Tracking drug-resistant germs in nursing homes
Genomics of MDRO Transmission in Nursing Homes
This project will use genetic testing of germs taken from residents, staff, and the environment to find how drug-resistant infections spread in nursing homes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332679 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to provide simple swabs (for example from your nose or skin) and allow staff to collect samples from common areas and your room; the team will sequence the germs' DNA to see which infections are linked. They will combine that genetic information with admission records, movement, and care data to map how infections move through a facility. The project will compare different drug-resistant organisms (like Candida auris and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales) to see whether problems come from new admissions, the environment, or direct person-to-person spread. The goal is to learn the best places and ways to test and clean so nursing homes can reduce infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are residents (and staff) at participating nursing homes who can provide swabs and allow environmental sampling in their rooms and common areas.
Not a fit: People who do not live in participating nursing homes, cannot or do not want to provide samples, or whose infections are unrelated to the MDROs studied may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help nursing homes target testing, cleaning, and infection-control steps to reduce drug-resistant infections among residents.
How similar studies have performed: Genomic tracing has successfully mapped hospital outbreaks and helped control spread, but applying this approach in nursing homes is newer and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Earl, Ashlee Miriam — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Earl, Ashlee Miriam
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.