Awards

CDPH Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Gold Honor Roll badge

GOLD LEVEL · DECEMBER 2024

CDPH Antimicrobial Stewardship Honor Roll

Recognized by the California Department of Public Health for optimizing antimicrobial use and preventing resistance and C. difficile infections.

Featured project: transitions of care. Partnering with street medicine to support patients with complicated infections who have substance use disorders or are experiencing homelessness.

Watch the project presentation

 

Recent Publications

2026

Feeling the Vibes: An Investigation Into Resident Antibiotic Prescribing Practices
Dickson DA, Jordan JM, Vijayan T.
Open Forum Infect Dis. 2026;13(2):ofag017  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
You've Got a Friend in Me: Curbside Questions Infectious Diseases Clinicians Ask Infectious Diseases Pharmacists
Davis MR, Kufel JE, Kufel WD, McCreary EK, Oleksiuk LM, Ours R, Pham CU, Ross JK, Smith EA, Trisler MJ, et al.
Clin Infect Dis. 2026;82(1):58-61  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Clinical impact of plasma cell-free DNA metagenomic next-generation sequencing testing in neonatal and infant populations
Pithia N, Kesavan K, Lee A, Yang S, Kaur I.
Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2026;6(1):e201  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Clinical utility of serial plasma cell-free DNA metagenomic next-generation sequencing assays
Kaur I, Shaw B, Multani A, Malhotra S, Dong HV, Lukose C, Prabaker K, Saleh T, Sim YB, Tymchuk CN, et al. (incl. Uslan DZ).
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2026;47(3):325-327  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Discrepancy between reference phenotypic and genotypic detection of metallo-β-lactamase in Aeromonas spp
von Bredow B, Trejo M, Ward KW, Trieu KP, Santellan CA, Garner OB, Yang S, Chandrasekaran S.
J Clin Microbiol. 2026;64(6):e0127225  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Emergence of a novel genotype of extensively drug-resistant [organism] carrying [AmpC gene] in diverse patient populations, Los Angeles, 2024-2025
Gonzalez-Ferrer S, Shaw B, Fung L, Landovitz RJ, Uslan DZ, Yang S.
Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2026;6(1):e19  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Multicenter performance evaluation of the Simplexa C. auris Direct assay for the detection of Candida auris colonization in bilateral axilla/groin swabs
Sepehri S, Schindel B, Silbert S, Rowe L, Marchese A, Willison E, Garner O, Chandrasekaran S, Berry GJ, Chandrasekaran A, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2026;64(8):e0174125  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Cefepime and Mortality-A Dosing Problem, Not a Drug Problem
Uslan DZ, Smith EA.
JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(9):e2632904  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Fosmanogepix treatment for coccidioidomycosis under an expanded access program
Cohen SH, Allyn P, Chow FC, Rathe J, Nanayakkara DD, Hutfles G, Vijayan T, Smith EA, Saling CF, Ilges D, et al.
Clin Infect Dis. 2026  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Response to: Pediatric Coccidioidomycosis: Disease Spectrum and Implications for Antifungal Therapy
Malhotra S, Krogstad P.
J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2026;15(7)  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Successful Bacteriophage Treatment of a Recalcitrant Intra-Abdominal Infection Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a 2-Year-Old Child
Malhotra S, Salazar KC, Pithia N, Kaur I, Adachi K, Ramachandar N, Terwilliger AL, Maresso A, Venick RS, McDiarmid SV, et al.
J Pediatr. 2026;291:115005Case report  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Clinical and operational impact of a four-year-long bronchoscopy-associated pseudo-outbreak of [nontuberculous mycobacteria]
Prabaker K, Zhuo R, Malhotra S, Yang S, Match C, Turay S, Bluntson E, Walton S, Dogan T, Uslan D.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2026;47(4):1-7  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Infection Surveillance at 50: Are We Still Measuring What Matters?
Uslan DZ.
Ann Intern Med. 2026Letter/Commentary/Editorial  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI

2025

Reducing Antimicrobial Use at the End of Life-When to Open the Door
Vijayan T.
JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(9):e2530987  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Incorporating microbial cell-free DNA testing into healthcare-associated invasive fungal infection surveillance: benefits and challenges
Uslan DZ, Kaur I, Garner OB, Yang S.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2025;46(5):445-448Review  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Real-world clinical impact of plasma cell-free DNA metagenomic next-generation sequencing assay
Kaur I, Shaw B, Multani A, Pham C, Malhotra S, Smith E, Adachi K, Allyn P, Bango Z, Beaird OE, et al. (incl. Chandrasekaran S, Chan L, Garner O, Kanatani M, Uslan D, Vijayan T).
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2025;46(5):504-511  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Defining antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods and breakpoints among Achromobacter species
Harris H, Stambaugh H, Jacobs E, Bhalodi A, Chandrasekaran S, Cole NC, Lu J, Tekle T, Humphries R, Simner PJ.
J Clin Microbiol. 2025;63(6):e0026425  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Outbreak of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in a Southern California hospital
Garrigues JM, Gray HK, Ison RP, Uslan DZ, Lima A, Gonzalez-Ferrer S, Trejo M, Zhuo R, Matysiak Match CJ, Ulloa ER, et al. (incl. Prabaker K, Garner OB, Chandrasekaran S).
Am J Infect Control. 2025;53(9):977-984  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin G Antibody Titers in Contemporary Lots of Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Fresh Frozen Plasma Compared With COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma
Smith EA, Javier GM, Multani A, Beaird OE, Gaynor P, Yanagimoto-Ogawa L, Schaenman J, Allyn P, Alfarhat G, Vijayan T, et al. (incl. Garner O).
Clin Infect Dis. 2025;80(6):1269-1271  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Coccidioidal Meningitis in Children: Should Intravenous Liposomal Amphotericin be Added to Fluconazole Therapy?
Malhotra S, Krogstad P.
J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2025;14(12)  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Comparative Effectiveness of Long-Acting Lipoglycopeptides vs Standard-of-Care Antibiotics in Serious Bacterial Infections
Goodman-Meza D, Weiss RE, Poimboeuf ML, Feng J, Vijayan T, Martinello M, Matthews GV, Dore GJ.
JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(5):e2511641  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Pearls and Pitfalls of Intrathecal Amphotericin B Therapy for Refractory Coccidioidal Meningitis in Children: An Illustrative Pediatric Case Series
Malhotra S, Adachi K, Fallah A, Johnson R, Kaur I, McCarty J, Ross L, Krogstad P.
Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025;44(11):e414-e418Case report  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Guiding Clostridioides difficile Infection Prevention Efforts in a Hospital Setting With AI
Tang S, Shepard S, Clark R, Ötles E, Udegbunam C, Tran J, Seiler M, Ortwine J, Waljee AK, Nagel J, et al. (incl. Baang J).
JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(6):e2515213  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI

2024

Executive Summary: State-of-the-Art Review: Use of Antimicrobials at the End of Life
Karlin D, Pham C, Furukawa D, Kaur I, Martin E, Kates O, Vijayan T.
Clin Infect Dis. 2024;78(3):493-495  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
State-of-the-Art Review: Use of Antimicrobials at the End of Life
Karlin D, Pham C, Furukawa D, Kaur I, Martin E, Kates O, Vijayan T.
Clin Infect Dis. 2024;78(3):e27-e36Review  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Elucidating the Clinical Interpretation and Impact of a Positive Plasma Cell-Free DNA Metagenomics Test Result-A Single Center Retrospective Study
Vinh Dong H, Saleh T, Kaur I, Yang S.
J Appl Lab Med. 2024;9(1):14-27  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Informing estimates of probability of Clostridioides difficile infection for testing and treatment: expert consensus from a modified-Delphi procedure
Baghdadi JD, Wessel M, Dubberke ER, Lydecker A, Claeys KC, Alonso C, Coffey KC, Durkin M, Gonzales-Luna AJ, Guh AY, et al. (incl. Vijayan T).
Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2024;4(1):e168  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
A simple and sensitive test for Candida auris colonization, surveillance, and infection control suitable for near patient use
Banik S, Ozay B, Trejo M, Zhu Y, Kanna C, Santellan C, Shaw B, Chandrasekaran S, Chaturvedi S, Vejar L, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2024;62(7):e0052524  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Cluster of extensively drug-resistant Shigella sonnei carrying blaCTX-M-15 in Los Angeles, California, 2023 to 2024
Caldera JR, Shaw B, Uslan DZ, Yang S.
Am J Infect Control. 2024;53(4):524-526Case report  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Factors Associated With Poor Clinical and Microbiologic Outcomes in Candida auris Bloodstream Infection: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Jimenez A, Rosa R, Ayoub S, Guran R, Arenas S, Valencia N, Stabile JC, Estepa AT, Parekh DJ, Ferreira T, et al. (incl. Prabaker KK).
Clin Infect Dis. 2024;79(5):1262-1268  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Microbiology Profiles and Antibiotic Susceptibility in Pediatric Microbial Keratitis
Cheng MY, Chea PD, Latifi G, Garner OB, Deng SX, Fung SSM.
Cornea. 2024;44(9):1113-1118  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Implementation of contact precautions for multidrug-resistant organisms in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era: An updated national Emerging Infections Network (EIN) survey
Howard-Anderson JR, Gottlieb LB, Beekmann SE, Polgreen PM, Jacob JT, Uslan DZ.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2024;45(6):703-708  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI

2023

Infections and antimicrobial prescribing in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the first pandemic wave
Chan L, Gupta S, Sacco AJ, Kasule SN, Chaffin H, Feller FF, Mi L, Lim ES, Seville MT.
Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2023;3(1):e75  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
The PEST (Pathology, Epidemiology, Severity, Treatment) approach to optimizing antimicrobial therapy
Davar K, Vijayan T.
BMC Med Educ. 2023;23(1):316  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Using an Antibiogram Profile to Improve Infection Control and Rational Antimicrobial Therapy in an Urban Hospital in The Gambia, Strategies and Lessons for Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Darboe S, Mirasol R, Adejuyigbe B, Muhammad AK, Nadjm B, De St Maurice A, Dogan TL, Ceesay B, Umukoro S, Okomo U, et al. (incl. Garner OB).
Antibiotics (Basel). 2023;12(4)  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Variation in Treatment of Pediatric Tuberculosis Infection in Different Provider Settings
Malhotra S, Dasgupta-Tsinikas S, Yumul J, Kaneta K, Lenz A, Kizzee R, Bihm D, Jung C, Neely M, Guevara RE, et al.
J Pediatr. 2023;259:113419  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Clinical Whole-Genome Sequencing Assay for Rapid Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex First-Line Drug Susceptibility Testing and Phylogenetic Relatedness Analysis
Shaw B, von Bredow B, Tsan A, Garner O, Yang S.
Microorganisms. 2023;11(10)  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Clinical next-generation sequencing assay combining full-length gene amplification and shotgun sequencing for the detection of CMV drug resistance mutations
von Bredow B, Caldera JR, Cerón S, Chan JL, Gray HK, Garner OB, Yang S.
J Clin Virol. 2023;165:105520  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Domestically Acquired NDM-1-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Southern California, USA, 2023
Gray HK, Beaird OE, Smith EA, Schaenman JM, Yang S.
Emerg Infect Dis. 2023;29(11):2382-2385Case report  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigella flexneri 2a, California, USA, 2022
Caldera JR, Yang S, Uslan DZ.
Emerg Infect Dis. 2023;29(7):1473-1475  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Nosocomial infections by diverse carbapenemase-producing Aeromonas hydrophila associated with combination of plumbing issues and heat waves
Gray HK, Bisht A, Caldera JR, Fossas Braegger NM, Cambou MC, Sakona AN, Beaird OE, Uslan DZ, Walton SC, Yang S.
Am J Infect Control. 2023;52(3):337-343  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Preliminary evidence for sustained efficacy of CFTR modulator therapy with concomitant rifabutin administration
Hong E, Parsons SM, Sass L, Epstein C, Chan L, Brown C, Eshaghian PH, Beringer PM.
J Cyst Fibros. 2023;23(3):519-523Case report  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Successful Treatment of Prolonged Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in Patients With Immunodeficiency With Extended Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir: Case Series
Breeden M, Aitken SL, Baang JH, Gravelin M, Kaul DR, Lauring AS, Petty LA, Gregg KS.
Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023;10(4):ofad189  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI

2022

Case Report and Genomic Analysis of Cefiderocol-Resistant Escherichia coli Clinical Isolates
Price TK, Davar K, Contreras D, Ward KW, Garner OB, Simner PJ, Yang S, Chandrasekaran S.
Am J Clin Pathol. 2022;157(2):257-265Case report  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Clinical, microbiological, and genomic characteristics of clade-III Candida auris colonization and infection in southern California, 2019-2022
de St Maurice A, Parti U, Anikst VE, Harper T, Mirasol R, Dayo AJ, Garner OB, Prabaker KK, Yang S.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2022;44(7):1093-1101  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Pregnancy: A Case Series
Richley M, Rao RR, Afshar Y, Mei J, Mok T, Vijayan T, Weinstein S, Pham CU, Madamba J, Shin CS, et al.
Obstet Gynecol. 2022;139(3):368-372Case report  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
On variants and vaccines: The effectiveness of Covid-19 monoclonal antibody therapy during two distinct periods in the pandemic
Srinivasan V, Weinstein SE, Bhimani A, Clemons NC, Dinolfo M, Shin CS, Grier J, Lopez A, Braggs J, Boucher J, et al. (incl. Garner OB, Vijayan T).
PLoS One. 2022;17(12):e0278394  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Utilizing new subdefinitions to improve the identification of preventable central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs)
Hsueh L, de St Maurice A, Uslan DZ.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2022;44(3):523-524Letter/Commentary/Editorial  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI

2021

Antibiotic prophylaxis in beta-lactam allergic patients undergoing cesarean and vaginal delivery: An opportunity for stewardship
Furukawa D, Douglas N, Hsu J, Davis M, Pham C, Kanatani M, Vijayan T.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021;43(10):1514-1515  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Evaluation of antibiotic escalation in response to nurse-driven inpatient sepsis screen
Furukawa D, Dieringer TD, Wong MD, Tong JT, Cader IA, Wisk LE, Han MA, Gupta SM, Kerbel RB, Uslan DZ, et al.
Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2021;1(1):e59  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Pharmacist driven antibiotic redosing in the emergency department
Payne-Cardona M, San Luis VA, Aazami R, Dermendjieva M, Erin M, Kirkwood J, Tong C, Marks G, Smith EA, Torbati SS, et al.
Am J Emerg Med. 2021;50:160-166  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Clinical Impact of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing of Plasma Cell-Free DNA for the Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Hogan CA, Yang S, Garner OB, Green DA, Gomez CA, Dien Bard J, Pinsky BA, Banaei N.
Clin Infect Dis. 2021;72(2):239-245  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Finding a needle in a haystack: The hidden costs of asymptomatic testing in a low incidence setting
Srinivasan V, Gohil SK, Abeles SR, Yokoe DS, Cohen SH, Ramirez-Avila L, Prabaker KK, de St Maurice AM.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021;43(10):1525-1526  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Randomized Trial Evaluating Clinical Impact of RAPid IDentification and Susceptibility Testing for Gram-negative Bacteremia: RAPIDS-GN
Banerjee R, Komarow L, Virk A, Rajapakse N, Schuetz AN, Dylla B, Earley M, Lok J, Kohner P, Ihde S, et al. (incl. Garner OB, Chandrasekaran S, Kanatani M).
Clin Infect Dis. 2021;73(1):e39-e46  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Validation, Implementation, and Clinical Utility of Whole Genome Sequence-Based Bacterial Identification in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory
Price TK, Realegeno S, Mirasol R, Tsan A, Chandrasekaran S, Garner OB, Yang S.
J Mol Diagn. 2021;23(11):1468-1477  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Clinical Whole Genome Sequencing for Clarithromycin and Amikacin Resistance Prediction and Subspecies Identification of Mycobacterium abscessus
Realegeno S, Mirasol R, Garner OB, Yang S.
J Mol Diagn. 2021;23(11):1460-1467  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Deceiving Phenotypic Susceptibility Results on a Klebsiella pneumoniae Blood Isolate Carrying Plasmid-Mediated AmpC Gene
Realegeno S, Ward K, Garner OB, Yang S.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021;11:561880Case report  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Genomic Characterizations of Clade III Lineage of Candida auris, California, USA
Price TK, Mirasol R, Ward KW, Dayo AJ, Hilt EE, Chandrasekaran S, Garner OB, de St Maurice A, Yang S.
Emerg Infect Dis. 2021;27(4):1223-1227  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Infectious Keratitis Isolates and Susceptibility in Southern California
Gupta K, Unhale R, Garner OB, Deng SX, M Fung SS.
Cornea. 2021;41(9):1094-1102  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Investigation of Phylogeny and Drug Resistance Mechanisms of Elizabethkingia anophelis Isolated from Blood and Lower Respiratory Tract
Larkin PMK, Mortimer L, Malenfant JH, Gaynor P, Contreras DA, Garner OB, Yang S, Allyn P.
Microb Drug Resist. 2021;27(9):1259-1264Case report  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Multicenter Clinical Evaluation of Vitek 2 Meropenem-Vaborbactam for Susceptibility Testing of Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Dwivedi HP, Franklin S, Chandrasekaran S, Garner O, Traczewski MM, Beasley D, Procop GW, Tuohy M, Wilson D, Bala Y, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2021;60(1):e0161021  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Risk Factors for Klebsiella Infections among Hospitalized Patients with Preexisting Colonization
Rao K, Patel A, Sun Y, Vornhagen J, Motyka J, Collingwood A, Teodorescu A, Baang JH, Zhao L, Kaye KS, et al.
mSphere. 2021;6(3):e0013221  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
The Path of More Resistance: a Comparison of National Healthcare Safety Network and Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute Criteria in Developing Cumulative Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Reports and Institutional Antibiograms
Viloria Winnett A, Srinivasan V, Davis M, Vijayan T, Uslan DZ, Garner OB, de St Maurice A.
J Clin Microbiol. 2021;60(2):e0136621  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Utilization of whole genome sequencing for resolution of discrepant Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug susceptibility results: A case report
Realegeno S, Adeyiga O, Winston DJ, Beaird OE, Garner OB, Yang S.
IDCases. 2021;26:e01308Case report  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Monoclonal Antibodies for Early Treatment of COVID-19 in a World of Evolving SARS-CoV-2 Mutations and Variants
Pogue JM, Lauring AS, Gandhi TN, Marshall VD, Eschenauer GA, Nagel JL, Baang JH, Zhou S, Valesano AL, Petty LA.
Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021;8(7):ofab268  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI
Updates and Opinions in Diagnosis and Treatment of Clostridioides difficile in Pediatrics
Malhotra S, Mohandas S.
Curr Treat Options Pediatr. 2021;7(4):203-216Review  ·  PubMed  ·  DOI