Centralized Communication of Blood Culture Results Leveraging Antimicrobial Stewardship and Rapid Diagnostics

Abstract Objective This study aimed to determine if integrating antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) personnel with rapid diagnostic testing resulted in improved outcomes for patients with positive blood cultures. Method Beginning in 2016, Saint Luke’s Health System (SLHS) implemented a new process where all positive blood cultures were communicated to ASP personnel or SLHS pharmacy staff. Pharmacists then became responsible for interpreting results, assessing patient specific information, and subsequently relaying culture and treatment information to providers. This was a multisite, pre-post, quasi-experimental study (Pre: August to December 2014; Post: August to December 2016). Patients 18 years of age and older with a positive blood culture during admission were included (2014, n = 218; 2016, n = 286). Coprimary outcomes of time to optimal and appropriate therapy were determined from time of culture positivity via gram stain. Secondary outcomes focused on clinical, process, and fiscal endpoints. A pre-post intervention physician survey was conducted to assess the impact on antimicrobial decision making and perceived effect on patient outcomes. Results There was no difference in time to appropriate therapy groups (P = .079). Time to optimal therapy was 9.2 hours shorter in 2016 (P = .004). Provider surveys indicated the process improved communication among clinicians and facilitated a shared decision-making process with a perceived improvement in patient care. Conclusions An ASP-led blood culture communication process for patients with positive blood cultures was shown to improve time to optimal therapy, support physicians in their decision making on critical lab data, and improve the care for hospitalized patients.

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Automated Alerts Coupled with Antimicrobial Stewardship Intervention Lead to Decreases in Length of Stay in Patients with Gram-Negative Bacteremia

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/674849 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 132-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Jason M. Pogue ◽

Ryan P. Mynatt ◽

Dror Marchaim ◽

Jing J. Zhao ◽

Viktorija O. Barr ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Blood Culture ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Positive Blood Culture ◽

Medical Center ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Gram Negative Bacteremia ◽

Appropriate Therapy ◽

The Impact

Objective.To assess the impact of active alerting of positive blood culture data coupled with stewardship intervention on time to appropriate therapy, length of stay, and mortality in patients with gram-negative bacteremia.Design.Quasi-experimental retrospective cohort study in patients with gram-negative bacteremia at the Detroit Medical Center from 2009 to 2011.Setting.Three hospitals (1 community, 2 academic) with active antimicrobial stewardship programs within the Detroit Medical Center.Patients.All patients with monomicrobial gram-negative bacteremia during the study period.Intervention.Active alerting of positive blood culture data coupled with stewardship intervention (2010-2011) compared with patients who received no formalized stewardship intervention (2009).Results.Active alerting and intervention led to a decreased time to appropriate therapy (8 [interquartile range (IQR), 2-24] vs 14 [IQR, 2-35] hours; P = .014) in patients with gram-negative bacteremia. After controlling for differences between groups, being in the intervention arm was associated with an independent reduction in length of stay (odds ratio [OR], 0.73 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.62-0.86]), correlating to a median attributable decrease in length of stay of 2.2 days. Additionally, multivariate modeling of patients who were not on appropriate antimicrobial therapy at the time of initial culture positivity showed that patients in the intervention group had a significant reduction in both length of stay (OR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.66-0.86]) and infection-related mortality (OR, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.08-0.76]).Conclusions.Active alerting coupled with stewardship intervention in patients with gram-negative bacteremia positively impacted time to appropriate therapy, length of stay, and mortality and should be a target of antimicrobial stewardship programs.

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Epidemiology of Blood Culture Utilization in a Cohort of Critically Ill Children

Journal of Pediatric Intensive Care ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1676993 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 08 (03) ◽

pp. 144-147

Author(s):

Christine Anh-Thu Tran ◽

Jenna Verena Zschaebitz ◽

Michael Campbell Spaeder

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Blood Culture ◽

Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ◽

Inflammatory Response ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Clinical Status ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Systemic Inflammatory Response ◽

Critically Ill Children ◽

Culture Acquisition

AbstractBlood culture acquisition is integral in the assessment of patients with sepsis, though there exists a lack of clarity relating to clinical states that warrant acquisition. We investigated the clinical status of critically ill children in the timeframe proximate to acquisition of blood cultures. The associated rates of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (72%) and sepsis (57%) with blood culture acquisition were relatively low suggesting a potential overutilization of blood cultures. Efforts are needed to improve decision making at the time that acquisition of blood cultures is under consideration and promote percutaneous blood draws over indwelling lines.

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Risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with blood culture contamination

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2021.111 ◽

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.

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1138. Script for Pediatrics: Creating a Smartphone Application to Improve Antimicrobial Prescribing

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.1002 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S405-S405

Author(s):

Sarah Primhak ◽

Natasha Pool ◽

Gayl Humphrey ◽

Lesley Voss ◽

Rachel H Webb ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Smartphone Application ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Oral Antibiotic ◽

Duration Of Treatment ◽

Antibiotic Allergy ◽

Alternative Agent ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background When considering antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions, pediatrics is an important and often overlooked group. By 5 years of age, 97% of New Zealand (NZ) children have received antibiotics (median 8 antibiotic courses/child). Prescribing is complex due to age and weight-based adjustments, unpalatable oral preparations and inappropriate allergy labeling. Our tertiary Children’s Hospital has >250 web-based nationally utilized guidelines, 15% including antimicrobials. A point prevalence audit showed only 63% guideline adherence for inpatient antimicrobial prescriptions. We designed an accessible app to bring antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic allergy decision-making to prescribers at point of care. Methods Using local hospital and community guidelines, the national formulary and in consultation with subspecialist teams, 31 algorithms were developed. Each algorithm asked questions including diagnosis, age, antibiotic allergy history and known colonization with-resistant organisms. Results The smartphone app (Script) uses the algorithms to advise on appropriate antimicrobial, dose, route and duration of treatment. Advice regarding IV-oral switch parameters and oral antibiotic choice is provided. If allergy is suspected symptom-based decision-making enables the user to choose an alternative agent or encourages allergy de-labeling. Further AMS occurs in some algorithms when advice is given not to prescribe antimicrobials. Conclusion Script for Pediatrics launched in NZ in March 2019 with >1000 users in the first 6 weeks. The most frequently accessed guidelines are otitis media, pneumonia and meningitis. Smartphone applications with local relevance and the ability to update in real-time may prove important tools, by providing easily accessible and intuitive advice to help support antimicrobial stewardship activities. This intervention has been rapidly adopted by pediatric hospital prescribers. The impact on prescribing in concordance with guidelines, timely intravenous to oral antibiotic switch and allergy de-labeling will be assessed. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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Antimicrobial Stewardship Standards and Patient Safety: A Case Study in Blood Culture Contamination

Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ash.2021.66 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (S1) ◽

pp. s36-s36

Author(s):

Connie Schaefer

Keyword(s):

Blood Culture ◽

Healthcare System ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Standard Method ◽

Broad Spectrum ◽

Emergency Departments ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Contamination Rate ◽

Broad Spectrum Antibiotics ◽

Contamination Events

Background: Blood culture is a crucial diagnostic tool for healthcare systems, but false-positive results drain clinical resources, imperil patients with an increased length of stay (and associated hospital-acquired infection risk), and undermine global health initiatives when broad-spectrum antibiotics are administered unnecessarily. Considering emerging technologies that mitigate human error factors, we questioned historically acceptable rates of blood culture contamination, which prompted a need to promote and trial these technologies further. In a 3-month trial, 3 emergency departments in a midwestern healthcare system utilized an initial specimen diversion device (ISDD) to draw blood cultures to bring their blood culture contamination rate (4.4% prior to intervention) below the 3% benchmark recommended by the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute. Methods: All emergency department nursing staff received operational training on the ISDD for blood culture sample acquisition. From June through August 2019, 1,847 blood cultures were drawn via the ISDD, and 862 were drawn via the standard method. Results: In total, 16 contamination events occurred when utilizing the ISDD (0.9%) and 37 contamination events occurred when utilizing the standard method (4.3%). ISDD utilization resulted in an 80% reduction in blood culture contamination from the rate of 4.4% rate held prior to intervention. Conclusions: A midwestern healthcare system experienced a dramatic reduction in blood culture contamination across 3 emergency departments while pilot testing an ISDD, conserving laboratory and therapeutic resources while minimizing patient exposure to unnecessary risks and procedures. If the results obtained here were sustained and the ISDD utilized for all blood culture draws, nearly 400 contamination events could be avoided annually in this system. Reducing unnecessary antibiotic use in this manner will lower rates of associated adverse events such as acute kidney injury and allergic reaction, which are possible topics for further investigation. The COVID-19 pandemic has recently highlighted both the importance of keeping hospital beds available and the rampant carelessness with which broad-spectrum antibiotics are administered (escalating the threat posed by multidrug-resistant organisms). As more ambitious healthcare benchmarks become attainable, promoting and adhering to higher standards for patient care will be critical to furthering an antimicrobial stewardship agenda and to reducing treatment inequity in the field.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

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Abstract 27: Patients' Perspectives on a Decision Aid to Facilitate Cost-sensitive Decisions for Sacubitril-Valsartan

Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes ◽

10.1161/hcq.13.suppl_1.27 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Andrea R Mitchell ◽

Grace Venechuk ◽

Larry A Allen ◽

Dan D Matlock ◽

Miranda Moore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Shared Decision Making ◽

Decision Aid ◽

Decision Aids ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Patient Specific ◽

Shared Decision ◽

Cost Information ◽

Reduced Ejection Fraction ◽

The Impact

Background: Decision aids frequently focus on decisions that are preference-sensitive due to an absence of superior medical option or qualitative differences in treatments. Out of pocket cost can also make decisions preference-sensitive. However, cost is infrequently discussed with patients, and cost has not typically been considered in developing approaches to shared decision-making or decision aids. Determining a therapy’s value to a patient requires an individualized assessment of both benefits and cost. A decision aid addressing cost for sacubitril-valsartan in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) was developed because this medication has clear medical benefits but can entail appreciable out-of-pocket cost. Objective: To explore patients’ perspectives on a decision aid for sacubitril-valsartan in HFrEF. Methods: Twenty adults, ages 32-73, with HFrEF who met general eligibility for sacubitril-valsartan were recruited from outpatient HF clinics and inpatient services at 2 geographically-distinct academic health systems. In-depth interviews were conducted by trained interviewers using a semi-structured guide after patients reviewed the decision aid. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed; qualitative descriptive analysis was conducted using a template analytic method. Results: Participants confirmed that cost was relevant to this decision and that cost discussions with clinicians are infrequent but welcomed. Participants cited multiple ways that this decision aid could be helpful beyond informing a choice; these included serving as a conversation starter, helping inform questions, and serving as a reference later. The decision aid seemed balanced; several participants felt that it was promotional, while others wanted a more “positive” presentation. Participants valued the display of benefits of sacubitril-valsartan but had variable views about how to apply data to themselves and heterogenous interpretations of a 3% absolute reduction in mortality over 2 years. None felt this benefit was overwhelming; about half felt it was very small. The decision aid incorporated a novel “gist statement” to contextualize benefits and counter tendencies to dismiss this mortality reduction as trivial. Several participants liked this statement; few had strong impressions. Conclusion: Out of pocket cost should be part of shared decision-making. These data suggest patients are receptive to inclusion of cost in decision aids and that a “middle ground” between being promotional and negative may exist. The data, however, raise concerns regarding potential dismissal of clinically meaningful benefits and illustrate challenges identifying appropriate contextualizing language. The impact of various framings warrants further study, as does integration of decision aids with patient-specific out-of-pocket cost information during clinical encounters.

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Predictors of Time to Effective and Optimal Antimicrobial Therapy in Patients With Positive Blood Cultures Identified via Molecular Rapid Diagnostic Testing

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofy350 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Maya Beganovic ◽

Tristan T Timbrook ◽

Sarah M Wieczorkiewicz

Keyword(s):

Patient Outcomes ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Antimicrobial Therapy ◽

Diagnostic Tests ◽

Diagnostic Testing ◽

Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Effective Therapy ◽

Rapid Diagnostic Testing ◽

Optimal Therapy

Abstract Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs integrated with rapid diagnostic tests optimize patient outcomes and reduce time to effective therapy (TTET) and time to optimal therapy (TTOT). This study identifies predictors of TTET and TTOT among patients with positive blood cultures and identifies limitations to current TTOT definitions and outcomes.

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Quantifying the Impact of Patient-Specific Factors and Disease Severity on Clinical Decision Making in Cuff Tear Arthropathy: A Case-Based Survey

HSS Journal ® ◽

10.1007/s11420-019-09695-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 276-285

Author(s):

Adam P. Schumaier ◽

Yehia H. Bedeir ◽

Joshua S. Dines ◽

Keith Kenter ◽

Lawrence V. Gulotta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Disease Severity ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Patient Specific ◽

Cuff Tear Arthropathy ◽

Cuff Tear ◽

Specific Factors ◽

The Impact ◽

Case Based

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P32 An audit to assess the suitability of patients at a tertiary/quaternary paediatric hospital to switch from intravenous (IV) to oral (PO) antimicrobial therapy

Archives of Disease in Childhood ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2020-nppg.41 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 105 (9) ◽

pp. e23.1-e23

Author(s):

Orlagh McGarrity ◽

Aliya Pabani

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Blood Culture ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Antimicrobial Therapy ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

List Type ◽

Paediatric Hospital ◽

Oral Agents

Introduction, Aims and ObjectivesIn 2011 the Start Smart then Focus campaign was launched by Public Health England (PHE) to combat antimicrobial resistance.1 The ‘focus’ element refers to the antimicrobial review at 48–72 hours, when a decision and documentation regarding infection management should be made. [OM1] At this tertiary/quaternary paediatric hospital we treat, immunocompromised, high risk patients. In a recent audit it was identified that 80% of antimicrobial use is IV, this may be due to several factors including good central access, centrally prepared IV therapy and oral agents being challenging to administer to children. The aim of the audit was to assess if patient have a blood culture prior to starting therapy, have a senior review at 48–72 hours, and thirdly if our high proportion of intravenous antimicrobial use is justified.MethodElectronic prescribing data from JAC was collected retrospectively over an 8 day period. IV antimicrobials for which there is a suitable oral alternative, this was defined as >80% bioavailability, were included. Patients were excluded in the ICU, cancer and transplant setting, those with absorption issues and with a high risk infection, such as endocarditis or bacteraemia. Patient were assessed against a set criteria to determine if they were eligible to switch from IV to PO therapy; afebrile, stable blood pressure, heart rate <90/min, respiratory rate < 20/min for 24 hours. Reducing CRP, reducing white cell count, blood cultures negative or sensitive to an antibiotic that can be given orally.Results100% of patients (11) had a blood cultures taken within 72 hours of starting therapy55% of patients had a positive blood culture82% of patients had a senior review at 48–72 hours46% of patients were eligible to switch from IV to PO therapy at 72 hours33% of eligible patients were switched from IV to PO therapy at 72 hoursConclusion and RecommendationsThis audit had a low sample size due to the complexity of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the difficulty in reviewing patient parameters on many different hospital interfaces. It is known that each patient is reviewed at least 24 hourly on most wards and therefore there is a need for improved documentation of prescribing decisions. Implementation of an IV to oral switch guideline is recommended to support prescribing decisions and educate and reassure clinicians on the bioavailability and benefits of PO antimicrobial therapy where appropriate. Having recently changed electronic patient management systems strategies to explore include hard stops on IV antimicrobial therapies, however this will require much consideration. Education of pharmacist and nurses is required to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance and the benefits of IV to PO switches, despite the ease of this therapy at out Trust. This will promote a culture in which all healthcare professionals are active antimicrobial guardians, leading to better patient outcomes, less service pressures, and long term financial benefit.ReferenceGOV.UK. 2019. Antimicrobial stewardship: Start smart - then focus. [ONLINE]Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/antimicrobial-stewardship-start-smart-then-focus [Accessed 3 July 2019]

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Evaluation of an Initial Specimen Diversion Device (ISDD) on Rates of Blood Culture Contamination in the Emergency Department

Kansas Journal of Medicine ◽

10.17161/kjm.vol1413804 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 73-76

Author(s):

Blake Buzard ◽

Patrick Evans ◽

Todd Schroeder

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Blood Culture ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Contamination Rate ◽

Total Hospital Cost ◽

Initial Specimen ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Secondary Outcomes ◽

The Impact

Introduction: Blood cultures are the gold standard for identifying bloodstream infections. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute recommends a blood culture contamination rate of <3%. Contamination can lead to misdiagnosis, increased length of stay and hospital costs, unnecessary testing and antibiotic use. These reasons led to the development of initial specimen diversion devices (ISDD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of an initial specimen diversion device on rates of blood culture contamination in the emergency department. Methods: This was a retrospective, multi-site study including patients who had blood cultures drawn in an emergency department. February 2018 to April 2018, when an ISDD was not utilized, was compared with June 2019 to August 2019, a period where an ISDD was being used. The primary outcome was total blood culture contamination. Secondary outcomes were total hospital cost, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, vancomycin days of use, vancomycin serum concentrations obtained, and repeat blood cultures obtained. Results: A statistically significant difference was found in blood culture contamination rates in the Pre-ISDD group vs the ISDD group (7.47% vs 2.59%, p<0.001). None of the secondary endpoints showed a statistically significant difference. Conclusions: Implementation of an ISDD reduces blood culture contamination in a statistically significant manner. However, we were unable to capture any statistically significant differences in the secondary outcomes.

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