scholarly journals 124. Six-year Longitudinal Analysis of an Inpatient Infectious Diseases Telemedicine Service at a Community Hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S191-S192
Author(s):  
Nupur Gupta ◽  
Adit B Sanghvi ◽  
John Mellors ◽  
Rima Abdel-Massih

Abstract Background Telemedicine (TM) has emerged as a viable solution to extend infectious disease (ID) expertise to communities without access to this specialty.1 TM allows clinicians in rural settings to connect with specialists at distant sites and provide the best care for their patients, often eliminating the need for hospital transfers. Here, we describe the experience from one of the longest standing inpatient Tele-ID consult services using live audio-video (AV) visits with the assistance of a telepresenter. Methods Longitudinal data were collected from a 126-bed rural hospital in Pennsylvania that had no access to ID consultation before 2014. Live AV consults during business hours began in 2014 and telephonic physician to physician consults were made available 24/7. All ID consult data were extracted from the hospital electronic health record between 2014 to 2019. Key outcomes assessed included the number of consult encounters, total hospital length of stay (LOS), discharges to home, transfer to tertiary care centers, and readmission rates at 30 days. Results Most consulted patients were Caucasians, and females with an average age of 64.7 years (Table 1). The number of unique consult encounters increased annually from 111 in 2014 to 469 in 2019 (Table 1). The Charlson Comorbidity Score and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index also increased each year beginning in 2016 (Table 1). By contrast, LOS decreased each year as did the 30-day readmission rate (Table 2). Most patients were not transferred (average 89.4% over 6 years) to tertiary care centers and more than half were discharged to home each year (Table 2). Conclusion This longitudinal 6-year observation study of an inpatient TM ID service at a rural hospital showed remarkable annual growth in consult encounters (total growth >400%). Despite increasing patient acuity, overall hospital LOS decreased over time (10.2 to 8.2 days). Patient transfers to tertiary care centers remained low (average 10.5% over 6 years) as did 30-day readmissions (average 16.3% over 6 years). The majority of patients were discharged to home (average 61.3% over 6 years). These findings show that a rural inpatient TM ID consult service can expand over time and is an effective alternative for hospitals without access to ID expertise. Disclosures John Mellors, MD, Abound Bio (Shareholder)Accelevir Diagnostics (Consultant)Co-Crystal Pharmaceuticals (Shareholder)Gilead (Consultant, Grant/Research Support)Merck (Consultant) Rima Abdel-Massih, MD, Infectious Disease Connect (Shareholder, Other Financial or Material Support, Chief Medical Officer)

Author(s):  
Christian Steinberg ◽  
Nicolas Dognin ◽  
Amit Sodhi ◽  
Catherine Champagne ◽  
John A. Staples ◽  
...  

Background: Regulatory authorities of most industrialized countries recommend 6-months of private driving restriction after implantation of a secondary prevention ICD. These driving restrictions result in significant inconvenience and social implications. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence rate of appropriate device therapies in contemporary recipients of a secondary prevention ICD. Methods: A retrospective study at three Canadian tertiary care centers enrolling consecutive patients with new secondary prevention ICD implants between 2016-2020. Results: 721 patients were followed for a median of 760 days (324, 1190). The risk of recurrent ventricular arrhythmia was highest during the first three months after device insertion (34.4%), and decreased over time (10.6% between 3−6 months, 11.7% between 6-12 months). The corresponding incidence rate per 100 patient-days was 0.48 (95% CI 0.35-0.64) at 90 days, 0.28 (95% CI 0.18−0.48) at 180 days and 0.20 (95% CI 0.13−0.31) between 181-365 days after ICD insertion (p<0.001). The cumulative incidence of arrhythmic syncope resulting in sudden cardiac incapacitation was 1.8% within the first 90 days and subsequently dropped to 0.4% between 91-180 days (p<0.001) after ICD insertion. Conclusions: The incidence rate of appropriate therapies resulting in sudden cardiac incapacitation in contemporary recipients of a secondary prevention ICD is much lower than previously reported, and significantly declines after the first three months. Lowering driving restrictions to three months after the index cardiac event seems safe and revision of existing guidelines recommending should be considered in countries still adhering to a 6-months period. Existing restrictions for private driving after implantation of a secondary prevention ICD should be reconsidered.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S200-S201
Author(s):  
Mark McAllister ◽  
Justin Chen ◽  
Stephanie Smith ◽  
Arienne King ◽  
Tanis C Dingle ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Infectious disease consultation (IDC) is associated with increased adherence to guideline management and improved patient outcomes. We describe the IDC rate over time and impact of IDC on the management and outcomes of patients with SAB. Methods This retrospective chart review includes adult patients (≥ 18 years) hospitalized at the University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, Canada who had at least 1 blood culture growing Staphylococcus aureus during two time periods (A: Jan 2010 to Dec 2012; B: Jan to Oct 2020). Patients who died or were made palliative within 48hrs following bacteremia were excluded. Descriptive statistics were used to compare appropriateness of SAB management and outcomes in patients receiving IDC and those who did not (NIDC). Results 325 patients in period A and 129 in period B were included. Baseline demographics were similar. IDC rate increased from 63% to 88% (p&lt; 0.001) between the study periods. IDC was associated with increased odds of receiving an echocardiogram (OR=3.56, 95% CI 2.22 – 5.57; OR=20.4, 95% 4.13 – 110.6, p&lt; 0.001) and appropriate duration of antimicrobial therapy (OR=6.74, 95% 3.93 – 11.54; OR=43.2, 95% 5.72 – 529.5, p&lt; 0.001) between study periods. Mean length of stay decreased in patients receiving IDC (44.8 vs 28.1 days, p=0.005) and increased in NIDC patients (19.9 vs 28.7 days, p=0.216). IDC was associated with lower 30-day mortality in period A (OR=3.53, 95% 1.95 – 6.36), however this association was not observed in period B (OR=1.43, 95% 0.40 – 5.56). There was a trend towards decreased odds of mortality in patients receiving early IDC (≤2 days from bacteremia, n=65) compared to late IDC (≥3 days from bacteremia, n=45) (OR=2.59, 95% 0.95 – 7.10, p=0.077). Conclusion Our centre’s IDC rate for SAB increased over time without specific intervention. IDC increased the odds of appropriate SAB management and was associated with decreased length of stay in period B. IDC was associated with lower 30-day mortality in period A and trended towards lower mortality in period B. Specifically, early IDC decreased odds of 30-day mortality compared to late IDC. These results suggest that routine early IDC be part of SAB management. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 470-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia M. Kasper ◽  
Humaa A. Nyazee ◽  
Deborah S. Yokoe ◽  
Jeanmarie Mayer ◽  
Julie E. Mangino ◽  
...  

Objective.To assess Clostridium difficile infection (CDI)-related colectomy rates by CDI surveillance definitions and over time at multiple healthcare facilities.Setting.Five university-affiliated acute care hospitals in the United States.Design and Methods.Cases of CDI and patients who underwent colectomy from July 2000 through June 2006 were identified from 5 US tertiary care centers. Monthly CDI-related colectomy rates were calculated as the number of CDI-related colectomies per 1,000 CDI cases, and cases were categorized according to recommended surveillance definitions. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate risk factors for CDI-related colectomy.Results.In total, 8,569 cases of CDI were identified, and 75 patients underwent CDI-related colectomy. The overall colectomy rate was 8.7 per 1,000 CDI cases. The CDI-related colectomy rate ranged from 0 to 23 per 1,000 CDI episodes across hospitals. The colectomy rate for healthcare-facility-onset CDI was 4.3 per 1,000 CDI cases, and that for community-onset CDI was 16.5 per 1,000 CDI cases (P < .05). There were significantly more CDI-related colectomies at hospitals B and C (P < .05).Conclusions.The overall CDI-related colectomy rate was low, and there was no significant change in the CDI-related colectomy rate over time. Onset of disease outside the study hospital was an independent risk factor for colectomy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary G. Peterson ◽  
Rui Xiao ◽  
Hannah Katcoff ◽  
Brian T. Fisher ◽  
Pamela F. Weiss

Abstract Background Glucocorticoid exposure is a significant driver of morbidity in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). We determined the effect of early initiation of biologic therapy (IL-1 or IL-6 inhibition) on glucocorticoid exposure in hospitalized patients with new-onset sJIA. Methods We emulated a pragmatic sequence of trials (“pseudo-trials”) of biologic initiation in children (≤ 18 years) hospitalized with new-onset sJIA utilizing retrospective data from an administrative database from 52 tertiary care children’s hospitals from 2008 to 2019. Eligibility window, treatment assignment and start of follow-up between biologic and non-biologic study arms were aligned for each pseudo-trial. Patients in the source population could meet eligibility criteria at several timepoints. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine the effect of biologic initiation on in-hospital glucocorticoid exposure. Results Four hundred sixty-eight children met eligibility criteria, of which 19% received biologic therapy without preceding or concomitant initiation of immunomodulatory medications. This proportion significantly increased over time during the study period (p <  0.01). 1451 trial subjects were included across 4 pseudo-trials with 71 assigned to the biologic arm and 1380 assigned to the non-biologic arm. After adjustment, there was a trend toward decreased odds of glucocorticoid initiation in the biologic arm compared to the non-biologic arm (OR 0.39, 95% CI [0.13, 1.15]). Conclusion Biologic initiation in children hospitalized with new-onset sJIA significantly increased over time and may be associated with reduced glucocorticoid exposure. The increasing use of first-line biologic therapy may lead to clinically relevant reductions in treatment-related adverse effects of glucocorticoid-reliant therapeutic approaches.


Author(s):  
Essam Abdelhameed ◽  
Ahmed Ali Morsy

Abstract Background Primary intradural spinal arachnoid cysts are rare pathologies of uncertain etiology and variable presentation from no symptoms to myelopathy or radiculopathy according to cord or root compression. MRI with diffusion and contrast differentiates them from many pathologies. There is a lot of debate regarding when to treat and how to treat such rare pathologies. Objective We present a series of 10 primary intradural arachnoid cysts and evaluate outcome after surgery. Methods This retrospective study includes patients having primary intradural spinal arachnoid cysts operated in two tertiary care centers from October 2012 till October 2019. Symptomatic cysts were subjected to microsurgical resection or outer wall excision and inner wall marsupialization under neurophysiological monitoring. The Japanese Orthopedic Association Score was used for clinical evaluation while MRI with contrast and diffusion was used for radiological evaluation before and after surgery. Results This series included 10 patients, 4 males and 6 females, with mean age of 40 years. Pain was the most common presentation. The most common location was dorsal thoracic region. Total excision was achieved in 2 cases and marsupialization in 8 cases. All symptoms improved either completely or partially after surgery. No neurological deterioration or recurrence was reported during the follow-up period in this series. Conclusion Treatment of symptomatic primary intradural spinal arachnoid cysts should be microsurgical resection, when the cyst is adherent to the cord, microscopic fenestration can be safe and effective.


Author(s):  
Gautam Das ◽  
Samar Biswas ◽  
Souvik Dubey ◽  
Durjoy Lahiri ◽  
Biman Kanti Ray ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Patients with epilepsy and their family have diverse beliefs about the cause of their illness that generally determine their treatment-seeking behavior. In this study, our aim was to find out different beliefs about epilepsy that lead to different help-seeking patterns, which act as barrier to the intended modern medical management of epilepsy. Materials and Methods One hundred and fifty consecutive consenting patients accompanied by a reliable informant/family member fulfilling the International Classification of Epileptic Seizures (ICES), simplified version, were included. Demographic and clinical data of all the eligible subjects was collected. Perceived cause of illness and help-seeking pattern were explored from patient/informant by administering proper instruments. Results Respondents identified varied causes of epilepsy and explored multiple help-seeking options before reaching tertiary care centers. We observed that, generally, epileptic patients/relatives who had belief in causes like supernatural causes sought help from nonprofessional personnel and those attributed their symptom to bodily pathology had professional help-seeking. Conclusions The belief in supernatural causes not being conformed to the biomedical models of the epileptic disorders increases the treatment gap.


Author(s):  
Josee Paradis ◽  
Agnieszka Dzioba ◽  
Hamdy El-Hakim ◽  
Paul Hong ◽  
Frederick K. Kozak ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To evaluate the clinical presentation of choanal atresia (CA) in tertiary centers across Canada. Methods Multi-centre case series involving six tertiary care pediatric hospitals across Canada. Retrospective chart review of patients born between 1980 and 2010 diagnosed with CA at a participating center. Results The health charts of 215 patients (59.6% female) with CA were reviewed and included in this study. The mean age of patients at time of CA presentation was 0.4 months (range 0.1 to 7.2 months) for bilateral CA and 37.8 months (range 0.1 to 164.1 months) for unilateral cases. The most common presenting symptoms for bilateral CA in decreasing order were respiratory distress (96.4%), feeding difficulties (68.2%), and rhinorrhea (65.5%), and for unilateral cases in decreasing order were rhinorrhea (92.0%), feeding difficulties (24.7%), and respiratory distress (18.0%). For the majority of patients (73.2%), the obstruction comprised mixed bony and membranous tissue, with only 10.5% presenting with a purely membranous obstruction. Familial history of CA was confirmed in only 3.3% of cases. One half of patients with CA presented with one or more associated anomalies and 30.6% had a syndrome. Conclusions The present investigation is the first national multi-institutional study evaluating the clinical presentation of CA over three decades. The present cohort of CA patients presented with a breadth of co-morbidities with highly variable presentations, with bilateral cases being more severely affected than unilateral cases. Further investigation into hereditary linkages to CA development is warranted. Graphical abstract


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