# Endemic and Emerging Multidrug Resistant Organisms in Nursing Homes: A Neglected Clinical Setting

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · 2022 · $41,914

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Individuals receiving care in nursing homes disproportionally experience adverse outcomes due to
multidrug-resistant organisms. This investigation will focus on an endemic and virulent pathogen common to
nursing homes – methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and a highly emerging antibiotic
resistant fungus – Candida auris, both of which have been linked to substantial morbidity and mortality in U.S.
nursing homes. While MRSA has been a major prevention target in hospitals, little has been done to address
this pathogen in nursing homes despite the fact that nursing homes have a 3-fold higher MRSA prevalence
than hospitals and MRSA carriers in nursing homes have a 40% risk of infection per year.
Risk in nursing homes due to MRSA is now compounded by C. auris, which has been termed the
“fungal MRSA” due to similar transmission characteristics, including a remarkable propensity to colonize the
body and persist on surfaces for prolonged periods. C. auris has been associated with intractable outbreaks in
nursing homes with high attributable mortality; 5-10% of known carriers develop invasive infections and 30-
60% of those with invasive infection die as a result. Thus, determining which nursing home residents are at
greatest risk for MRSA and C. auris carriage is crucial for effective response and control.
The overall goal of this proposal is to generate novel data on MRSA and C. auris carriage and
contamination in nursing homes to inform interventions to control these important pathogens. The first
objective is to identify nursing home facility characteristics and resident risk factors associated with MRSA and
C. auris carriage. Results from this objective could target high-risk residents for screening and prevention
activities. The second objective is to determine if high-contact care activities (e.g., dressing, bathing) for MRSA
and C. auris carriers cause contamination of high-touch objects in their immediate environment. If so, focused
post-activity cleaning could be important to reduce MRSA and C. auris contamination and mitigate spread.
 I (Gabrielle Gussin, MS) am pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Health at the University of California, Irvine. This
F31 fellowship will enable me to bridge my previous Master’s training in Systems Biology with skills in
epidemiology, clinical research, and population health. I will be mentored by a multidisciplinary team with
expertise in clinical infectious diseases, epidemiology, multidrug-resistant organisms, public health, nursing
home operations, and biostatistics to support my proposed aims and career goals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10537752
- **Project number:** 1F31AI172386-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Gabrielle Gussin
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $41,914
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-06-27 → 2025-06-26

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10537752

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10537752, Endemic and Emerging Multidrug Resistant Organisms in Nursing Homes: A Neglected Clinical Setting (1F31AI172386-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10537752. Licensed CC0.

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