The Impact of Changing to an Algorithm-Based Clostridioides difficile Test on the Decision to Treat Clostridioides difficile

Background: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for the diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) detects the presence of the organism; a positive result therefore cannot differentiate between colonization and the pathogenic presence of the bacterium. This may result in overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and risking disruption of microbial flora, which may perpetuate the CDI cycle. Algorithm-based testing offers an advantage over PCR testing as it detects toxin, which allows differentiation between colonization and infection. Although previous studies have demonstrated the clinical utility of this testing algorithm in differentiating infection from colonization, it is unknown whether the test changes CDI treatment decisions. Our facility switched from PCR to an algorithm-based testing method for CDI in June 2018. Objective: In this study, we evaluated whether clinicians’ decisions to treat patients are impacted by a test result that implies colonization (GDH+/Tox−/PCR+ test), and we examined the impact of this decision on patient outcomes. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of inpatients with a positive C. diff test between June 2017 and June 2019. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients treated for CDI. We compared this outcome in 3 groups of patients: those with a positive PCR test (June 2017–June 2018), those who had a GDH+/Tox−/PCR+ or a GDH+/Tox+ test result (June 2018–June 2019). Secondary outcomes included toxic megacolon, critical care admission, and mortality in patients with GDH+/Tox−/PCR+ who were treated versus those who were untreated. Results: Of patients with a positive PCR test, 86% were treated with CDI-specific antibiotics, whereas 70.4% with GDH+/Tox+ and 29.25% with GDH+/Tox−/PCR+ result were treated (P < .0001). Mortality was not different between patients with GDH+/Tox−/PCR+ who were treated versus those who were untreated (2.7% vs 3.4%; P = .12), neither was critical care admission within 2 or 7 days of test result (2% vs 1.4%; P = .15) and (4.1% vs 5.4%, P = .39), respectively. There were no cases of toxic megacolon during the study period. Conclusions: The change to an algorithm-based C. difficile testing method had a significant impact on the clinicians’ decisions to treat patients with a positive test, as most patients with a GDH+/Tox−/PCR+ result did not receive treatment. These patients did not suffer more adverse outcomes compared to those who were treated, which has implications for testing practices. It remains to be explored whether clinicians are using clinical criteria to decide whether or not to treat patients with a positive algorithm-based test, as opposed to the more reflexive treatment of patients with a positive PCR test.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

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1017. Scratching the Surface with NHSN Data: Defining High Impact Stewardship Targets in Critical Care

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.881 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S357-S358

Author(s):

Kelsie Cowman ◽

Victor Chen ◽

Nidhi Saraiya ◽

Yi Guo ◽

Rachel Bartash ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Time Frame ◽

High Impact ◽

Chart Audit ◽

Surgical Intensive Care ◽

Patient Level ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) provides risk-adjusted Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratios (SAAR) as a benchmark for medical and surgical intensive care units (ICU). Antibiotic use (AU) data does not provide patient-level information (e.g., antibiotic appropriateness, indications, durations, etc.). However, we hypothesize that AU data can help define high impact stewardship targets, particularly in the context of critical care Clostridioides difficile rates. Methods Units with high rates of AU and hospital-onset (HO) C. difficile were selected for review. A monthly AU and C. difficile dashboard was created for ICU providers, inclusive of data from May 2018 onwards. We also performed chart audits for indication, duration, and location of initiation for all medical intensive care unit (MICU) patients receiving piperacillin/tazobactam (P/T) or vancomycin (Van) during February 2019 per request of ICU stakeholders. Data were used to obtain stewardship buy-in from local MICU champions. Results AU data indicated that (1) all 3 MICUs consistently had SAARs >1 for broad-spectrum categories and (2) Van and P/T were the highest volume agents on these units (Figure 1). Chart audit of 135 MICU patients showed that 17 patients received P/T, 34 Van, and 84 (62%) both agents; median duration was 2 days for Van and 3 days for P/T (Figure 2). Approximately half of initiations occurred in the emergency department (ED) (50% Van, 47% P/T); most common indications were “respiratory tract infection” and “severe sepsis/septic shock” for both P/T (77%) and Van (74%) (Figure 2). HO C. difficile in MICUs accounted for 6%, 13%, and 16% of total HO C. difficile cases in campuses A, B, and C, respectively during the time frame (Figure 1). Conclusion We feel that NHSN data scratches the surface of the deep-rooted challenges of ICU stewardship. However, it can identify AU trends and most frequently prescribed antibiotics in the context of unit-specific C. difficile rates. Intensive stewardship audit can further uncover areas for intervention, such as ED Van and P/T overprescribing. We suggest presenting clinical stakeholders with a quarterly “stewardship dashboard” combining AU rates, patient-level data, and C. difficile rates to maximize the impact of stewardship endeavors. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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The Impact of Changes to an Electronic Admission Order Set on Prescribing and Clinical Outcomes in the Intensive Care Unit

Applied Clinical Informatics ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1702215 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (01) ◽

pp. 182-189

Author(s):

Ellen T. Muniga ◽

Todd A. Walroth ◽

Natalie C. Washburn

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Critical Care ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Order Sets ◽

Critical Care Admission ◽

The Impact ◽

Order Set

Abstract Background Implementation of disease-specific order sets has improved compliance with standards of care for a variety of diseases. Evidence of the impact admission order sets can have on care is limited. Objective The main purpose of this article is to evaluate the impact of changes made to an electronic critical care admission order set on provider prescribing patterns and clinical outcomes. Methods A retrospective, observational before-and-after exploratory study was performed on adult patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit using the Inpatient Critical Care Admission Order Set. The primary outcome measure was the percentage change in the number of orders for scheduled acetaminophen, a histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA), and lactated ringers at admission before implementation of the revised order set compared with after implementation. Secondary outcomes assessed clinical impact of changes made to the order set. Results The addition of a different dosing strategy for a medication already available on the order set (scheduled acetaminophen vs. as needed acetaminophen) had no impact on physician prescribing (0 vs. 0%, p = 1.000). The addition of a new medication class (an H2RA) to the order set significantly increased the number of patients prescribed an H2RA for stress ulcer prophylaxis (0 vs. 20%, p < 0.001). Rearranging the list of maintenance intravenous fluids to make lactated ringers the first fluid option in place of normal saline significantly decreased the number of orders for lactated ringers (17 vs. 4%, p = 0.005). The order set changes had no significant impact on clinical outcomes such as incidence of transaminitis, gastrointestinal bleed, and acute kidney injury. Conclusion Making changes to an admission order set can impact provider prescribing patterns. The type of change made to the order set, in addition to the specific medication changed, may have an effect on how influential the changes are on prescribing patterns.

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The impact of changing reflexive to clinician-ordered Clostridioides difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for indeterminate cases: Cost savings without associated adverse events

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2020.56 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 684-690

Author(s):

Eva L. Sullivan ◽

Rohit Majumdar ◽

Courtney Ortiz ◽

Patricia K. Riggs ◽

Nancy F. Crum-Cianflone

Keyword(s):

Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Primary Study ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

Before And After ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

The Impact ◽

Pcr Test

AbstractObjective:To evaluate changing Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) testing among inpatients with indeterminate enzyme immunoassay (EIA) results (antigen+/toxin−) from reflexive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to clinician-ordered PCR testing.Design:Multicenter, before-and-after, quasi-experimental study.Setting:Four large urban tertiary-care hospitals.Methods:We evaluated two 6-month periods before and after an intervention. The primary study outcome was the change in the number of CDI diagnoses between periods. Secondary outcomes included the number of PCR tests performed, adverse events, and healthcare cost savings.Results:In total, 500 EIA-indeterminate C. difficile test results were evaluated: 281 before the intervention and 219 thereafter. CDI was diagnosed by PCR among EIA-indeterminate cases in 182 in the preintervention period versus 94 patients in the postintervention period (48% reduction; P < .01). PCR testing was performed in 99.6% of indeterminate cases (280 of 281; 1 not performed due to an inhibitor) in the preintervention period versus 66% (144 of 219) in the postintervention period (34% reduction; P < .01). We observed no differences between study periods in 30-day all-cause (P = .96), GI-related (P = .93), or C. difficile (P = .47) readmissions, nor in 30-day C. difficile infections (P > .99). No patient without a PCR test in the postintervention period and not treated was later diagnosed with CDI. Each reflexive PCR test not performed led to a cost savings of $4,498 per patient.Conclusions:Applying diagnostic stewardship to C. difficile PCR testing in the inpatient setting led to significant reductions in both testing and cases. Changing the C. difficile PCR testing algorithm for EIA-indeterminate cases from reflexive to clinician-required ordering resulted in valuable cost savings without associated adverse events.

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The critical care continuum

10.1093/med/9780199696260.003.0001 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Sheila Adam ◽

Sue Osborne ◽

John Welch

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

Early Recognition ◽

Medical Emergency Team ◽

Kidney Injury ◽

Organ Damage ◽

Early Warning Score ◽

Medical Emergency ◽

Emergency Team ◽

Critical Care Admission ◽

The Impact

This chapter provides an overview of the development and expansion of critical care, to include early intervention and enhancement of recovery. This is based on the patient’s acuity and need for intervention rather than their location. It includes early recognition of, and response to, acute deterioration in patients in order to prevent irreversible organ damage or death. The use of tools such as the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) to identify these patients is described. The chapter covers the critical care outreach and medical emergency team concepts, as well as surviving sepsis and avoiding acute kidney injury initiatives. Peri-operative optimization to mitigate the impact of surgery and the need to follow up patients post-critical care admission to enhance recovery and prevent re-admission are also included.

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Staff wellbeing in times of COVID-19

Journal of the Intensive Care Society ◽

10.1177/1751143720968066 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 175114372096806 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Adrian Wong ◽

Olusegun Olusanya ◽

Prashant Parulekar ◽

Julie Highfield

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Burnout Syndrome ◽

Care Providers ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Individual ◽

Staff Wellbeing ◽

The Impact

In the last 10 years, there has been increasing interest into the psychological wellbeing of healthcare providers. Within critical care, increasing attention is being paid to the concept of ‘burnout’ – a cluster of symptoms that adversely affect the health of critical care providers. Publications and statements from the major critical care societies have all addressed this syndrome and emphasised urgency in tackling it. The current COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we work, communicate and learn. Even before the pandemic, there have been growing concerns and acknowledgement that healthcare practitioners in intensive care are at increased risk of burnout and burnout syndrome. There has never been greater pressure on intensive care or indeed healthcare as a whole to look after so many patients during this pandemic and yet there is global acknowledgement that key to overcoming these challenges is to look after the care providers – both physically and psychologically. In this paper, we review the issue of burnout amongst healthcare practitioners during current pandemic. We present the impact of burnout on the individual and the system as a whole but perhaps most importantly, we provide a review of steps being taken to mitigate against these adverse outcomes in the short and longer term.

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The impact of universal cardiopulmonary exercise testing on perioperative pathways and short-term patient outcomes following elective pancreatic surgery: A retrospective cohort study

Journal of the Intensive Care Society ◽

10.1177/17511437211022128 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 175114372110221

Author(s):

Sophie Mathoulin ◽

Gary Minto ◽

Gordon Taylor ◽

Paul Erasmus

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Pancreatic Surgery ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise ◽

Period 2 ◽

Critical Care Admission ◽

Bed Days ◽

The Impact

Background The utility of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) to identify higher risk surgical patients remains controversial. There is limited research investigating the value of preoperative CPET to plan perioperative pathways for patients undergoing major pancreatic surgery. Methods Retrospective cohort study, comprising two groups before and after a change in referral policy for High Risk preoperative anaesthetic clinic with CPET. Period 1 discretionary referral and Period 2: universal referral. The primary aim was to investigate the impact of this policy change on critical care use (planned vs unplanned) on the day of surgery and on delayed critical care admission. Secondary end points included a comparison of the total number of critical care bed days, days in hospital, complication rates and mortality data between the two cohorts. Results 177 patients were included; 114 in Period 1 and 63 in Period 2. There was a reduction in unplanned day of surgery postoperative admissions to critical care (28.1% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.008). Seven (6.1%) of patients in Period 1 and 1 (1.6%) patient in Period 2 had delayed admission, though no p value was calculated due to the small numbers involved. Complication rates were similar in each group. The median critical care bed days was 1 (range 0–21) days in Period 1 and 1 (0–13) days in Period 2. Conclusions A universal referral policy for preoperative CPET demonstrated a decrease in unplanned day of surgery critical care admissions and a trend towards reducing delayed (>24 h postop) critical care admission which could be investigated in a larger study. No measurable impact was seen on clinical outcomes.

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Early Outcomes of Coronary Endarterectomy in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

The Heart Surgery Forum ◽

10.1532/hsf.1352 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 059

Author(s):

Amin Bagheri ◽

Ahmad Masoumi ◽

Jamshid Bagheri

Keyword(s):

Coronary Artery ◽

Coronary Artery Bypass ◽

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery ◽

Bypass Surgery ◽

Artery Bypass ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Supraventricular Arrhythmia ◽

Coronary Endarterectomy ◽

Early Results ◽

The Impact

Background: Coronary endarterectomy (CE) is performed as an adjunct to coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG); however, the efficacy of this technique is still controversial. We aimed to evaluate the impact of CE combined with CABG when compared with isolated CABG. Methods: Patients who underwent CABG between July 2007 and June 2014 were included. 70 of 2452 patients (2.8%) underwent CE in addition to CABG. Early results were compared with isolated CABG and predictors of adverse outcome were measured in stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: The incidence of comorbidities including prior myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, and three-vessel coronary disease in CE patients was higher; however, mortality (4.3% versus control 3.6%; P = .762) and postoperative complications were not significantly increased in this group of patients (except supraventricular arrhythmia). Although age greater than 70 years, impaired ejection fraction, intraoperative intraaortic balloon pump, and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time were important predictors of adverse outcomes, CE was not associated with increased mortality or postoperative morbidities. Conclusion: Despite the higher risk profile of patients who underwent CE, this technique was not identified as an independent risk factor for adverse postoperative outcomes.

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216. Are Automatic Antimicrobial Stop Orders an Effective Stewardship Tool for Urinary Tract and Intra-Abdominal Infections?

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.260 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S110-S110

Author(s):

Christina Maguire ◽

Dusten T Rose ◽

Theresa Jaso

Keyword(s):

Urinary Tract ◽

Antimicrobial Therapy ◽

Source Control ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

Days Of Therapy ◽

Before And After ◽

The Difference ◽

Tract Infections ◽

Length Of Therapy ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Automatic antimicrobial stop orders (ASOs) are a stewardship initiative used to decrease days of therapy, prevent resistance, and reduce drug costs. Limited evidence outside of the perioperative setting exists on the effects of ASOs on broad spectrum antimicrobial use, discharge prescription duration, and effects of missed doses. This study aims to evaluate the impact of an ASO policy across a health system of adult academic and community hospitals for treatment of intra-abdominal (IAI) and urinary tract infections (UTI). ASO Outcome Definitions ASO Outcomes Methods This multicenter retrospective cohort study compared patients with IAI and UTI treated before and after implementation of an ASO. Patients over the age of 18 with a diagnosis of UTI or IAI and 48 hours of intravenous (IV) antimicrobial administration were included. Patients unable to achieve IAI source control within 48 hours or those with a concomitant infection were excluded. The primary outcome was the difference in sum length of antimicrobial therapy (LOT). Secondary endpoints include length and days of antimicrobial therapy (DOT) at multiple timepoints, all cause in hospital mortality and readmission, and adverse events such as rates of Clostridioides difficile infection. Outcomes were also evaluated by type of infection, hospital site, and presence of infectious diseases (ID) pharmacist on site. Results This study included 119 patients in the pre-ASO group and 121 patients in the post-ASO group. ASO shortened sum length of therapy (LOT) (12 days vs 11 days respectively; p=0.0364) and sum DOT (15 days vs 12 days respectively; p=0.022). This finding appears to be driven by a decrease in outpatient LOT (p=0.0017) and outpatient DOT (p=0.0034). Conversely, ASO extended empiric IV LOT (p=0.005). All other secondary outcomes were not significant. Ten patients missed doses of antimicrobials due to ASO. Subgroup analyses suggested that one hospital may have influenced outcomes and reduction in LOT was observed primarily in sites without an ID pharmacist on site (p=0.018). Conclusion While implementation of ASO decreases sum length of inpatient and outpatient therapy, it may not influence inpatient length of therapy alone. Moreover, ASOs prolong use of empiric intravenous therapy. Hospitals without an ID pharmacist may benefit most from ASO protocols. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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The interplay of Clostridioides difficile infection and inflammatory bowel disease

Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology ◽

10.1177/17562848211020285 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 175628482110202

Author(s):

Kanika Sehgal ◽

Devvrat Yadav ◽

Sahil Khanna

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Bowel Disease ◽

Bowel Disease ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Molecular Tests ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Clostridioides Difficile Infection ◽

Pros And Cons ◽

Inflammatory Bowel ◽

High Index Of Suspicion

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease of the intestinal tract that commonly presents with diarrhea. Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common complications associated with IBD that lead to flare-ups of underlying IBD. The pathophysiology of CDI includes perturbations of the gut microbiota, which makes IBD a risk factor due to the gut microbial alterations that occur in IBD, predisposing patients CDI even in the absence of antibiotics. Superimposed CDI not only worsens IBD symptoms but also leads to adverse outcomes, including treatment failure and an increased risk of hospitalization, surgery, and mortality. Due to the overlapping symptoms and concerns with false-positive molecular tests for CDI, diagnosing CDI in patients with IBD remains a clinical challenge. It is crucial to have a high index of suspicion for CDI in patients who seem to be experiencing an exacerbation of IBD symptoms. Vancomycin and fidaxomicin are the first-line treatments for the management of CDI in IBD. Microbiota restoration therapies effectively prevent recurrent CDI in IBD patients. Immunosuppression for IBD in IBD patients with CDI should be managed individually, based on a thorough clinical assessment and after weighing the pros and cons of escalation of therapy. This review summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, the diagnosis of CDI in IBD, and outlines the principles of management of both CDI and IBD in IBD patients with CDI.

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CT fatty muscle fraction as a new parameter for muscle quality assessment predicts outcome in venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-79495-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anton Faron ◽

Stefan Kreyer ◽

Alois M. Sprinkart ◽

Thomas Muders ◽

Stefan F. Ehrentraut ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Muscle Quality ◽

Imaging Biomarker ◽

Survival Prediction ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression Model ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Membrane Oxygenation ◽

The Impact

AbstractImpaired skeletal muscle quality is a major risk factor for adverse outcomes in acute respiratory failure. However, conventional methods for skeletal muscle assessment are inapplicable in the critical care setting. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of computed tomography (CT) fatty muscle fraction (FMF) as a biomarker of muscle quality in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). To calculate FMF, paraspinal skeletal muscle area was obtained from clinical CT and separated into areas of fatty and lean muscle based on densitometric thresholds. The cohort was binarized according to median FMF. Patients with high FMF displayed significantly increased 1-year mortality (72.7% versus 55.8%, P = 0.036) on Kaplan–Meier analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model was built to test the impact of FMF on outcome. FMF was identified as a significant predictor of 1-year mortality (hazard ratio per percent FMF, 1.017 [95% confidence interval, 1.002–1.033]; P = 0.031), independent of anthropometric characteristics, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Simplified Acute Physiology Score, Respiratory Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Survival Prediction Score, and duration of ECMO support. To conclude, FMF predicted 1-year mortality independently of established clinical prognosticators in ECMO patients and may have the potential to become a new muscle quality imaging biomarker, which is available from clinical CT.

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