Improving Antimicrobial Use in the Hospital Setting by Providing Usage Feedback to Prescribing Physicians

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Forest W. Arnold ◽  
L. Clifford McDonald ◽  
R. Scott Smith ◽  
David Newman ◽  
Julio A. Ramirez
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Local Hospital ◽  
Antimicrobial Prescribing ◽  
Physician Compliance ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Antimicrobial Management

Objective.To determine whether feedback on antimicrobial use improves physician compliance with local hospital guidelines on antimicrobial prescribing.Design.In this time series analysis, in which a historical control period was compared with an intervention period, all orders for antimicrobials (except those for surgical prophylaxis) placed from November 1, 2002, through April 30, 2004, were prospectively evaluated by an antimicrobial management team (AMT) for compliance with local hospital guidelines. During the control period, orders were evaluated to determine compliance with hospital guidelines before and after recommendations by the AMT were provided to physicians. Feedback was given for the second 9-month period in the form of a weekly report to prescribing physicians, a monthly hospital newsletter, and a quarterly report to various hospital committees. During the intervention period, orders were evaluated to determine compliance with hospital guidelines before and after recommendations by the AMT were provided to physicians.Setting.The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a 110-bed facility, in Louisville, Kentucky.Participants.Internal medicine physicians and general surgeons.Results.A total of 2,807 antimicrobial courses were evaluated. Compliance with hospital guidelines before AMT recommendations was 70% during the control period and 74% during the intervention period (P = .02). Compliance after AMT recommendations was 90% during the control period and 93% during the intervention period (P ≤ .01).Conclusion.The use of feedback had a significantly favorable impact on physician compliance with the hospital's guidelines on antimicrobial prescribing. Use of feedback should be added to the list of interventions that promote appropriate antimicrobial use in the hospital setting.

The impact of digital interventions on antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals: A qualitative synthesis of systematic reviews (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethany A Van Dort ◽  
Jonathan Penm ◽  
Angus Ritchie ◽  
Melissa T Baysari
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Antimicrobial Prescribing ◽  
Digital Interventions ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs aim to optimize antimicrobial use by utilizing a suite of coordinated strategies. With the increased use of health information technology in hospitals, AMS processes that were traditionally paper-based are becoming computerized and streamlined. A number of reviews on digital interventions supporting AMS have been performed, so we performed a review of reviews to consolidate findings OBJECTIVE To provide a systematic overview and synthesis of evidence on the effectiveness of digital interventions to improve antimicrobial prescribing and monitoring in hospitals. METHODS Databases: Medline, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from 2010 onwards. Papers were eligible if they included studies that examined the effectiveness of digital health interventions related to antimicrobial prescribing and monitoring, in an inpatient hospital setting. Papers were excluded if they did not include a clearly defined search strategy, if they were limited to a pediatric setting, or they were not in English. RESULTS Seven systematic reviews were included for data extraction. Five reviews were of moderate quality and two of low quality. A large number of digital interventions were evaluated, with a strong focus on clinical decision support. There was a large variability in outcome measures used. Six reviews reported that digital interventions reduced antimicrobial use and improved antimicrobial appropriateness. The impact of digital interventions on clinical outcomes was inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS The results of this review indicate digital interventions, regardless of type, reduce antimicrobial use and improve antimicrobial appropriateness in hospitals. We recommend hospitals consider implementing one or more digital interventions to facilitate AMS programs.

scholarly journals 2345. Reduction in Testing and Change in Testing Algorithm Associated with Decrease in Number of Nosocomial Clostridium difficile Infections

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S806-S806
Author(s):  
Susan Nichols ◽  
Michelle D Jordan ◽  
Michael Coogan ◽  
Jackie Opera ◽  
Paul P Cook
Keyword(s):  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Laxative Use ◽  
Days Of Therapy ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Testing Algorithm

Abstract Background Previous data at our facility indicated 37% of patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) were receiving at least one laxative at the time of testing, suggesting the possibility of false-positive results. Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) does not distinguish between colonization and infection with C. difficile. We implemented two interventions to address these issues and evaluated our rates of nosocomial CDI before and after these changes. Methods This was a retrospective study of all positive test results for adult patients with nosocomial C. difficile from October 1, 2017 through March 31, 2019 at Vidant Medical Center, a 911-bed hospital. In June, 2018, we implemented a best practice advisory (BPA) in our electronic health record to recommend against testing for CDI in patients receiving laxatives. We reviewed the number of C. difficile tests ordered before and after initiating the BPA. In December, 2018, we removed NAAT and replaced it with a cell cytotoxicity assay (CCA) for specimens that were enzyme immunoassay (EIA) negative and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) positive. Antimicrobial use was measured in days of therapy (DOT) per 10,000 patient-days (PD). Mann–Whitney U test was used for continuous variables. Linear regression was used to monitor antimicrobial use. Results The number of C. difficile tests ordered per month decreased 19.5% after implementing the BPA (P < 0.0001). There was a 44% reduction in the number of EIA+/GDH+ specimens per month after the BPA intervention (P = 0.003). Following substitution of CCA for NAAT for EIA-/GDH+ specimens, there was a 61% reduction in the rate of nosocomial CDI (8.6 cases/10,000 PD to 3.3 cases/10,000 PD; P = 0.005). Total antimicrobial use was unchanged over the course of the study (673 to 677 DOT/10,000 PD). Carbapenem use decreased 56% (P = 0.009); cefepime use increased 85%(p = 0.002); quinolone and clindamycin use were unchanged. Conclusion Laxative use in hospitalized patients is common and likely contributes to a false elevation in the CDI rate by identifying carriers in addition to those who have true infection. Implementing a BPA to reduce inappropriate testing and changing our testing algorithm for Clostridium difficile by substituting CCA for NAAT has resulted in a lower rate of nosocomial CDI. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Potential of a Small Indoor Plant on the Desk for Reducing Office Workers’ Stress

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-63
Author(s):  
Masahiro Toyoda ◽  
Yuko Yokota ◽  
Marni Barnes ◽  
Midori Kaneko
Keyword(s):  
Pulse Rate ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Office Workers ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Indoor Plants ◽  
Before And After

In modern society, stress reduction in the workplace is a pressing issue. Although many studies have been done on the psychological and physiological effects of indoor plants, the majority of them have been conducted in laboratory or quasi-office settings. The objective of this study was to verify the stress reduction effects of the presence of small indoor plants on employees in a real office setting. We investigated the changes in psychological and physiological stress before and after placing a plant on a worker’s desk. Sixty-three office workers at an electric company in Japan were the participants of this study. The participants were directed to take a 3-minute rest while sitting at their desk when they felt fatigue. There were two phases of the study: a control period without plants and an intervention period when the participants were able to see and care for a small plant. We measured psychological stress in the participants using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). As an index of physiological stress, the participants measured their own pulse rate throughout the study. STAI scores decreased significantly after the intervention period (P < 0.05). The ratio of the participants whose pulse rate lowered significantly after a 3-minute rest increased significantly during the intervention period (P < 0.05). Our study indicates that having opportunities to gaze intentionally at nearby plants on a daily basis in the work environment can reduce the psychological and physiological stress of office workers.

scholarly journals 1044. Impact of Interdisciplinary Rounds on Antimicrobial Use at a Community Hospital

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S368-S368
Author(s):  
Emma Castillo ◽  
Luke Heuts ◽  
Elizabeth Dodds Ashley ◽  
Rebekah W Moehring ◽  
Michael E Yarrington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽  
Community Hospital ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Post Intervention Period ◽  
Interdisciplinary Rounds ◽  
Days Of Therapy ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Antimicrobial stewardship (AS) implementation is challenging in resource-limited settings such as smaller community hospitals that may lack dedicated personnel resources or have limited access to infectious diseases experts with dedicated time for AS. Few studies have evaluated the impact of interdisciplinary rounds as a strategy to optimize antimicrobial use (AU) in the community hospital setting. Methods We evaluated the impact of interdisciplinary rounds in a 280-bed acute care nonteaching, community hospital with an established ASP. The primary outcome was facility-wide antibiotic utilization pre- and post-implementation. Rounds included key healthcare personnel (hospitalists, clinical pharmacists, case managers, nurses) reviewing all patients on inpatient wards Monday through Friday, with a discussion of diagnosis, antibiotic selection, dosing, duration, and anticipated discharge plans. AU was compared for a 7-month post-intervention period (June 1, 2018–December 31, 2018) vs. similar months in 2017 based on days of therapy (DOT)/1,000 patient-days and length of therapy (LOT) per antimicrobial use admission. In addition, trends in AU for the post-intervention period were compared with the previous 17 months (January 1, 2017–May 31, 2018) using segmented binomial regression. Results Interdisciplinary rounds incorporating AS principles was associated with a decrease in overall AU in this facility, with a significant decrease of 16.33% (P < 0.0001) in DOT/1,000 pd in the first month and was stable (decrease of 1.1% per month, P = 0.15) thereafter (Figure 1). There was no significant change in LOT/admission after the first month of the intervention, but the trend demonstrated a 2% per month decrease (P < 0.03) thereafter (Figure 2). Comparing 2018 intervention months with similar months of 2017, the use of antibacterial agents decreased on average by 191.3 (95% CI −128.2 to −254.4) DOT/1,000 patient-days (Figure 3) and 0.546 (95% CI: −0.28 to −0.81) days per admission (Figure 4). Conclusion In this community hospital with an existing antimicrobial stewardship program, implementation of interdisciplinary rounds was associated with a substantial decrease in antimicrobial use. This was sustained for at least a 7-month period. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals 39. Impact of Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions in a Community Hospital setting: An Interrupted Times Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S141-S142
Author(s):  
Jason Li ◽  
Ken Chan ◽  
Hina Parvez ◽  
Margaret Gorlin ◽  
Miriam A Smith
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽  
Community Hospital ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Prospective Audit ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Community hospitals have fewer resources for antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) compared to larger tertiary hospitals. At our 312-bed community hospital, Long Island Jewish Forest Hills/Northwell, a combination of modified preauthorization, prospective audit feedback, and ASP education was implemented starting in August 2019 (Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm). Methods This retrospective study evaluated the impact of ASP interventions on the rate of targeted antimicrobial use over a 7 month pre- vs 7 month post- intervention period (Aug 2018 to Feb 2019 vs Aug 2019 to Feb 2020). Targeted antimicrobials included piperacillin-tazobactam, vancomycin, daptomycin, and carbapenems. The primary outcome was the monthly mean for overall targeted antimicrobial use measured by the rate of antimicrobial days per 1000 days present. Secondary outcomes were the individual rates of antimicrobial days per 1000 days present for each of the targeted antimicrobials, and the hospital’s overall standardized antimicrobial administration ratio (SAAR). Data were analyzed as a segmented regression of interrupted time series. Results Pre-intervention, there was an increasing trend (positive slope, p&lt; 0.05) in the monthly mean, hospital SAAR, vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam use. Post-intervention, there was a significant change in slope for these same metrics, indicating a decrease in the mean use. Immediate impact of ASP interventions, measured by the difference in antibiotic use between the end of each intervention period, was visually evident in all cases except carbapenems (Fig. 1 through 4). The immediate impact on the overall monthly mean represented a significant reduction in the rate of antimicrobial days per 1000 days present, -12.72 (CI -21.02 to -4.42, P &lt; 0.0066). The pre- vs post- ASP gap for all measures was negative and consistent with fewer days of antibiotic use immediately following intervention. Conclusion A targeted, multifaceted ASP intervention utilizing modified preauthorization, prospective audit feedback, and education significantly reduced antibiotic use in a community hospital. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Management of a Sabiá Virus-Infected Patient in a US Hospital

1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (03) ◽  
pp. 176-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori R. Armstrong ◽  
Louise-Marie Dembry ◽  
Petrie M. Rainey ◽  
Mark B. Russi ◽  
Ali S. Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infected Patient ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
The United States ◽  
Case Patient ◽  
Local Hospital

AbstractObjective:To describe the hospital precautions used to isolate a Sabiá virus (arenavirus: Arenaviridae)-infected patient in a US hospital and to protect hospital staff and visitors.Design:Investigation of a single case of arenavirus laboratory-acquired infection and associated case-contacts.Setting:A 900-bed, tertiary-care, university-affiliated medical center.Patients or other Participants:The case-patient became ill with Sabiá virus infection. The case-contacts consisted of healthcare workers, coworkers, friends, and relatives of the case-patient.Intervention:Enhanced isolation precautions for treatment of a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) patient were implemented in the clinical laboratory and patient-care setting to prevent nosocomial transmission. The enhanced precautions included preventing aerosol spread of the virus from the patient or his clinical specimens. All case-contacts were tested for Sabiá virus antibodies and monitored for signs and symptoms of early disease.Results:No cases of secondary infection occurred among 142 case-contacts.Conclusions:With the frequency of worldwide travel, patients with VHF can be admitted to a local hospital at any time in the United States. The use of enhanced isolation precautions for VHF appeared to be effective in preventing secondary cases by limiting the number of contacts and promoting proper handling of laboratory specimens. Patients with VHF can be managed safely in a local hospital setting, provided that appropriate precautions are planned and implemented.

Telemedicine in the emergency department to decrease personal protective equipment use: a before-and-after study

2020 ◽  
pp. emermed-2020-210292
Author(s):  
Bart G J Candel ◽  
Selma M M Vaes ◽  
Egid M van Bree ◽  
Sophie M A Groenen ◽  
Floor Derkx ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Patient Anxiety ◽  
Contact Isolation ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Before And After Study

BackgroundPersonal protective equipment (PPE) used by healthcare workers was scarce during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess whether telemedicine (using iPads) reduced PPE use in emergency department (ED) patients who were treated in contact isolation, and whether telemedicine had a positive effect on patient anxiety and satisfaction.MethodsWe conducted a prospective single centre before-and-after study including ED patients ≥18 years who were treated in contact isolation. PPE use, the Hospital Anxiety Scale and the 15-item Picker Patient Experience Questionnaire were compared between the control period (8 April to 14 April 2020) and intervention period (15 April to 24 April 2020).ResultsWe included 25 patients in each period. PPE use per patient was higher for physicians in the control period (mean 1.7; 95% CI 1.5 to 1.9) compared with the intervention period (mean 1.2; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.3, p<0.01). Total PPE use per patient contact for ED physicians decreased from 42 out of 42 patient contacts in the control period, to 29 out of 66 patient contacts in the intervention period (difference 54.3%; 95% CI 50.1% to 58.6%, p<0.01). Reported anxiety and satisfaction were not significantly different.ConclusionPPE use by physicians can successfully be reduced by using telemedicine in the ED without increasing anxiety or dissatisfaction. This study was a first step to gain experience with telemedicine in the ED which has the potential to reduce PPE use in future pandemics or other patients with an indication for contact isolation.

scholarly journals Algorithmic prediction of failure modes in healthcare

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayala Kobo-Greenhut ◽  
Ortal Sharlin ◽  
Yael Adler ◽  
Nitza Peer ◽  
Vered H Eisenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Hazard Analysis ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Hazard Identification ◽  
Patient Identification ◽  
Complete Identification ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Fmea Method

Abstract Background Preventing medical errors is crucial, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is the most widely used prospective hazard analysis in healthcare. FMEA relies on brainstorming by multi-disciplinary teams to identify hazards. This approach has two major weaknesses: significant time and human resource investments, and lack of complete and error-free results. Objectives To introduce the algorithmic prediction of failure modes in healthcare (APFMH) and to examine whether APFMH is leaner in resource allocation in comparison to the traditional FMEA and whether it ensures the complete identification of hazards. Methods The patient identification during imaging process at the emergency department of Sheba Medical Center was analyzed by FMEA and APFMH, independently and separately. We compared between the hazards predicted by APFMH method and the hazards predicted by FMEA method; the total participants’ working hours invested in each process and the adverse events, categorized as ‘patient identification’, before and after the recommendations resulted from the above processes were implemented. Results APFMH is more effective in identifying hazards (P &lt; 0.0001) and is leaner in resources than the traditional FMEA: the former used 21 h whereas the latter required 63 h. Following the implementation of the recommendations, the adverse events decreased by 44% annually (P = 0.0026). Most adverse events were preventable, had all recommendations been fully implemented. Conclusion In light of our initial and limited-size study, APFMH is more effective in identifying hazards (P &lt; 0.0001) and is leaner in resources than the traditional FMEA. APFMH is suggested as an alternative to FMEA since it is leaner in time and human resources, ensures more complete hazard identification and is especially valuable during crisis time, when new protocols are often adopted, such as in the current days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Application of a Computer Vision Tool for Automated Glottic Tracking to Vocal Fold Paralysis Patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 019459982198960
Author(s):  
Tiffany V. Wang ◽  
Nat Adamian ◽  
Phillip C. Song ◽  
Ramon A. Franco ◽  
Molly N. Huston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Fold ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Vocal Fold Paralysis ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Large Patient ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Before And After

Objectives (1) Demonstrate true vocal fold (TVF) tracking software (AGATI [Automated Glottic Action Tracking by artificial Intelligence]) as a quantitative assessment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) in a large patient cohort. (2) Correlate patient-reported metrics with AGATI measurements of TVF anterior glottic angles, before and after procedural intervention. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic medical center. Methods AGATI was used to analyze videolaryngoscopy from healthy adults (n = 72) and patients with UVFP (n = 70). Minimum, 3rd percentile, 97th percentile, and maximum anterior glottic angles (AGAs) were computed for each patient. In patients with UVFP, patient-reported outcomes (Voice Handicap Index 10, Dyspnea Index, and Eating Assessment Tool 10) were assessed, before and after procedural intervention (injection or medialization laryngoplasty). A receiver operating characteristic curve for the logistic fit of paralysis vs control group was used to determine AGA cutoff values for defining UVFP. Results Mean (SD) 3rd percentile AGA (in degrees) was 2.67 (3.21) in control and 5.64 (5.42) in patients with UVFP ( P < .001); mean (SD) 97th percentile AGA was 57.08 (11.14) in control and 42.59 (12.37) in patients with UVFP ( P < .001). For patients with UVFP who underwent procedural intervention, the mean 97th percentile AGA decreased by 5 degrees from pre- to postprocedure ( P = .026). The difference between the 97th and 3rd percentile AGA predicted UVFP with 77% sensitivity and 92% specificity ( P < .0001). There was no correlation between AGA measurements and patient-reported outcome scores. Conclusions AGATI demonstrated a difference in AGA measurements between paralysis and control patients. AGATI can predict UVFP with 77% sensitivity and 92% specificity.

577 The Collaboration of Burn Outreach and Wound Care Nurses

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S140-S140
Author(s):  
Ekta Vohra
Keyword(s):  
Wound Care ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Definitive Treatment ◽  
Knowledge Gap ◽  
Burn Wound ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Burn Wounds

Abstract Introduction Certified wound care nurses perform a vital role in skin health and management in the hospital setting. During the certification process, minimal time is spent on burn wound education, despite the fact that wound care nurses are consulted for various wound etiologies; one of those being burns. This construct created a need for collaboration between the burn team and wound care nurses. Although all burns are essentially wounds, the reality is that all wounds are not burns. The management of the burn wound is often different from the management of pressure injuries or surgical wounds. In speaking with the wound care nurses at this large urban academic medical center, a knowledge gap was identified in burn wound care education as well as appropriate and timely consultation of the burn team. Methods This knowledge improvement project focused on educating the wound care nurses in assessment and treatment of burns, and the process for burn service consultation. Burn education was provided through in-person didactic presentations. The lecture included burn wound photos with opportunities to classify the potential depth of burn wounds as well as typical complications. Additionally, it discussed when a burn consult is needed. A basic knowledge retrospective pre-posttest method was utilized. Results An educational plan was tailored to meet the learning needs of the wound care nurses to address the knowledge gap. Post test data results were tracked. Post scores were increased, indicating a successful educational intervention. Also, while providing the education, the burn outreach coordinator identified an opportunity to expand the burn center’s presence among colleagues through collaboration with the wound care nurses. The wound nurses made excellent ambassadors for the mission of the burn service. Conclusions Provision of burn education across disciplines may improve recognition of burn wounds and facilitate definitive treatment.

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