scholarly journals 766. Readmissions of Hospitalized Patients with Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) for Recurrent CDI Is Common

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S480-S480
Author(s):  
Emily N Drwiega ◽  
Larry H Danziger ◽  
Stuart Johnson ◽  
Andrew M Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
Panel Member ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Recurrent Episode ◽  
Review Panel ◽  
Infectious Disease Physician ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile Infection

Abstract Background Hospital acquired infections (HAI) and hospital readmissions are of particular focus by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is an HAI notorious for causing recurrent illness and potentially resulting in re-hospitalizations. The purpose of our study was to identify the frequency of follow-up appointments in patients with CDI and determine the rate of re-hospitalization for recurrent CDI (rCDI). Methods This was a single-center, retrospective, chart review at a tertiary medical center. Through the electronic medical record, we queried all hospitalized patients with a positive stool test for C. difficile (GI panel PCR, FilmArray, Biofire, or C. difficile PCR, Xpert CD assay, Cepheid) with or without an ICD-10 code Enterocolitis due to C. difficile (A04.7, A04.71, A04.72) from January 2018 through April 2018. Demographic and clinical data at the time of diagnosis and up to 90 days after were collected from patient records. Results One-hundred and eighty-five patient episodes were evaluated. Of these, 147 (79.5%) were primary CDI, 13 (7.0%) were rCDI, and 25 (13.5%) were determined to be colonization. Twenty-two (11.9%) patients from the total cohort attended a follow-up appointment for CDI within 30 days, most often with a primary care provider or infectious disease physician. Twenty-three (12.4%) patients, 18 of whom were hospitalized for primary CDI episodes, developed a recurrent episode within 90 days of their initial CDI episode. Of these 23 patients with rCDI, 10 (43.5%) patients were re-hospitalized for their rCDI. Only 4 (17.4%) patients with rCDI had a follow-up appointment after their primary episode and among the 10 patients re-hospitalized for rCDI, only 2 (20.0%) patient had been seen for follow up for their previous CDI episode. Conclusion In our study, few patients had a follow-up appointment for CDI. Also, more than one third of the patients who had rCDI had to be re-hospitalized for the recurrent episode. Our study highlights a concern that the majority of patients re-hospitalized with rCDI did not have a follow-up appointment within 30 days of their initial diagnosis. Further study is necessary to determine if a dedicated follow-up appointment for CDI would result in decreased re-hospitalizations associated with rCDI. Disclosures Stuart Johnson, MD, Acurx Pharmaceuticals (Advisor or Review Panel member)Bio-K+ (Advisor or Review Panel member)Ferring Pharmaceutical (Advisor or Review Panel member)

scholarly journals 697. Outcomes of Tigecycline Use for Clostridioides difficile Infection: A Case Series of 28 Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S449-S449
Author(s):  
Emma C Phillips ◽  
Cirle A Warren ◽  
Gregory Madden
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Recurrent Infection ◽  
Initial Therapy ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trials ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile Infection

Abstract Background Clostridioides difficile infection remains a highly morbid or lethal condition in an unacceptably large proportion of patients. To date, there are limited and conflicting data to support the use of tigecycline for C. difficile infection and the optimal stratification approach, timing (i.e., initial vs. salvage therapy), and duration are unclear. Methods We describe in detail a retrospective cohort of 28 C. difficile inpatients treated with tigecycline at UVA Medical Center. We stratify each patient by the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s guidelines on severity of infection and detail the timing and duration of tigecycline therapy in each case. We further characterize the effect of tigecycline on 90-day mortality and recurrence. Results 9/28 (32.1%) patients were treated with tigecycline for fulminant (presence of hypotension, shock, ileus, or megacolon), and 12/28 (42.9%) for severe (white blood cell count over 15x109/L or creatinine over 1.5mg/dL) C. difficile infection. Tigecycline was used in all cases in combination with oral vancomycin +/- metronidazole. The average duration of therapy was 7.6 days, with tigecycline as initial therapy (use within the first 72 hours of the start of directed antimicrobial therapy) in 7/28 (25%) cases. 90-day mortality occurred in 10/26 (35.7%) patients (two did not reach 90-day follow-up), all 10 of which were in-hospital mortalities and 5/10 (50%) occurred in patients with fulminant infection. 7 of the 16 (43.8%) surviving patients that reached 90-day follow-up had recurrent C. difficile infection. Conclusion Patients selected for treatment with tigecycline for C. difficile infection suffered a high rate of in-hospital mortality, especially among the significant proportion with fulminant disease. The rate of recurrent infection was substantial, contrary to some reports of reduced recurrence with tigecycline from the literature. The outcomes of tigecycline (as adjunct or monotherapy) for treatment of severe/fulminant and refractory infection versus standard treatments warrant further retrospective analysis and the benefit of tigecycline in these settings remains to be proven in well-controlled clinical trials. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals 746. Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of Clostridioides difficile Infection After a Change in Diagnostic Testing Algorithm

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S470-S471
Author(s):  
Andrew S Crone ◽  
Andrew M Skinner ◽  
Adam Cheknis ◽  
Stuart Johnson ◽  
Susan M Pacheco
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Panel Member ◽  
Restriction Endonuclease Analysis ◽  
Review Panel ◽  
Cycle Threshold ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Microbiological Characteristics ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile Infection ◽  
Testing Algorithm

Abstract Background There is a lack of consensus on the most appropriate testing for C. difficile infection (CDI). The objective of this study was to determine the clinical and microbiological characteristics of CDI following a switch from stool PCR testing only to PCR reflexed to toxin testing. Figure 1. PCR Cycle Threshold Values Methods We reviewed the characteristics and outcomes of 50 consecutive patients who tested positive for CD by PCR (Xpert CD, Cepheid) between October 2019 and January 2020 at the Hines VA Hospital. Cases were defined by results of reflex toxin testing (Cdiff quick check complete, Alere/TechLab) after a positive PCR result. Baseline characteristics, symptoms, initial laboratory data, and treatments were compared as well as patient outcomes, including hospital readmission due to CDI at 30 days, and recurrent CDI (rCDI) at 30 and 90 days. The cycle threshold for the stool PCR result was recorded. Stools were cultured anaerobically for CD, and restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) strain typing was performed on the recovered CD isolates. Results Toxin testing was positive in 19/50 (38%) cases. Compared to stool toxin-negative cases, toxin-positive cases were older (95% vs. 71% were age ≥ 65, p = 0.06), more likely to have a history of CDI (37% vs. 23%, p = 0.34), and have ≥ 1 CDI episodes within 6 months (37% vs. 19%, p = 0.26). Treatment for CDI was more common in patients who had a positive toxin text. (95% vs 61%, p= 0.009). Among the 38 patients that received treatment, 33 received vancomycin (87%) and 8 patients (21%) had rCDI at 30 days. Of the 8 patients with rCDI, 2 were re-admitted to the hospital for CDI. The average PCR cycle threshold was lower in the toxin-positive stools compared to toxin-negative stools (24.46 and 29.96, p< 0.001; Fig. 1) The endemic REA group Y was the most common CD strain recovered (30%) and the previously epidemic and virulent REA group BI strain was recovered in 11% of the cases. Conclusion CDI cases diagnosed by positive stool PCR and positive toxin tests had more typical risk factors for CDI, a lower PCR cycle threshold and were more likely to have been treated for CDI. Outcomes were similar in this setting where infection with the virulent BI strain was uncommon. Disclosures Stuart Johnson, MD, Acurx Pharmaceuticals (Advisor or Review Panel member)Bio-K+ (Advisor or Review Panel member)Ferring Pharmaceutical (Advisor or Review Panel member)

scholarly journals Real-World Experience with Bezlotoxumab for Prevention of Recurrence of Clostridioides difficile Infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Rosa Escudero-Sánchez ◽  
María Ruíz-Ruizgómez ◽  
Jorge Fernández-Fradejas ◽  
Sergio García Fernández ◽  
María Olmedo Samperio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Real World ◽  
Recurrence Rates ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Multicentre Cohort Study ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile Infection ◽  
Prevention Of Recurrence ◽  
Multicentre Cohort

Bezlotoxumab is marketed for the prevention of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI). Its high cost could be determining its prescription to a different population than that represented in clinical trials. The objective of the study was to verify the effectiveness and safety of bezlotoxumab in preventing rCDI and to investigate factors related to bezlotoxumab failure in the real world. A retrospective, multicentre cohort study of patients treated with bezlotoxumab in Spain was conducted. We compared the characteristics of cohort patients with those of patients treated with bezlotoxumab in the pivotal MODIFY trials. We assessed recurrence rates 12 weeks after completion of treatment against C. difficile, and we analysed the factors associated with bezlotoxumab failure. Ninety-one patients were included in the study. The cohort presented with more risk factors for rCDI than the patients included in the MODIFY trials. Thirteen (14.2%) developed rCDI at 12 weeks of follow-up, and rCDI rates were numerically higher in patients with two or more previous episodes (25%) than in those who had fewer than two previous episodes of C. difficile infection (CDI) (10.4%); p = 0.09. There were no adverse effects attributable to bezlotoxumab. Despite being used in a more compromised population than that represented in clinical trials, we confirm the effectiveness of bezlotoxumab for the prevention of rCDI.

scholarly journals Clinical complications in patients with primary and recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection: A real-world data analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212098673
Author(s):  
Paul Feuerstadt ◽  
Mena Boules ◽  
Laura Stong ◽  
David N Dahdal ◽  
Naomi C Sacks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Loop Ileostomy ◽  
Charlson Comorbidity Index Score ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
Infection Group ◽  
Bowel Surgery ◽  
Clinical Complications ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile Infection ◽  
Infection Episode

Objective: Clostridioides difficile infection and recurrent C. difficile infection result in substantial economic burden and healthcare resource use. Sepsis and bowel surgery are known to be serious complications of C. difficile infection. This study evaluated clinical complications in patients with C. difficile infection and recurrent C. difficile infection during a 12-month period following the primary C. difficile infection. Methods: A retrospective analysis of commercial claims data from the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus™ database was conducted for patients aged 18–64 years with an index C. difficile infection episode requiring inpatient stay or an outpatient visit for C. difficile infection followed by a C. difficile infection treatment. Each C. difficile infection episode ended after a 14-day C. difficile infection-claim-free period was observed. Recurrent C. difficile infection was defined as a further C. difficile infection episode within an 8-week window following the claim-free period. Clinical complications were documented over 12 months of follow-up and stratified by the number of recurrent C. difficile infection episodes (0 rCDI, 1 rCDI, 2 rCDI, and 3+ rCDI). Results: In total, 46,571 patients with index C. difficile infection episode were included. During the 6-month pre-index, the mean (standard deviation) baseline Charlson comorbidity index score, by increasing the recurrent C. difficile infection group, was 1.2 (1.9), 1.5 (2.2), 1.8 (2.3), and 2.3 (2.5). During the 12-month follow-up, sepsis occurred in 16.5%, 27.3%, 33.1%, and 43.3% of patients, and subtotal colectomy or diverting loop ileostomy was performed in 4.6%, 7.3%, 8.9%, and 10.5% of patients, respectively, by increasing the recurrent C. difficile infection group. Conclusions: Reduction in recurrent C. difficile infection is an important step to reduce the burden of serious clinical complications, and new treatments are needed to reduce C. difficile infection recurrence.

scholarly journals 8. The Adjuvanted Recombinant Zoster Vaccine (RZV) Confers Long-term Protection Against Herpes Zoster: Interim Results of an Extension Study (ZOSTER-049) of Two Clinical Trials (ZOE-50 and ZOE-70)

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S4-S5
Author(s):  
Céline Boutry ◽  
Andrew Hastie ◽  
Meng Shi ◽  
Javier Diez-Domingo ◽  
Juan Carlos Tinoco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Zoster ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Panel Member ◽  
Extension Study ◽  
Zoster Vaccine ◽  
Review Panel ◽  
Post Dose ◽  
Study Investigator

Abstract Background Two large-scale phase 3 clinical trials (ZOE-50 [NCT01165177] and ZOE-70 [NCT01165229]) demonstrated that, in adults ≥ 50 years of age followed over a mean period of 3.1 and 3.7 years respectively, the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) was efficacious against herpes zoster (HZ), highly immunogenic and had a clinically acceptable safety profile. In this extension study (ZOSTER-049 [NCT02723773]), RZV-induced immunogenicity persistence and long-term vaccine efficacy (VE) against HZ were evaluated; we report interim results after at least 2 years of follow-up (starting and ending ≈5.1 and 7.1 years, respectively, after initial vaccination during the parent studies). Methods The study design is detailed in Figure 1. Primary objective: VE against HZ over the ZOSTER-049 study. Secondary objectives: VE against HZ from 1 month post-dose 2 in ZOE-50/-70 until the end of observation for year (Y)2 of ZOSTER-049, persistence of vaccine-induced humoral immunogenicity (HI) in terms of anti-gE antibody concentrations (by ELISA) and cell-mediated immune (CMI) response in terms of frequency of gE-specific CD4+ T-cells (by intracellular cytokine staining). Figure 1. Study design of the extension study in relation to the parent studies. ZOSTER-049 study procedures, timing, endpoints and cohorts Results Of the 7,413 participants enrolled in ZOSTER-049, 7,277 were included in the VE analysis (Figure 2) and 6,972 reached Y2 of this study. The overall VE against HZ during at least 2 years of follow-up in ZOSTER-049 was 84.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 75.9–89.8%). From 1 month post-dose 2 in the ZOE-50/-70 studies until the end of observation for Y2 of ZOSTER-049, the overall VE was 90.9% (95% CI: 88.2–93.2%). Anti-gE antibody concentrations persisted ≈6 times above pre-vaccination levels up to Y8 after vaccination (Figure 3A) and the frequency of gE-specific CD4[2+] T-cells remained above baseline from Y6 to Y8 after vaccination (i.e. until the end of observation for Y2 of ZOSTER-049) (Figure 3B). Figure 2. Demographic characteristics of participants included in the ZOSTER-049 study, for the analysis of vaccine efficacy against herpes zoster (mTVC) Figure 3. Long-term persistence of humoral immunogenicity (HI) and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses up to year 8 post-vaccination dose 2 administered in the ZOE-50/-70 studies Conclusion RZV demonstrated high VE against HZ until the end of the observation period for this Y2 interim analysis. The HI and CMI responses remained stable and high until the end of observation (i.e. 7.1 years after initial vaccination). Funding: GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA Acknowledgements: LA Truta/S Hulsmans (Modis c/o GSK) provided writing/editorial support Disclosures Céline Boutry, PhD, Aixial (Consultant) Andrew Hastie, MD, GSK group of companies (Employee) Meng Shi, MS, GSK group of companies (Employee) Javier Diez-Domingo, MD, GSK group of companies (Board Member, Scientific Research Study Investigator, Advisor or Review Panel member)MSD (Board Member, Scientific Research Study Investigator, Advisor or Review Panel member) Paola Pirrotta, PharmD, GSK group of companies (Employee) George Kalema, PhD, GSK group of companies/Keyrus Biopharma (Consultant) Anne Schuind, MD, GSK (Employee, Other Financial or Material Support, own GSK stock options or restricted shares as part of renumeration)

scholarly journals 797. Management of Patients with Multiple Clostridioides difficile Infection Recurrences using a Tapered-Pulsed Fidaxomicin Strategy

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S441-S442
Author(s):  
Xing Tan ◽  
Andrew M Skinner ◽  
Benjamin Sirbu ◽  
Larry H Danziger ◽  
Dale N Gerding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
First Episode ◽  
Initial Symptom ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
The Past ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Time To Recurrence ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile Infection ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Systemic Antibiotics

Abstract Background There is a paucity of data assessing outcomes of alternate fidaxomicin strategies in patients with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI). The objective of our study is to evaluate a tapered-pulsed (T-P) fidaxomicin regimen that was administered immediately following a course of CDI treatment with initial symptom resolution in patients with multiple rCDI. Methods We reviewed the characteristics and outcomes of 46 consecutive patients who received T-P fidaxomicin between January 1, 2014-June 30, 2019 in a specialty CDI clinic. The first episode in which fidaxomicin T-P was administered was analyzed. Failure was defined as the persistence of diarrhea and/or the need for additional CDI treatment at any time on T-P fidaxomicin. Sustained clinical cure (SCC) was defined as resolution of diarrhea without recurrence. Recurrence was defined as the return of diarrhea requiring retreatment with CDI therapy after completion of T-P fidaxomicin. Both SCC and recurrence were evaluated at 30 and 90 days after completion of T-P fidaxomicin. Results The mean±SD age of the 46 patients was 63.2±19.9 years, 71.7% were female, and the mean±SD CDI episodes within the past year was 3±1.4 . Most patients (73.9%) had previously failed a vancomycin tapered and/or pulsed regimen. Prior to administering T-P fidaxomicin, a treatment regimen was given to ensure resolution of symptoms. The CDI treatment most commonly used (58.7%) was vancomycin. The T-P fidaxomicin regimen used consisted of 200 mg given once daily for 7 days followed by 200 mg every other day for a median (min-max) duration of 33 (6-120) days. Two patients (4%) failed to respond to T-P fidaxomicin; 34 (74%) and 28 (61%) achieved SCC at 30 and 90 days, respectively. Among the 44 patients that successfully completed the T-P fidaxomicin regimen, recurrence developed in 10 (22.7%) and 16 (36.4%) of patients at 30 and 90 days, respectively, with a median (min-max) time to recurrence of 20 (3-87) days (Figure 1). Four patients with recurrence had received subsequent systemic antibiotics. Figure 1. Course of CDI therapy and follow-up Conclusion A tapered-pulsed fidaxomicin strategy may be effective in patients with multiply rCDI who are refractory to other treatments, including a vancomycin tapered and pulsed regimen. Disclosures Larry H. Danziger, PharmD, Merck (Speaker’s Bureau)

scholarly journals Assessment of Testing and Treatment of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Initiated in the Emergency Department

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay A Petty ◽  
Valerie M Vaughn ◽  
Scott A Flanders ◽  
Twisha Patel ◽  
Anurag N Malani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Antibiotic Treatment ◽  
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Estimating Equation ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile Infection

Abstract Background Reducing antibiotic use in patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) has been inpatient focused. However, testing and treatment is often started in the emergency department (ED). Thus, for hospitalized patients with ASB, we sought to identify patterns of testing and treatment initiated by emergency medicine (EM) clinicians and the association of treatment with outcomes. Methods We conducted a 43-hospital, cohort study of adults admitted through the ED with ASB (February 2018–February 2020). Using generalized estimating equation models, we assessed for (1) factors associated with antibiotic treatment by EM clinicians and, after inverse probability of treatment weighting, (2) the effect of treatment on outcomes. Results Of 2461 patients with ASB, 74.4% (N = 1830) received antibiotics. The EM clinicians ordered urine cultures in 80.0% (N = 1970) of patients and initiated treatment in 68.5% (1253 of 1830). Predictors of EM clinician treatment of ASB versus no treatment included dementia, spinal cord injury, incontinence, urinary catheter, altered mental status, leukocytosis, and abnormal urinalysis. Once initiated by EM clinicians, 79% (993 of 1253) of patients remained on antibiotics for at least 3 days. Antibiotic treatment was associated with a longer length of hospitalization (mean 5.1 vs 4.2 days; relative risk = 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–1.23) and Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) (0.9% [N = 11] vs 0% [N = 0]; P = .02). Conclusions Among hospitalized patients ultimately diagnosed with ASB, EM clinicians commonly initiated testing and treatment; most antibiotics were continued by inpatient clinicians. Antibiotic treatment was not associated with improved outcomes, whereas it was associated with prolonged hospitalization and CDI. For best impact, stewardship interventions must expand to the ED.

scholarly journals The Importance of Abnormal Platelet Count in Patients with Clostridioides difficile Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 2957
Author(s):  
Shira Buchrits ◽  
Anat Gafter-Gvili ◽  
Jihad Bishara ◽  
Alaa Atamna ◽  
Gida Ayada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Count ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Innate And Adaptive Immunity ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile Infection ◽  
Multivariable Analyses ◽  
Wbc Count

Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) causes morbidity and mortality. Platelets have been increasingly recognized as an important component of innate and adaptive immunity. We aimed to assess the incidence of thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis in CDI and the effect of an abnormal platelet count on clinical outcomes. Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study consisted of all adult patients hospitalized in Rabin Medical Center between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2018 with laboratory confirmed CDI. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. Risk factors for 30-day all-cause mortality were identified by univariable and multivariable analyses, using logistic regression. Results: A total of 527 patients with CDI were included. Among them 179 (34%) had an abnormal platelet count: 118 (22%) had thrombocytopenia and 61 (11.5%) had thrombocytosis. Patients with thrombocytosis were similar to control patients other than having a significantly higher white blood cell count at admission. Patients with thrombocytopenia were younger than control patients and were more likely to suffer from malignancies, immunosuppression, and hematological conditions. In a multivariable analysis, both thrombocytosis (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.01–3.52) and thrombocytopenia (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.01–2.89) were associated with 30-days mortality, as well as age, hypoalbuminemia, acute kidney injury, and dependency on activities of daily living. A sensitivity analysis restricted for patients without hematological malignancy or receiving chemotherapy revealed increased mortality with thrombocytosis but not with thrombocytopenia. Conclusions: In this retrospective study of hospitalized patients with CDI, we observed an association between thrombocytosis on admission and all-cause mortality, which might represent a marker for disease severity. Patients with CDI and thrombocytopenia also exhibited increased mortality, which might reflect their background conditions and not the severity of the CDI. Future studies should assess thrombocytosis as a severity marker with or without the inclusion of the WBC count.

scholarly journals Institutional Blood Glucose Monitoring System for Hospitalized Patients: An Integral Component of the Inpatient Glucose Control Program

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 1168-1174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Boaz ◽  
Zohar Landau ◽  
Zipora Matas ◽  
Julio Wainstein
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Diabetic Patient ◽  
Glucose Control ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Blood Glucose Monitoring ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Integral Component

Background: The ability to measure patient blood glucose levels at bedside in hospitalized patients and to transmit those values to a central database enables and facilitates glucose control and follow-up and is an integral component in the care of the hospitalized diabetic patient. Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of an institutional glucometer employed in the framework of the Program for the Treatment of the Hospitalized Diabetic Patient (PTHDP) at E. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel. Methods: As part of the program to facilitate glucose control in hospitalized diabetic patients, an institutional glucometer was employed that permits uploading of data from stands located in each inpatient department and downloading of that data to a central hospital-wide database. Blood glucose values from hospitalized diabetic patients were collected from August 2007 to October 2008. The inpatient glucose control program was introduced gradually beginning January 2008. Results: During the follow-up period, more than 150,000 blood glucose measures were taken. Mean glucose was 195.7 ± 99.12 mg/dl during the follow-up period. Blood glucose values declined from 206 ± 105 prior to PTHDP (August 2007–December 2007) to 186 ± 92 after its inception (January 2008–October 2008). The decline was associated significantly with time ( r = 0.11, p < 0.0001). The prevalence of blood glucose values lower than 60 mg/dl was 1.48% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36%] prior to vs 1.55% (95% CI 0.37%) following implementation of the PTHDP. Concomitantly, a significant increase in the proportion of blood glucose values between 80 and 200 mg/dl was observed, from 55.5% prior to program initiation vs 61.6% after program initiation ( p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The present study was designed to observe changes in institution-wide glucose values following implementation of the PTHDP. Information was extracted from the glucometer system itself. Because the aforementioned study was not a clinical trial, we cannot rule out that factors other than introduction of the program could explain some of the variability observed. With these limitations in mind, it nevertheless appears that the PTHDP, of which the institutional glucometer is an integral, essential component, was associated with improved blood glucose values in the hospitalized diabetic patient.

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