scholarly journals Infection Preventionist Run Clostridioides difficile Testing Diagnostic Stewardship Protocol- Experience From a Rural Community Hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s484-s485
Author(s):  
Raghavendra Tirupathi ◽  
Ruth Freshman ◽  
Norma J Montoy ◽  
Melissa Gross

Background: Distinguishing active Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) from asymptomatic colonization remains a challenging task in the era of PCR testing. Inappropriate testing leads to overtesting and overdiagnosis, inadvertent treatment, and isolation in addition to laboratory identified (LabID) events, leading to increased incidence to hospital-onset CDI (HO-CDI). The institution has a nurse-driven C. difficile test ordering protocol, and we noted a significant increase in the HO-CDI incidence in 2017 due to inappropriate testing, with rates as high as 0.94 per 1,000 patient days. Methods: In September 2017, a multidisciplinary team reviewed and initiated algorithm-based testing with mandatory audit and review by infection preventionists (IPs) under the guidance of an ID physician of all ordered tests. They reviewed the adequacy and legitimacy of order for multiple parameters, including minimum 3 loose stools in 24 hours, use of laxatives in last 24 hours, consistency of the sample, presence of at least 1 clinical parameters (ie, fever, abdominal pain, leukocytosis, sepsis, or septic shock), recent or concomitant antibiotic use, recent PCR testing in the last 14 days, and chart review for medical and/or surgical history. The IPs served as the gatekeepers to testing and rejected the samples that were deemed inappropriate. Ambiguous cases were discussed with the ID specialist. On the microscope lab side, all specimens sent were batched to be run twice a day at 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and testing was performed only on the samples cleared by infection preventionists. Results: The number of PCR tests completed in the comparison quarter of 2016 was 220, which decreased to 157 tests in 2017 with a reduction of 28%. After a full year of implementation of the diagnostic stewardship protocol, the number of completed PCR tests decreased to 626 from 940 PCR tests in 2016, with an overall 34% decrease in testing. In the year following the implementation of diagnostic stewardship, HO-CDI decreased from 60 events in 2017 to 43 events in 2018, with a reduction of 28%. Subsequently, HO-CDI further decreased in 2019 from 43 to 28, with a reduction of 35%. Since the implementation of the project in 2017, HO-CDIs have decreased by 54% overall. The reduction in 314 C. difficile PCR tests in the first year led to a savings of $8,300 in laboratory testing supplies. The reduction of HO CDI by 17 led to cost avoidance of $293,420. Conclusions: Our experience shows that the IP-run diagnostic stewardship program was highly successful in streamlining testing, with cost savings on several fronts.Funding: NoneDisclosures: NoneDisclosures:Commercial Company : If I am presenting research funded by a commercial company, the information presented will be based on generally accepted scientific principals and methods, and will not promote the commercial interest of the funding company.DisagreeRaghavendra Tirupathi

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S66-S67
Author(s):  
Caitlin C Bettger ◽  
Stephanie Giancola ◽  
Robert Cybulski ◽  
Jason Okulicz ◽  
Alice Barsoumian

Abstract Background A 2-step testing strategy for diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is recommended to limit over-diagnosis when clinical criteria requirements for stool sample submission cannot be enforced. Real-world evaluations of this strategy are limited. Methods The Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, implemented a 2-step CDI algorithm: polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing followed by toxin enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The goal was to improve diagnosis of CDI and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. Patients with PCR+ tests from August 2018 to September 2019 were included. Charts were reviewed for demographics, laboratory data, treatment, and outcomes. Cases were grouped based on concordant (PCR+/EIA+) or discordant (PCR+/EIA-) results. To determine factors contributing to treatment decisions, an analysis of discordant cases were compared by treatment status. Groups were compared by Chi-squared, Fisher’s exact, or Mann-Whitney U tests. Results A total of 216 PCR+ tests from 215 patients were recorded. Of these, 155 (71.8%) were discordant. Demographics, laboratory data, and risk factors for CDI were similar between groups (Table 1; p >0.05 for all). Compared to discordant cases, concordant cases were more frequently hospitalized (59% vs 43.9%; p=0.05), had a higher median daily stool count (5 [4–7] vs 4 [2–6], p=0.03), met criteria for severe CDI (33.3% vs 18.7%; p=0.05), received treatment (95.1% vs 66.5%; p< 0.01) and were readmitted in 30 days with CDI (8.3% vs 1.3%; p=0.02). Among discordant cases, median daily stool count was higher in treated vs untreated cases (4 [3–7] vs 3 [1–5], p=0.02). Otherwise, there was no difference in variables according to treatment status (Table 2; p >0.05 for all). Discordant cases with infectious disease (ID) or gastroenterology (GI) consultation had a high rate of treatment (73.9% and 61.1%, respectively). Table 1. Characteristics and outcomes of patients with concordant and discordant tests. Table 2. Characteristics and outcomes of treated and untreated patients with discordant tests. Conclusion Implementation of 2-step strategy reduced antibiotic treatment by nearly 30%. However, the majority of discordant cases were deemed clinically significant and received treatment by providers, including ID or GI specialists. Further studies are needed to determine the unmeasured factors that guide treatment decisions in discordant cases. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S807-S807
Author(s):  
Jena Foreman ◽  
Neha Belter ◽  
Stephanie Thannum

Abstract Background Minimizing Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) is an important patient safety goal due to significant cost and disease burden with CDI causing 15,000 deaths annually in the United States. Diagnosis of CDI is complicated when DNA amplification assay will return positive for both colonization and active infection of C. difficile, so testing clinically symptomatic patients with at least 3 loose stools per day is paramount to obtaining accurate reporting rates and starting proper treatment for CDI. Methods Due to economic considerations, the study was a single-center retrospective review of inpatients ≥ 18 years old who had C. difficile tests ordered from November 2017 to February 2019. Baseline characteristics collected include age, sex, white blood cell (WBC) count, fever, past C. difficile infections, recent antibiotic use, recent laxative use, and tube feeding status. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The primary objective of this study was to look at the appropriateness of C. difficile tests pre and post-implementation of multidisciplinary review. Criteria for appropriateness of testing included 3 or more loose stools in addition to one additional factor including fever, elevated WBCs, immunocompromised status, or severe sepsis/septic shock. Secondary objectives include evaluating hospital-onset CDI rates and cost analysis. Results Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups with the exception of statistically fewer patients with 3 or more liquid stools found in the post-implementation group (P = 0.0003). After implementation of a multidisciplinary review, the number of C. difficile tests ran significantly declined from 79% to 56% (P = 0.0001). The number of negative tests also were significantly reduced from 60% to 43% (P = 0.0001), with patients who had less than 3 stools per day being tested less frequently in the post-implementation group. Inappropriate test avoidance resulted in an annual savings of $1,550 in testing supplies alone, not including isolation or labor costs. There was no significant difference in hospital-onset CDI. Conclusion Implementation of a multidisciplinary review of C. difficile testing avoids clinically inappropriate tests and results in cost savings with no effect on incidence of hospital-onset CDI. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shandra R. Day ◽  
Dennis Smith ◽  
Karen Harris ◽  
Heather L. Cox ◽  
Amy J. Mathers

Abstract The importance of antimicrobial stewardship is increasingly recognized, yet data from community hospitals are limited. Despite an initially low acceptance rate, an Infectious Diseases physician-led program at a 70-bed rural hospital was associated with a 42% decrease in anti-infective expenditures and susceptibility improvement in Pseudomonas aeruginosa over 3 years.


Author(s):  
Valerie M. Vaughn ◽  
M. Todd Greene ◽  
David Ratz ◽  
Karen E. Fowler ◽  
Sarah L. Krein ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) can be prevented through infection prevention practices and antibiotic stewardship. Diagnostic stewardship (ie, strategies to improve use of microbiological testing) can also improve antibiotic use. However, little is known about the use of such practices in US hospitals, especially after multidisciplinary stewardship programs became a requirement for US hospital accreditation in 2017. Thus, we surveyed US hospitals to assess antibiotic stewardship program composition, practices related to CDI, and diagnostic stewardship. Methods: Surveys were mailed to infection preventionists at 900 randomly sampled US hospitals between May and October 2017. Hospitals were surveyed on antibiotic stewardship programs; CDI prevention, treatment, and testing practices; and diagnostic stewardship strategies. Responses were compared by hospital bed size using weighted logistic regression. Results: Overall, 528 surveys were completed (59% response rate). Almost all (95%) responding hospitals had an antibiotic stewardship program. Smaller hospitals were less likely to have stewardship team members with infectious diseases (ID) training, and only 41% of hospitals met The Joint Commission accreditation standards for multidisciplinary teams. Guideline-recommended CDI prevention practices were common. Smaller hospitals were less likely to use high-tech disinfection devices, fecal microbiota transplantation, or diagnostic stewardship strategies. Conclusions: Following changes in accreditation standards, nearly all US hospitals now have an antibiotic stewardship program. However, many hospitals, especially smaller hospitals, appear to struggle with access to ID expertise and with deploying diagnostic stewardship strategies. CDI prevention could be enhanced through diagnostic stewardship and by emphasizing the role of non–ID-trained pharmacists and clinicians in antibiotic stewardship.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S437-S438
Author(s):  
Raghavendra Tirupathi ◽  
Ruth Freshman ◽  
Norma Montoy ◽  
Melissa Gross

Abstract Background An estimated 15% of hospitalized patients are asymptomatic carriers of C. diff. Inappropriate testing can lead to over diagnosis, treatment, isolation & substantial financial penalties. Ours is a rural 310 bed hospital with nurse driven C. diff test ordering protocol. Due to inadvertent test ordering, we had an uptick in the HO-CDI incidence with rates as high as 0.94 per 1000 patient days in 2017. In order to streamline testing, we initiated an infection preventionist(IP) led diagnostic stewardship program which was implemented in two phases in 2017-2019 Methods The phase 1 involved daily review by IPs regarding the legitimacy of PCR order for minimum 3 loose stools in 24 hours, use of laxatives, presence of symptoms.There were concerns nationally that then CDI risk adjustment model from NHSN in 2017 does not optimally account for the impact of specific CDI testing methods used by individual hospitals on CDI SIRs. Hence, in Jan 2018 NHSN’s MDRO/CDI Protocol stated “Results of the final test that are placed in the patient’s medical record should be used to determine whether event meets the CDI LabID defn”.This led to phase 2 in mar 2019 which involved two step testing which started with C diff PCR assay with positive test reflexed to the toxin A/B assay. Results During the first phase, and a full year of the protocol in 2018, the number of completed PCR tests decreased to 626 (compared to 940 PCR tests in 2016) with an 34% decrease. In the year following implementation of the Diagnostic Stewardship, HO CDI decreased from 60 in 2017 to 43 events in 2018 with a reduction of 28%. Subsequently, HO CDI further decreased in 2019 to 28 with a reduction of 35%. Since the start of the project in 2017, HO CDI have decreased 54% in total. The reduction in 314 C diff PCR tests in the first year[2017-2018] led to a savings of $8300 in lab supplies. No readmissions with C difficile infection documented within 30 days on patients who did not meet the criterion for testing. Significant decrease in the usage of C difficile antibiotics. After the start of the two step test, we have seen a precipitous drop in our HO-CDI rates to less than 0.3 per 1000 pt days by the end of 2019. Quarterly comparison of HO CDI incidence for 2017-2020 HO CDI incidence before and following phase 1 and phase 2 interventions C. difficile antibiotic use trends during intervention period Conclusion IP run diagnostic stewardship programs with two step tests are highly successful in streamlining testing and in discriminating infection from colonization Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S747-S748
Author(s):  
Mauricio Rodriguez ◽  
Surya Chitra ◽  
Kelly Wright ◽  
Thomas Lodise

Abstract Background Real-world evidence studies indicate that around 3% of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) develop Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI; Chalmers et al, J Infect 2016;73:45–53). Factors associated with increased CDI risk include Davis risk score (DRS) ≥ 6, and treatment with high-risk antibiotics such as fluroquinolones (FQ) and ceftriaxone (CTX). Omadacycline (OMC) is indicated for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) and has demonstrated a low propensity to induce CDI in preclinical and clinical studies. In the phase 3 OPTIC study, 2% of CABP patients who received moxifloxacin (MOX) developed CDI vs 0% for OMC (Stets et al, N Engl J Med 2019;380:517–27); 14% of MOX patients with DRS ≥ 6 developed CDI vs 0% in the OMC group (Table 1; Figure 1). We assessed the economic impact of substituting current CABP treatment (FQ and CTX) with OMC for hospitalized CABP patients with DRS ≥ 6. Table 1 Figure 1 Methods A deterministic healthcare-decision analytic model was performed. Only excess costs associated with each treatment were considered. Base-case model inputs were: yearly CAP admission in US, prevalence of CAP patients with DRS ≥ 6, CDI risk for CAP patients with DRS ≥ 6 with current CABP treatments, CDI costs (initial and recurrent), and OMC cost (Table 2). Efficacy and safety of treatments were assumed to be equal. CDI risk of 0% was assumed for OMC. Costs are reported as USD. Table 2 Results For patients with CABP, total CDI costs were $738M, with first-episode costs of $489M plus recurrence costs of $249M. The cost of 5 days (mean hospital length of stay for CABP) of OMC was $207M. Use of OMC for the estimated 100,000 CABP patients with DRS ≥ 6 would result in a potential cost saving of up to $531M for this patient population, assuming CDI risk of 0% with OMC. As CDI is a risk from any antibiotic use, cost savings can be achieved when OMC is used in place of high-risk antibiotics patients when CDI risk rates exceed 3.9%. Conclusion Our findings suggest prioritizing use of omadacycline over current CABP treatments in hospitalized CABP with a DRS ≥ 6 may substantially reduce attributable CDI costs. These results can serve as a basis for stewardship interventions to reduce hospital CDI rates and associated costs. Disclosures Mauricio Rodriguez, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, BCIDP, Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Employee) Surya Chitra, PhD, Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Consultant) Kelly Wright, PharmD, Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Thomas Lodise, PharmD, PhD, Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Consultant)


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s43-s43
Author(s):  
Armani Hawes ◽  
Payal Patel ◽  
Angel Desai

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of ongoing infection prevention efforts. Increased adherence to infection prevention recommendations, increased antibiotic use, improved hand hygiene, and correct donning and doffing of personal protective equipment may have influenced healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the United States during the pandemic. In this study, we investigated testing for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and incidence during the initial surge of the pandemic. We hypothesized that strict adherence to contact precautions may have resulted in a decreased incidence of CDI in hospitalized patients during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and that CDI testing may have increased even in the absence of directed diagnostic stewardship efforts. Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational study at the Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, between January 2019 and June 2020. We compared data on CDI tests from January 2019 through February 2020 to data from March 2020 (the admission of the first patient with COVID-19 at our institution) through June 2020. Pre-peak and peak periods were defined by confirmed cases in Washtenaw County. No novel diagnostic or CDI-focused stewardship interventions were introduced by the antimicrobial stewardship program during the study period. An interrupted time series analysis was performed using STATA version 16.1 software (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX). Results: There were 6,525 admissions and 34,533 bed days between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. Also, 900 enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests were obtained and 104 positive cases of CDI were detected between January 2019 and June 2020. A statistically significant decrease in EIA tests occurred after March 1, 2020 (the COVID-19 peak in our region) compared to January 1, 2019–March 1, 2020 (Figure 1). After March 1, 2020, the number of EIA tests obtained decreased by 10.2 each month (95% CI, −18.7 to −1.7; P = .02). No statistically significant change in the incidence of CDI occurred. The use of antibiotics that were defined as high risk for CDI increased in the months of April–June 2020 (Figure 2). Conclusions: In this single-center study, we observed a stable incidence of CDI but decreased testing during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding local HAI reporting is critical because changes in HAI reporting structures and exemptions during this period may have affected national reporting. Further research should be undertaken to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on other HAI reporting within the US healthcare system.Funding: NoDisclosures: None


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Ibrahim ◽  
Zeinab Bazzi

Despite the frequent alarms that have been published about the adverse effects of antibiotic use and misuse, physicians prescribe to patients approximately fifty percent of unnecessary antimicrobials. In an attempt to decrease the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and increase awareness, a team approach is required to address this prescribing phenomenon in a feasible manner. A retrospective study was done at a one-hundred-forty-bed hospital with a representative sample size of 368 patients. Patient data was collected and analyzed by a stewardship team. The overall antibiotic inappropriate rate was 45.8%, which is relatively high and consistent with the findings of other studies mentioned in the literature. This study aimed to provide baseline epidemiological data on the use of antibiotics in a Lebanese hospital and has revealed several notable patterns of antibiotic prescribing practices among Lebanese physicians such as the use of antimicrobial drugs example penicillin was consistently high. Strong correlations were identified between the type of attending physician and antibiotic appropriateness. These findings will be important in constructing an antimicrobial stewardship program to reduce antibiotic misuse.


Author(s):  
Bongyoung Kim ◽  
◽  
Myung Jin Lee ◽  
Se Yoon Park ◽  
Song Mi Moon ◽  
...  

Abstract Background An effective antibiotic stewardship program relies on the measurement of appropriate antibiotic use, on which there is a lack of consensus. We aimed to develop a set of key quality indicators (QIs) for nationwide point surveillance in the Republic of Korea. Methods A systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (publications until 20th November 2019) was conducted. Potential key QIs were retrieved from the search and then evaluated by a multidisciplinary expert panel using a RAND-modified Delphi procedure comprising two online surveys and a face-to-face meeting. Results The 23 potential key QIs identified from 21 studies were submitted to 25 multidisciplinary expert panels, and 17 key QIs were retained, with a high level of agreement (13 QIs for inpatients, 7 for outpatients, and 3 for surgical prophylaxis). After adding up the importance score and applicability, six key QIs [6 QIs (Q 1–6) for inpatients and 3 (Q 1, 2, and 5) for outpatients] were selected. (1) Prescribe empirical antibiotic therapy according to guideline, (2) change empirical antibiotics to pathogen-directed therapy, (3) obtain culture samples from suspected infection sites, (4) obtain two blood cultures, (5) adapt antibiotic dosage to renal function, and (6) document antibiotic plan. In surgical prophylaxis, the QIs to prescribe antibiotics according to the guideline and initiate antibiotic therapy 1 h before incision were selected. Conclusions We identified key QIs to measure the appropriateness of antibiotic therapy to identify targets for improvement and to evaluate the effects of antibiotic stewardship intervention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S16-S16
Author(s):  
Ortiz Samuel ◽  
Martínez María Elena ◽  
Morayta Ramírez A

Abstract Background Clostridioides difficile is an important cause of healthcare-associated infections. The epidemiology of C. difficile infection (CDI) in children has changed over the past few decades. There is now a higher incidence in hospitalized children, and there has been an emergence of community-onset infection. Neonates and young infants have high rates of colonization but rarely have symptoms. The well-known risk factor for CDI in children age 2 years or older is antibiotic use. Inflammatory bowel disease and cancer are associated with increased incidence and severity of CDI. Vancomycin or fidaxomicin is recommended for an initial episode of CDI. In environments where access to Vancomycin or Fidaxomycin is limited, it is suggested to use metronidazole for an initial episode of nonsevere CDI only. Methods A series of cases were carried out, in a study period from March to May 2018, total cases 8; the age group, sex, basic diagnosis, clinical findings, diagnostic method, and outcome in hospitalized patients in the Pediatric division of the “CMN 20 de Noviembre, ISSSTE” were described, where there is a total of 377 Sensitive beds, and 53 beds in the pediatric area of which 30 are not sensitive. Results We analyzed 8 cases of diarrhea with identification of C. difficile, in a period of 3 months, where there was a total of 148 admissions to the division of Pediatrics (100%) and presented a prevalence of 0.05% of the total income. Of those 8 cases reported, 37.5% were women and 62.5% men; The age fluctuated between 6 months and 18 years. All children had associated comorbidities. The frequency and type of comorbidities were Cancer 87.5% (Leukemias and Solid Tumors) and Neurological 12.5% ​​(Arterial Malformation and Neurological Sequelae). The main symptom that occurred was mucous diarrhea in 100% of patients, abdominal pain in 25% and evacuation with blood in 12.5% ​​of cases. All had a history of prior treatment with 100% broad-spectrum antibiotics, in a period of less than one month. All were treated with metronidazole (100%) and all presented clinical improvement, without complications; Similarly, all were diagnosed by PCR for toxin B (100%). The attributable risk of presenting Clostridioides disease in patients with Leukemia is 0.11. Conclusions Patients with Leukemia were the most affected during the C. difficile outbreak, of which 11 out of 100 of these patients are at risk of presenting C. difficile disease. The most important thing in these cases is prevention. Therefore, specific prevention measures were implemented to reduce the possibility of future outbreaks, such as handwashing with chlorexidine, contact isolation, handwashing every time there is contact with the patient, use of gloves when performing procedures, insulation of bedding in plastic bags and training of health personnel.


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