July 2026 Medical Director Report

Pikes Peak Ethics Committee Meeting

• First Friday of every month at noon.
• Please consider bringing a case to the meeting. It’s a great opportunity to discuss difficult cases with your peers in LTC, share experiences, and learn from each other.
• Email me if you would like to be added to our email list to receive the agenda and reminders about the meeting.
• https://zoom.us/j/97461641616?pwd=YPpJU1ZHMG3bTChSVxAcD9gb39qVaY.1

Antibiotic Stewardship

There has been increased scrutiny from survey teams about antibiotic stewardship. I think that at last one tag has been issued related to the following concerns. I need to get more details, but I think the scrutiny has been centered around the following:

• Having a clinical note from the prescribing doctor/NP/PA outlining the reason/indication for the antibiotic
• Documentation of the duration of antibiotic administration
• Documentation of clinical evidence justifying the use of the antibiotic

Cyclosporiasis – Food born illness outbreak

National Overview

• Nearly 7,000 cases of cyclosporiasis confirmed or under investigation across at least 34 states as of mid-July 2026
• 1,645 confirmed domestic cases since May 1, 2026
• Lettuces and salad greens identified as the likely source
• Michigan most heavily affected with over 3,300 cases
• 141 hospitalizations nationwide reported, no deaths
• Outbreak began May 1, 2026

Colorado Section

• Approximately 150 confirmed cases year to date as of mid-July 2026
• Colorado cases are NOT part of the multistate outbreak
• Vast majority of cases linked to food exposures during international travel
• No evidence of increased risk from produce sold in Colorado
• No specific domestic produce supplier or type identified in Colorado cases
• Case count slightly higher than typical year but not outbreak-level

Candida auris

• Update the status of drug resistant Candida
• I have reviewed one case of a person for admission who had resistant candida auris.

TB Case in Colorado

There may be at least onc case of TB in Colorado. See the Dener Post article for details.

Please make sure our TB testing, monitoring, and risk assessments are up to date.

• Adams County investigates tuberculosis at Aurora ICE detention center

• Health officials confirm active tuberculosis case at Aurora ICE facility, DHS says no active cases – CBS Colorado

Capacity

Here is a capacity evaluation form for your general use if you need one.