Investigation of aStreptococcus viridansPseudobacteremia Epidemic at a University Teaching Hospital

1989 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 416-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deirdre L. Church ◽  
Heather E. Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Index Finger ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Large Teaching Hospital ◽  
Disproportionate Number ◽  
Good Concordance ◽  
Contaminated Blood

AbstractFor several months in 1986, an outbreak of Streptococcus viridanspseudobacteremia occurred at a large teaching hospital. All sources of laboratory blood culture contamination were excluded. A retrospective epidemiological study indicated that one phlebotomist, “P,” collected a disproportionate number of the positive blood cultures. Further comparison of the paired blood culture results from the three months when the incidence was highest revealed a good concordance of results among all other phlebotomists (Kappa = 0.5), while P's results concurred with others less frequently than would be expected even by chance (Kappa < 0.0). Clinical follow-up showed that P did not routinely wear gloves while drawing blood and had eczema of the hands. Skin scrapings from the hands, right index finger/fingernail grew predominantlyS viridansspecies that were compatible with those recovered from contaminated blood cultures. This epidemic demonstrated the need for early detection of this source as a cause of nosocomial pseudobacteremia.

scholarly journals 2080. Impact of an Emergency Department Post-discharge Blood Culture Follow-up Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S701-S702
Author(s):  
Axel Vazquez Deida ◽  
Veronica Salazar ◽  
Lilly Lee ◽  
Lilian Abbo
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Contaminated Blood

Abstract Background Blood cultures are the gold standard in the identification of laboratory confirmed bloodstream infections (LCBI) but contamination can lead to unnecessary interventions. This study sought to assess the number of unwarranted admissions in patients with contaminated blood cultures post-discharge and at low risk for LCBI before and after the implementation of a multidisciplinary emergency department (ED) blood culture follow-up program. Methods This was a two-phase retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care, 1,550-bed, academic hospital and level I trauma center in southeast Florida. Phase 1 assessed interventions made on patients 18 years of age or older discharged from the ED or a hospital observation unit with a positive blood culture result post-discharge from March 2018 to July 2018. Phase 2 assessed interventions made from December 2018 to March 2019 post-implementation of the multidisciplinary follow-up program. The criteria for low risk of LCBI were lack of risk factors for infection and < 2 positive blood cultures with a commensal bacteria with no symptoms of fever or hypotension on the date of specimen collection and 3 days before or after such date. Results Among patients at low risk for LCBI (46% of 24 patients in phase 1 vs. 59% of 22 patients in phase 2), unwarranted admissions due to contaminated blood cultures occurred in 27.3% of patients in phase 1 vs. 0% of patients in phase 2 (P = 0.08). Phase 1 represented a period in which systematic reporting and evaluation of positive results and patient follow-up were not in place. Phase 2 consisted of daily pharmacist-led blood culture reviews with callback nurse follow-up and therapeutic care plan development with ED physicians. The number of contaminant isolates was relatively high (Figures 1 and 2). Pharmacist-led interventions were diverse (Figure 3). The program led to an estimated total cost avoidance of $16,410.80 in a median of 4.5 months due to unnecessary admissions. Conclusion Implementation of a multidisciplinary ED post-discharge blood culture follow-up program can be an effective strategy in improving patient care and avoiding unnecessary antibiotic therapy. Further interventions aimed at reducing blood culture contamination could have a direct impact on improving ED antimicrobial stewardship. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with blood culture contamination

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Justin M. Klucher ◽  
Kevin Davis ◽  
Mrinmayee Lakkad ◽  
Jacob T. Painter ◽  
Ryan K. Dare
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Hospital Charges ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Contaminated Blood

Abstract Objective: To determine patient-specific risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with contaminated blood cultures. Design: A single-center, retrospective case-control risk factor and clinical outcome analysis performed on inpatients with blood cultures collected in the emergency department, 2014–2018. Patients with contaminated blood cultures (cases) were compared to patients with negative blood cultures (controls). Setting: A 509-bed tertiary-care university hospital. Methods: Risk factors independently associated with blood-culture contamination were determined using multivariable logistic regression. The impacts of contamination on clinical outcomes were assessed using linear regression, logistic regression, and generalized linear model with γ log link. Results: Of 13,782 blood cultures, 1,504 (10.9%) true positives were excluded, leaving 1,012 (7.3%) cases and 11,266 (81.7%) controls. The following factors were independently associated with blood-culture contamination: increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.01), black race (aOR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.15–1.51), increased body mass index (BMI; aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00–1.02), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aOR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.02–1.33), paralysis (aOR 1.64; 95% CI, 1.26–2.14) and sepsis plus shock (aOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.07–1.49). After controlling for age, race, BMI, and sepsis, blood-culture contamination increased length of stay (LOS; β = 1.24 ± 0.24; P < .0001), length of antibiotic treatment (LOT; β = 1.01 ± 0.20; P < .001), hospital charges (β = 0.22 ± 0.03; P < .0001), acute kidney injury (AKI; aOR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.40–1.83), echocardiogram orders (aOR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.30–1.75) and in-hospital mortality (aOR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.31–2.16). Conclusions: These unique risk factors identify high-risk individuals for blood-culture contamination. After controlling for confounders, contamination significantly increased LOS, LOT, hospital charges, AKI, echocardiograms, and in-hospital mortality.

scholarly journals Aphakia Correction by Injection of Foldable Intra Ocular Lens in the Anterior Chamber

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. OED.S12672
Author(s):  
Kagmeni Giles ◽  
Moukouri Ernest ◽  
Domngang Christelle ◽  
Nguefack-Tsague Georges ◽  
Cheuteu Raoul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Intraocular Pressure ◽  
Anterior Chamber ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Case Series ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Case Series Study ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The University

We assessed the outcomes of the use of anterior chamber foldable lens for unilateral aphakia correction at the University Teaching Hospital of Yaounde. In this retrospective, non-comparative, consecutive case series study, we reviewed the records of patients who underwent an operation for aphakia correction by the means of injection of an angular supported foldable lens between January 2009 and December 2011 in the University Teaching Hospital Yaounde. Student's paired t-test was carried out to compare preoperative and postoperative visual acuity (VA) and intraocular pressure (TOP). P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Twenty-one patients were included in the study; twelve were male (57.1%) and nine were female (42.9%). The mean age was 55.38 ± 17.67 years (range 9–75 years). The mean follow-up duration was 5.95 ± 3.14 months (range 2–12 months). The mean logMAR visual acuity was 1.26 ± 0.46 pre-operatively and 0.78 ± 0.57 post-operatively ( P = 0.003). The change in intraocular pressure was not statistically significant. Complications included intraocular hypertension (over 21 mmHg) in 3 patients (14.3%) and macular edema, pupillar ovalization, and retinal detachment in one patient each. The results indicate that injection of an angular support foldable lens in the anterior chamber is a useful technique for the correction of aphakia in eyes without capsular support. More extended follow-up, however, and a larger series of patients are needed to ascertain the effectiveness and safety of this procedure.

Blood Culture Contamination in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory of a Teaching Hospital

2019 ◽  
Vol 152 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S133-S133
Author(s):  
Kemin Xu ◽  
Sarwat Gilani ◽  
Hank Wang ◽  
John Fallon
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Clinical Microbiology ◽  
Diagnostic Errors ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Bacillus Species ◽  
Contamination Rate ◽  
Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ◽  
Current Guideline ◽  
Tertiary Teaching

Abstract Objectives Blood culture is one of the most important tests performed in clinical microbiology laboratories. However, blood culture contamination remains a problematic cause of diagnostic errors for laboratory diagnosis and patient management. This aim of this study was to determine blood culture contamination rates and tendency at Westchester Medical Center (WMC), a tertiary teaching hospital in suburban New York City. Methods All blood culture tests at WMC received from January 2017 to December 2018, as well as some historical data from 2007 to 2014, were retrospectively retrieved. Blood culture contamination rates were determined according to the laboratory’s predefined criteria. Results From 2007 to 2014, a total of 209,750 blood cultures were performed with an average contamination rate of 1.6% (ranging from 0.4% to 3.5% monthly). The total numbers of blood cultures performed in 2017 and 2018 were 27,863 and 28,047, respectively. The overall positive rate of blood culture was 6.8% in 2017 and 7.6% in 2018. The contamination rate of blood culture was 0.6% in 2017 and 0.9% in 2018 with very few variations among different months of the year, which was significantly lower than that of the national benchmark (~2.5%) on blood culture contamination. The majority of contaminants were Staphylococcus epidermidis, accounting for 87% of source contamination, followed by Corynebacterium species (5.5%), Bacillus species and Micrococcus species (3.5% each), and Propionibacterium species (0.5%). Conclusion Adherence to current guideline on appropriate blood collection techniques and monthly monitoring and timely feedback to phlebotomists should be continued to keep a low contamination rate for blood culture, which is not only from the perspective of individual patient care but also from the standpoint of hospital epidemiology and public health.

scholarly journals Setting up an arthroplasty care practitioner-led virtual clinic for follow-up of orthopaedic patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (20) ◽  
pp. 1326-1330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Ferdinandus ◽  
Lindsay K Smith ◽  
Hemant Pandit ◽  
Martin H Stone
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Local Hospital ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Orthopaedic Patients ◽  
Set Up

This article provides an overview of the set up for an arthroplasty care practitioner (ACP)-led virtual orthopaedic clinic (VOC). Suitable patients attend a local hospital for an X-ray and complete a questionnaire, but do not physically attend a clinic. This has been running successfully in a university teaching hospital and has led to cost savings, a reduction in outpatient waiting times and high levels of patient satisfaction. Similar clinics have the potential to become normal practice across the NHS. This article outlines the steps necessary to implement a successful VOC. The lessons learnt during this exercise may be useful for other ACPs when setting up a VOC.

scholarly journals Impact of Direct From Blood Culture Identification of Pathogens Paired With Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions in a Pediatric Hospital

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 802-808
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Puckett ◽  
Poonam Rajkotia ◽  
Lisa Coppola ◽  
Lori Baumgartner ◽  
Amity L. Roberts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Positive Blood Culture ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Maldi Tof ◽  
Culture Identification ◽  
Contaminated Blood ◽  
Organism Identification

OBJECTIVE Identification of organisms directly from positive blood culture by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has the potential for improved clinical outcomes through earlier organism identification and shorter time to appropriate clinical intervention. The uses of this technology in pediatric patients and its impact in this patient population have not been well described. METHODS Direct from positive blood culture organism identification via MALDI-TOF was implemented in September 2019. A quality improvement project was performed to assess its impact on admissions for contaminant blood cultures and time to effective and optimal antimicrobials and clinical decision-making. A pre- and post-implementation retrospective review for consecutive September through February time periods, was conducted on patients with positive monomicrobial blood cultures. Statistics were evaluated using Mann-Whitney U and χ2 tests. RESULTS One hundred nineteen patients with 131 unique blood cultures (65 in pre- and 66 in post-implementation) were identified. Time to identification was shorter, median 35.4 hours (IQR, 22.7–54.3) versus 42.3 hours (IQR, 36.5–49) in post- and pre-groups, respectively (p = 0.02). Patients were less likely to be admitted for a contaminated blood culture in the post-implementation, 26% versus 11% in the pre-implementation (p = 0.03) group. In patients treated for bacteremia, there was a shorter time to optimal therapy from Gram stain reporting in the post-implementation (median 42.7 hours [IQR, 27.2–72]) versus pre-implementation (median 60.8 hours [IQR, 42.9–80.6]) (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Direct from positive blood culture identification by MALDI-TOF decreased time to effective and optimal antimicrobials and decreased unnecessary admission in pediatric patients for contaminated blood cultures.

scholarly journals 768 Impact Of COVID-19 And BOAST Standards on Surgical Management of Upper Limb Injuries in A Large Teaching Hospital

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Naylor
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Day Case ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Large Teaching Hospital ◽  
Limb Injuries ◽  
Upper Limb Surgery ◽  
Limb Fractures

Abstract Aim During the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BOA recommended that upper limb surgery for trauma should be avoided if possible, or performed as day-case if unavoidable, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 related negative outcomes. This audit assessed compliance with recommendations and impact on proportion of injuries managed conservatively due to COVID-19 risks, inpatient stay duration, COVID-19 infections, and corrective surgical intervention rates. Method Data was collected for all referrals to orthopaedics for upper limb fractures/dislocations at a large NHS teaching hospital in the North West over a 10-week period from April 4th to June 12th. Follow up was performed to 6 months after date of injury. Care was audited against the “British Orthopaedic Association Standard in Trauma: Management of patient with urgent orthopaedic conditions and trauma during the coronavirus pandemic”. Results A total of 112 patients were referred. 76% of patients were discharged from Emergency Department, with surgery indicated in 48%. Of those, 11% (n = 6) were not operated on due to COVID-19 risks and 1 patient from this group (16.7%) has required secondary corrective surgery. Surgery was completed as day-case procedure in 50%. COVID-19 swabs were not taken in 46% of referrals, 50% had a negative test and 4% positive. No patients tested positive after discharge following treatment. Conclusions Few cases were managed conservatively based on COVID-19 risk, and only 1 patient has required secondary surgery. More upper limb injuries may be managed conservatively, as per BOAST standards, with day-case procedures better utilised as an alternative.

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