Anatomy of a successful stewardship intervention: Improving perioperative prescribing in penicillin-allergic patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Mary Elizabeth Sexton ◽  
Merin Elizabeth Kuruvilla ◽  
Francis A. Wolf ◽  
Grant C. Lynde ◽  
Zanthia Wiley
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Allergic Patient ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Before And After ◽  
History Of ◽  
Quality Improvement Interventions ◽  
Antibiotic Cost ◽  
Delayed Hypersensitivity Reaction ◽  
Algorithm Implementation

Abstract Objective: To evaluate whether a series of quality improvement interventions to promote safe perioperative use of cephalosporins in penicillin-allergic patients improved use of first-line antibiotics and decreased costs. Design: Before-and-after trial following several educational interventions. Setting: Academic medical center. Patients: This study included patients undergoing a surgical procedure involving receipt of a perioperative antibiotic other than a penicillin or carbapenem between January 1, 2017, and August 31, 2019. Patients with and without a penicillin allergy label in their electronic medical record were compared with respect to the percentage who received a cephalosporin and average antibiotic cost per patient. Methods: A multidisciplinary team from infectious diseases, allergy, anesthesiology, surgery, and pharmacy surveyed anesthesiology providers about their use of perioperative cephalosporins in penicillin-allergic patients. Using findings from that survey, the team designed a decision-support algorithm for safe utilization and provided 2 educational forums to introduce this algorithm, emphasizing the safety of cefazolin or cefuroxime in penicillin-allergic patients without history of a severe delayed hypersensitivity reaction. Results: The percentage of penicillin-allergic patients receiving a perioperative cephalosporin improved from ∼34% to >80% following algorithm implementation and the associated educational interventions. This increase in cephalosporin use was associated with a ∼50% reduction in antibiotic cost per penicillin-allergic patient. No significant adverse reactions were reported. Conclusions: An educational antibiotic stewardship intervention produced a significant change in clinician behavior. A simple intervention can have a significant impact, although further study is needed regarding whether this response is sustained and whether an educational intervention is similarly effective in other healthcare systems.

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.

Implementation of a Leeches + Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Order Panel to Optimize Medicinal Leech Use at a Tertiary Care Academic Medical Center

2021 ◽  
pp. 089719002199368
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Palm ◽  
Jill C. Wesolowski ◽  
Janet Y. Wu ◽  
Pavithra Srinivas
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Prophylaxis ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Medicinal Leech ◽  
Aeromonas Species ◽  
Leech Therapy ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Timing Of Initiation ◽  
Medicinal Leeches

Medicinal leech therapy promotes vascular flow and can be used to salvage grafts. Medicinal leeches have a symbiotic relationship with Aeromonas species and can therefore present a risk of bacterial transmission to patients. Antimicrobial prophylaxis is warranted for the duration of leech therapy, however, an institutional evaluation of 40 patients receiving medicinal leech therapy demonstrated poor adherence with recommendations. An electronic medical record order panel for antimicrobial prophylaxis with medicinal leech therapy was implemented, leading to a subsequent improvement in adherence to prophylaxis use, including significant increases in the ordering of antibiotics and the appropriate timing of initiation in the subsequent 10 patients receiving medicinal leech therapy after panel implementation. Aeromonas infections were rare before and after panel implementation, and developed only in the patient subset with non-optimized prophylaxis.

Sex, Race, Insurance, and Pain: Do Patient Sociodemographics Influence Postoperative Opioid Prescriptions Among Hand Surgeons?

Hand ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 155894472199802
Author(s):  
Connor J. Peck ◽  
Martin Carney ◽  
Alexander Chiu ◽  
Kitae E. Park ◽  
Alexandre Prassinos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Carpal Tunnel Release ◽  
Private Insurance ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Postoperative Pain Management ◽  
Patient Treatment ◽  
Opioid Prescription ◽  
History Of

Background: Social and demographic factors may influence patient treatment by physicians. This study analyzes the influence of patient sociodemographics on prescription practices among hand surgeons. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all hand surgeries (N = 5278) at a single academic medical center from January 2016 to September 2018. The average morphine milligram equivalent (MME) prescribed following each surgery was calculated and then classified by age, race, sex, type of insurance, and history of substance use or chronic pain. Multivariate linear regression was used to compare MME among groups. Results: Overall, patients with a history of substance abuse were prescribed 31.2 MME more than those without ( P < .0001), and patients with a history of chronic pain were prescribed 36.7 MME more than those without ( P < .0001). After adjusting for these variables and the type of procedure performed, women were prescribed 11.2 MME less than men ( P = .0048), and Hispanics were prescribed 16.6 MME more than whites ( P = .0091) overall. Both Hispanic and black patients were also prescribed more than whites following carpal tunnel release (+19.0 and + 20.0 MME, respectively; P < .001). Patients with private insurance were prescribed 24.5 MME more than those with Medicare ( P < .0001), but 25.0 MME less than those with Medicaid ( P < .0001). There were no differences across age groups. Conclusions: Numerous sociodemographic factors influenced postoperative opioid prescription among hand surgeons at our institution. These findings highlight the importance of establishing more uniform, evidence-based guidelines for postoperative pain management, which may help minimize subjectivity and prevent the overtreatment or undertreatment of pain in certain patient populations.

scholarly journals History of Depression and Increased Risk of Sternal Wound Infection After Cardiothoracic Surgery: A Novel and Potentially Modifiable Risk Factor

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah A Theodore ◽  
Renee D Goodwin ◽  
Yuan (Vivian) Zhang ◽  
Nancy Schneider ◽  
Rachel J Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Wound Infection ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Cardiothoracic Surgery ◽  
Sternal Wound Infection ◽  
Composite Variable ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Depression

Abstract Background Sternal wound infection (SWI) is a leading cause of postoperative disease and death; the risk factors for SWI remain incompletely understood. The goal of the current study was to investigate the relationship between a preoperative history of depression and the risk of SWI after cardiothoracic surgery. Methods Among patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery in a major academic medical center between 2007 and 2012, those in whom SWI developed (n = 129) were matched, by date of surgery, with those in whom it did not (n = 258). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the strength of relationships between risk factors and development of infection. History of depression was defined as a composite variable to increase the sensitivity of detection. Results History of depression as defined by our composite variable was associated with increased risk of SWI (adjusted odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–4.7; P = .01). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated. Conclusions History of depression was associated with increased risk of SWI. Future prospective studies are warranted to further investigate this relationship. Depression is highly treatable, and increased efforts to identify and treat depression preoperatively may be a critical step toward preventing infection-related disease and death.

Tolerability of a probiotic in subjects with a history of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Warrack ◽  
P. Panjikar ◽  
M. Duster ◽  
N. Safdar
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
History Of ◽  
Study Population

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a pathogen of major public health importance. Colonisation precedes infection; thus reducing MRSA carriage may be of benefit for reducing infection. Probiotics represent a novel approach to reducing MRSA carriage. We undertook a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial of the tolerability and acceptability of probiotics for reducing nasal and intestinal carriage of MRSA. In addition, subjects were screened for vancomycin-resistant enterocococci (VRE). Subjects with a history of MRSA were recruited from a large, academic medical center and randomised to take either a placebo or probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001). Subjects returned to the clinic after four weeks for further testing to determine adherence to the probiotic regimen and colonisation of MRSA. 48 subjects were enrolled and randomised. Nearly 25% were transplant recipients and 30% had diabetes. The probiotic was well tolerated in the study population though minor side effects, such as nausea and bloating, were observed. A majority of the subjects randomised to HN001 had good adherence to the regimen. At the four week time point among subjects randomised to the probiotic, MRSA was detected in 67 and 50% of subjects colonised in the nares and the gastrointestinal tract, respectively. Three subjects who initially tested positive for VRE were negative after four weeks of probiotic exposure. Probiotics were well tolerated in our study population of largely immunocompromised subjects with multiple comorbidities. Adherence to the intervention was good. Probiotics should be studied further for their potential to reduce colonisation by multidrug resistant bacteria.

scholarly journals Estrogen Negative Feedback on Gonadotropin Secretion: Evidence for a Direct Pituitary Effect in Women

2010 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 1955-1961 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. D. Shaw ◽  
S. N. Histed ◽  
S. S. Srouji ◽  
J. Yang ◽  
H. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Feedback ◽  
Gnrh Antagonist ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Gonadotropin Secretion ◽  
Clinical Research Center ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Suppressive Dose ◽  
Estrogen Administration

Abstract Context: Studies in humans and animals indicate that estrogen negative feedback occurs at the level of the hypothalamus, but it is unclear whether estrogen also exerts an inhibitory effect directly at the pituitary. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine whether estrogen has a direct negative feedback effect at the pituitary and whether this varies with aging. Design and Setting: A GnRH antagonist and graded doses of GnRH were used to isolate pituitary responsiveness before and after estrogen administration in Clinical Research Center studies at an academic medical center. Subjects: Subjects were healthy postmenopausal women aged 48–56 yr (n = 8) or 70–75 yr (n= 8). Interventions: A suppressive dose of the NAL-GLU GnRH antagonist was administered, followed by graded doses of GnRH before and after 1 month of estrogen administration. Results: LH and FSH responses to GnRH decreased after estrogen administration (P = 0.01 and P = 0.0001, respectively). The ratio of FSH to LH amplitudes decreased in response to estrogen (P = 0.04) indicating a greater sensitivity of FSH than LH to inhibition by estrogen. The inhibitory effect of estrogen on FSH was attenuated with aging (P = 0.02), but was maintained for LH (P = 0.4). Conclusions: Studies that control for endogenous GnRH and estradiol demonstrate a direct pituitary site of estrogen negative feedback on LH and FSH responsiveness to GnRH in women. The effect of estrogen on FSH responsiveness is greater than on LH and is attenuated with aging. These studies indicate that estrogen negative feedback occurs directly at the pituitary and contributes to the differential regulation of FSH and LH secretion.

Do patients and physicians perceive PSA screening discussions the same?

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 160-160
Author(s):  
James Austin Talcott ◽  
Gina Aharonoff ◽  
Maureen Bezuhly ◽  
Michael P. Osborne
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Randomized Trial ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Psa Screening ◽  
Psa Testing

160 Background: Shared decision making is recommended for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. We are performing a prospective randomized trial of educational interventions to improve screening compliance at an urban academic medical center. We hypothesize that patient and provider characteristics providers will affect compliance. We report the first results for PSA screening. Methods: In a cluster-randomized trial of educational supports for providers, we are recruiting an age- and sex-stratified sample of 216 patients aged 30 to 89 years undergoing an annual physical examination, 18 patients of each of 12 primary care physicians at two affiliated hospitals. Screening guideline format (color-coding) and academic detailing were randomly assigned in a 2 x 2 design. Surveys occurred immediately post-encounter to record recollections of screening discussions, recommendations and plans. Results: We report on the first 44 of 108 planned male participants. Most were white (77%), had a college degree (83%), and currently married (59%). When providers reported a PSA discussion, 13% of patients disagreed, while 23% of patients disagreed when their provider reported a PSA discussion. Discrepancies also occurred on additional elements of informed decision-making (data not shown). Reports also disagreed on physician recommendations: 2 of 8 patients (25%) disagreed with the physician’s report of recommending screening and 6 of 12 patients (50%) disagreed with the physician’s report of not recommending it. Half of patients (49%) reported distress at getting PSA results, but only 5% reported “a lot” of distress. Over half (58%) reported that PSA testing protected against prostate cancer “a lot.” No physician reported recommending PSA testing to men under age 50 or over age 70, but 1 of 6 men under 50 and 3 of 3 men over 70 reported that their physician had recommended testing. Conclusions: In a highly educated population of men and physicians surveyed immediately after their encounter, reports of whether PSA screening had occurred, the information that had been discussed and the recommendation had important discrepancies. Important differences may exist between patients and physicians in perceptions of PSA screening discussions. Clinical trial information: NCT02430948.

Factors Related to Complications Among Adult Patients With Intellectual Disabilities Hospitalized at an Academic Medical Center

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah H. Ailey ◽  
Tricia J. Johnson ◽  
Louis Fogg ◽  
Tanya R. Friese
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Respiratory Disorder ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
History Of ◽  
Healthcare Acquired Infections ◽  
Improve Hospital

Abstract People with intellectual disabilities (ID) represent a small but important group of hospitalized patients who have higher rates of complications than do patients without ID hospitalized for the same reasons. Complications are potentially avoidable conditions, such as healthcare-acquired infections, healthcare-acquired skin breakdown, falls, and medication errors and reactions. Addressing factors related to complications can focus efforts to improve hospital care. The purpose of this exploratory study was to analyze data from reviews of academic medical center charts (N  =  70) about complications and to examine patient and hospitalization characteristics in relation to complications among adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) with ID hospitalized for nonpsychiatric reasons. Adults with ID tended to be twice as likely to have complications (χ2  =  2.893, df  =  1, p  =  .09) if they had a surgical procedure and were nearly four times as likely to have complications (χ2  =  6.836, df  =  1, p  =  .009) if they had multiple chronic health conditions (three of the following: history of cerebral palsy, autism spectrum symptoms, aggressive behavior, respiratory disorder, and admission through the emergency department). Findings suggest preliminary criteria for assessing risk for complications among hospitalized people with ID and the need for attention to their specific needs when hospitalized.

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