautions too.