scholarly journals Non-tuberculous mycobacteria profiles and their anti-mycobacterial resistance at a major medical center in Lebanon

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (07) ◽  
pp. 612-618
Author(s):  
George F Araj ◽  
Omar Z Baba ◽  
Lina Y Itani ◽  
Aline Z Avedissian ◽  
Ghena M Sobh
Keyword(s):  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Empirical Therapy ◽  
Medical Laboratories ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
Major Medical Center ◽  
Broth Dilution ◽  
Selection Of

Introduction: Infection with non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) has been on the rise globally causing a wide spectrum of respiratory and extrapulmonary infections in humans. Studies on these pathogens from the Middle-East including Lebanon are scarce. Methodology: This retrospective study addresses the approach used for investigation, speciation and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of recovered NTM isolates from respiratory sources at a major tertiary care center in Lebanon during two periods (2003-2007 and 2013-2017). Processing of specimens, culture and differentiation of recovered NTM isolates from Mycobacterium tuberculosis were done in-house according to standard procedures. Upon request, speciation and AMR testing were performed using molecular and broth dilution methods, respectively, at Mayo Medical Laboratories (Rochester, Minnesota, USA). Results: Among 108 NTM analyzed isolates, 8 species were revealed during the two periods: M. simiae (51% vs 61%), M. avium complex (MAC) (6 % vs 12%) M. fortuitum (12% vs 5%), M. gordonae (6% vs 5%), M. abscessus (6% vs 7%), M. immunogenum (12% vs 0%), M. szulgai (4% vs 0%) and M. peregrinum (0% vs 2%). M. simiae isolates showed high susceptibility (93%-96%) to amikacin and clarithromycin, but high resistance to rifampin, ethambutol, ciprofloxacin, rifabutin, linezolid, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and moxifloxacin. MAC isolates were only susceptible to clarithromycin (86%). M. abscessus isolates were uniformly susceptible to amikacin (100%). Conclusion: The revelaed different NTM species, with predominance of M.simiae and various AMR profiles provide a current epidemiologic database and help guiding the selection of appropriate empirical therapy once the clinical relevance is established.

scholarly journals Promoting COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare personnel: a multifaceted intervention at a tertiary care center in Japan

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Akane Takamatsu ◽  
Hitoshi Honda ◽  
Tomoya Kojima ◽  
Kengo Murata ◽  
Hilary Babcock
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
Multifaceted Intervention ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Post Vaccination

Abstract Objective The COVID-19 vaccine may hold the key to ending the pandemic, but vaccine hesitancy is hindering the vaccination of healthcare personnel (HCP). Design Before-after trial Participants and setting Healthcare personnel at a 790-bed tertiary care center in Tokyo, Japan. Interventions A pre-vaccination questionnaire was administered to HCP to examine their perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine. Then, a multifaceted intervention involving (1) distribution of informational leaflets to all HCP, (2) hospital-wide announcements encouraging vaccination, (3) a mandatory lecture, (4) an educational session about the vaccine for pregnant or breastfeeding HCP, and (5) allergy testing for HCP at risk of allergic reactions to the vaccine was implemented. A post-vaccination survey was also performed. Results Of 1,575 HCP eligible for enrollment, 1,224 (77.7%) responded to the questionnaire, 43.5% (n =533) expressed willingness to be vaccinated, 48.4% (n = 593) were uncertain, and 8.0% (n=98) expressed unwillingness to be vaccinated. The latter two groups were concerned about the vaccine’s safety rather than its efficacy. Post-intervention, the overall vaccination rate reached 89.7% (1,413/1,575), with 88.9% (614/691) of the pre-vaccination survey respondents who answered “unwilling” or “unsure” eventually receiving a vaccination. In the post-vaccination questionnaire, factors contributing to increased COVID-19 vaccination included information and endorsement of vaccination at the medical center (26.4%; 274/1,037). Conclusions The present, multifaceted intervention increased COVID-19 vaccinations among HCP at a Japanese hospital. Frequent support and provision of information were crucial for increasing the vaccination rate and may be applicable to the general population as well.

scholarly journals Prospective Audit for Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship Practices in Intensive Care Unit at a Tertiary-Care Center in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s40-s40
Author(s):  
Parul Singh ◽  
Purva Mathur ◽  
Kamini Walia ◽  
Anjan Trikha
Keyword(s):  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Empirical Therapy ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Audit And Feedback ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Defined Daily Dose ◽  
Survey Form ◽  
Specimen Collection ◽  
Days Of Therapy

Background: Antimicrobial decision making in the ICU is challenging. Injudicious use of antimicrobials contributes to the development of resistant pathogens and drug-related adverse events. However, inadequate antimicrobial therapy is associated with mortality in critically ill patients. Antimicrobial stewardship programs are increasingly being implemented to improve prescribing. Methods: This prospective study was conducted over 11 months, during which the pharmacist used a standardized survey form to collect data on antibiotic use. Evaluation of antimicrobial use and stewardship practices in a 12-bed polytrauma ICU and a 20-bed neurosurgery ICU of the 248-bed AIIMS Trauma Center in Delhi, India. Antimicrobial consumption was measured using WHO-recommended defined daily dose (DDD) of given antimicrobials and days of therapy (DOT). Results: Antibiotics were ranked by frequency of use over the 11-month period based on empirical therapy and culture-based therapy. The 11-month DDD and DOT averages when empiric antibiotics were used were 532 of 1,000 patient days and 484 per 1,000 patient days, respectively (Figure 1). When cultures were available, DDD was 486 per 1,000 patient days and DOT was 442 per 1,000 patient days (Figure). Conclusions: The quantity and frequency of antibiotics used in the ICUs allowed the AMSP to identify areas to optimize antibiotic use such as educational initiatives, early specimen collection, and audit and feedback opportunities.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Conjunctival Lesions: A 5-Year Basic Demographic Data and Clinicopathological Review in a Tertiary Eye Care Hospital

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hind M. Alkatan ◽  
Khalid M. Alshomar ◽  
Hala A. Helmi ◽  
Wajda M. Alhothali ◽  
Abdulaziz M. Alshalan
Keyword(s):  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Malignant Lesion ◽  
Histopathological Diagnosis ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Duration Of Symptoms ◽  
Malignant Lesions

Abstract Background Conjunctival lesions are common with a wide spectrum of benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions. Few histopathological studies have been conducted on conjunctival lesions with variable designs and results. Our aim in this study is to provide information on common conjunctival lesions seen in an ophthalmology tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia. Methods A retrospective, observational study of all consecutive conjunctival tissue specimens sent for histopathological assessment to the pathology department from 2015 to 2019 were analyzed. Clinical data were collected from medical records, and the histopathological slides were reviewed by a single pathologist. Results A total of 110 conjunctival specimens from 108 patients were included (mean age: 53 years, 67 males and 43 females). Bilateral involvement was mostly found in inflammatory lesions (40%). Most lesions were benign (91%), with a significantly longer duration of symptoms in malignant lesions (p = 0.036*). The clinical diagnosis matched the final histopathological diagnosis in 75.5% of the total specimens. The most frequent category of benign lesions was fibrodegenerative and proliferative lesions (53.6%), with a significantly higher prevalence among adult males (p < 0.001). Melanocytic lesions were more common in children (33.3%) than adults (9.8%), and the mean age of children was significantly lower (p = 0.013). The most frequent malignant lesion was ocular surface squamous neoplasia (50%), with equal prevalence among males and females. The overall outcome was favorable in 89.4% and unfavorable in 10.6%, mostly due to surgical complications, further progression of the lesion, or recurrence. Conclusion This study shows variability in the frequency of conjunctival lesions based on gender, age, geographical, racial, and environmental factors. There has been a shift in the gender-based prevalence of ocular squamous neoplasia over the last three decades, probably due to a change in lifestyle.

Comparison of Unit-Specific and Hospital-Wide Antibiograms Potential Implications for Selection of Empirical Antimicrobial Therapy

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 682-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn Binkley ◽  
Neil O. Fishman ◽  
Lori A. LaRosa ◽  
Ann Marie Marr ◽  
Irving Nachamkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Therapy ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Anatomic Site ◽  
Empirical Antimicrobial Therapy ◽  
Tertiary Care Medical Center ◽  
Surgical Icu ◽  
Selection Of

Objective.To identify differences between unit-specific and hospital-wide antibiograms and to determine the potential impact of these differences on selection of empirical antimicrobial therapy.Setting.A 625-bed tertiary care medical center.Methods.Antimicrobial susceptibility results were collected for all inpatient clinical bacterial isolates recovered over a 3-year period; isolates were categorized by the hospital location of the patient at the time of sampling and by the anatomic site from which the isolate was recovered. Antibiograms from each unit were compiled for the most commonly isolated organisms and were compared to the hospital-wide antibiogram.Results.A total of 9,970 bacterial isolates were evaluated in this study, including 2,646 enterococcal isolates, 2,806 S. aureus isolates, 2,795 E. coli isolates, and 1,723 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. The percentages of bacterial isolates resistant to antimicrobials were significantly higher in the medical ICU and surgical ICU than the hospital-wide antibiogram would have predicted, whereas the percentages of isolates susceptible to antimicrobials were significantly higher in the non-ICU units, compared with the hospital overall. However, on general medicine units, the prevalence of susceptibility to levofloxacin was significantly lower than that for the hospital overall.Conclusions.Unit-specific antibiograms are important for making informed decisions about empirical antimicrobial therapy, because the hospital-wide antibiogram may mask important differences in susceptibility rates across different units. These differences may have important implications for selecting the optimal empirical antimicrobial therapy.

scholarly journals 1764. The Gut: A Veiled Reservoir for Multidrug-resistant Organisms (MDROs) Below the Tip of the Iceberg

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S63-S63
Author(s):  
Teppei Shimasaki ◽  
Yoona Rhee ◽  
Rachel D Yelin ◽  
Michelle Ariston ◽  
Stefanie Ollison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Targeted Prevention ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Organisms ◽  
Clinical Culture

Abstract Background Clinical culture results are sometimes used to estimate the burden of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in hospitals. The association between positive clinical culture results and prevalence of MDROs in the gut is incompletely understood. Methods Rectal swab or stool samples were collected daily from adult medical intensive care unit (MICU) patients and cultured for target MDROs using selective media between January 2017 and January 2018 at Rush University Medical Center, a 676-bed tertiary-care center in Chicago. Resistance mechanisms were confirmed by phenotypic methods and/or polymerase chain reaction. Clinical culture results during MICU stay were extracted from the hospital information system. Target MDROs included vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). Patients with either a study or clinical culture positive for a target MDRO were analyzed. Results We collected 5,086 study samples from 1,661 unique admissions (1,419 patients) and included here data from 413 unique admissions (397 patients) with completed microbiologic analysis. Median (IQR) patient age was 65 (51–75) years and length of MICU stay was 3 (3–4) days. A total of 156 (37.8%) patients had a target MDRO detected from a study sample at any point; 57 (36.5%) patients had &gt;1 MDRO detected. Overall prevalence of these MDROs was found to be 22.5% VRE, 6.5% CRE, 19.8% ESBL, 4.4% CRPA, and 0.7% CRAB. New MDRO acquisition was observed in 58 (14.6%) patients (figure). Once a target MDRO was detected in a study sample, 82.2% of subsequent study samples were positive for that MDRO. Only 13 (5.8%) patients had a positive clinical culture for any target MDRO during their MICU stay (table). Conclusion Clinical cultures capture only the tip of the resistance iceberg and alone are insufficient to guide MDRO-targeted prevention strategies. Universal infection prevention measures are an alternative that may be preferred in settings where overall prevalence of MDROs is moderate or high and patients may be colonized with &gt;1 MDRO. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals The Experience of Hospital Death: Assessing the Quality of Care at an Academic Medical Center

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise C. Carey ◽  
Ann M. Dose ◽  
Katherine M. Humeniuk ◽  
Yichen C. Kuan ◽  
Ashley D. Hicks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Hospital Death ◽  
Personal Care ◽  
Predominately White ◽  
Dying Patients

Background: The quality of perimortem care received by patients who died at our hospitals was unknown. Objective: To describe the quality of hospital care experienced in the last week of life, as perceived by decedents’ families. Design: Telephone survey that included established measures and investigator-developed content. Setting: Large, tertiary care center known for high-quality, cost-effective care. Participants: Family members of 104 patients who died in-hospital (10% of annual deaths) over the course of 1 year. Intervention: None. Measurements: Participant perceptions of the decedent’s care, including symptom management, personal care, communication, and care coordination. Results: Decedents were mostly male (64%), white (96%), married (73%), and Christian (91%). Most survey participants were spouses of the decedent (68%); they were predominately white (98%), female (70%), and Christian (90%) and had a median age of 70 years (range, 35-91 years). Overall satisfaction was high. Pain, dyspnea, and anxiety or sadness were highly prevalent among decedents (73%, 73%, and 55%, respectively) but largely well managed. Most participants believed that decedents were treated respectfully and kindly by staff (87%) and that sufficient help was available to assist with medications and dressing changes (97%). Opportunities for improvement included management of decedents’ anxiety or sadness (29%) and personal care (25%), emotional support of the family (57%), communication regarding decedents’ illness (29%), and receiving contradictory or confusing information (33%). Conclusion: Despite high satisfaction with care overall, we identified important unmet needs. Addressing these gaps will improve the care of dying patients.

scholarly journals Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Volume is not Associated with Outcome within an Academic Health Care System

HPB Surgery ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micheal T. Schell ◽  
Anthony Barcia ◽  
Austin L. Spitzer ◽  
Hobart W. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Care Pathways ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Significant Difference

Hypothesis. Smaller and lower-volume hospitals can attain surgical outcomes similar to high-volume centers if they incorporate the expertise and health care pathways of high-volume centers. Setting. The academic tertiary care center, Moffit-Long Hospital (ML); the community-based Mount Zion Hospital (ZION); the San Francisco County General Hospital (SFGH); and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center of San Francisco (VAMC). Patients. 369 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between October 1989 and June 2003 at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) affiliated hospitals. Interventions. Pancreaticoduodenectomy. Design. Retrospective chart review. To correct for the potentially confounding effect of small case volumes and event rates, data for SFGH, VAMC, and ZION was combined (Small Volume Hospital Group; SVHG) and compared against data for ML. Main Outcome Measures. Complication rates; three-year and five-year survival rates. Results. The average patient age and health, as determined by ASA score, were similar between ML and the SVHG. The postoperative complication rate did not differ significantly between ML and the SVGH (58.8% versus 63.1%). Patients that experienced a complication averaged 2.5 complications in both groups. The perioperative mortality rate was 4% for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy at either ML or the SVGH. Although the 3-year survival rate for patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas was nearly twice as high at ML (31.2% versus 18.3% at SVHG), there was no significant difference in the 5-year survival rates (19% at ML versus 18.3% at SVHG). Conclusions. Low-volume hospitals can achieve similar outcomes to high-volume tertiary care centers provided they import the expertise and care pathways necessary for improved results.

scholarly journals Utilization and Diagnostic Yield of Neurogenetic Testing at a Tertiary Care Facility

2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 1016-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin L Edlefsen ◽  
Jonathan F Tait ◽  
Mark H Wener ◽  
Michael Astion
Keyword(s):  
Positive Result ◽  
Diagnostic Yield ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Utilization Review ◽  
Tertiary Care Facility

Abstract Background: Institutions face increasing charges related to molecular genetic testing for neurological diseases. The literature contains little information on the utilization and performance of these tests. Methods: A retrospective utilization review was performed to determine the diagnostic yield of neurogenetic tests ordered during calendar year 2005 at a large academic medical center in the western United States. Results: Overall, a relevant mutation was identified in 30.2% of the 162 patients tested and in 21.5% of the 121 probands, defined as patients for whom no mutation has been previously identified in a family member. Patients with muscle weakness (n = 65) had a mutation detected in 26.2% of all patients and 23.5% of probands (n = 51), with an estimated testing cost per positive result of $3190. Patients tested for neuropathy (n = 36) had a mutation detected in 27.8% of patients and 22.6% of probands (n = 31), with an estimated cost per positive result of $5955. Patients with chorea (n = 25) had a positive result obtained in 68% of patients and 71.4% of probands (n = 7); the estimated cost per positive test was $440. Other diagnostic categories evaluated include ataxias (n = 18; yield, 11.1%; $7620 per positive), familial stroke or dementia syndromes (n = 8; yield, 12.5%; $6760 per positive), and multisystem mitochondrial disorders (n = 10; yield, 20%; $6485 per positive). Conclusions: Expert clinicians at a tertiary care center who ordered neurogenetic tests obtained a positive result in 21.5% of patients without previously identified familial mutations. These results can be used for comparison and to help establish utilization guidelines for neurogenetic testing.

scholarly journals MammaPrint Feasibility in a Large Tertiary Urban Medical Center: An Initial Experience

Scientifica ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Francisco Espinel ◽  
Shaughn Keating ◽  
Hanina Hibshoosh ◽  
Bret Taback ◽  
Kathie-Ann Joseph ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Nodes ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Fresh Tissue ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Receptor Status ◽  
Estrogen Receptor Positive

Background. The MammaPrint (MP) diagnostic assay stratifies breast cancer patients into high- and low-risk groups using mRNA analysis of a 70-gene profile. The assay is validated for assessment of patients with estrogen receptor positive or negative tumors less than 5 cm with 3 or fewer malignant lymph nodes. TargetPrint (TP) is an assay for assessing estrogen, progesterone, and HER2-neu receptor status based on mRNA expression. A potential limitation of these assays is that they require an evaluation of fresh tissue samples. There is limited published experience describing MP or TP implementation.Methods. Over 10 months, 4 breast surgeons obtained samples from 54 patients for MP/TP analysis. The samples were analyzed by Agendia Labs. The tumors were independently evaluated for receptor status using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Retrospectively, we identified patients who were assessed by MP/TP during this period. Patients who underwent OncotypeDx evaluation were also identified.Results. Of the 54 patients receiving MP, 4 were found ineligible for MP risk assessment because >3 lymph nodes were found to be malignant. Out of all eligible patients, 14/50 (28%) had samples whose quantity of tumor was not sufficient for analysis (QNS). Out of eligible patients with tumors <1 cm, 7/8 (88%) had QNS samples. 7/42 with tumors ≥1 cm (17%) had QNS samples. Nine patients had discordant receptor results when evaluated by IHC versus. TP. Of patients who also underwent OncotypeDx testing, 6/14 (43%) had discordant results with MP.Conclusions. This study indicates that using MP/TP assay is feasible in a tertiary care center but there may be utility in limiting MP testing to patients with tumors between 1 and 5 cm due to high likelihood of uninformative results in subcentimeter tumors. Further study is needed to explore the discordance between oncotype and MP results.

scholarly journals EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago RODRÍGUEZ ◽  
Fabio Da MOTTA ◽  
Giacomo BALBINOTO NETO ◽  
Ajacio BRANDÃO
Keyword(s):  
Liver Transplantation ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Deceased Donor ◽  
Waiting List ◽  
Transplant Center ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Common Problems ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Over the next 20 years, the number of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation (LTx) is expected to increase by 23%, while pre-LTx costs should raise by 83%. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate direct medical costs of the pre-LTx period from the perspective of a tertiary care center. METHODS: The study included 104 adult patients wait-listed for deceased donor LTx between October 2012 and May 2016 whose treatment was fully provided at the study transplant center. Clinical and economic data were obtained from electronic medical records and from a hospital management software. Outcomes of interest and costs of patients on the waiting list were compared through the Kruskal-Wallis test. A generalized linear model with logit link function was used for multivariate analysis. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The costs of patients who underwent LTx ($8,879.83; 95% CI 6,735.24-11,707.27; P<0.001) or who died while waiting ($6,464.73; 95% CI 3,845.75-10,867.28; P=0.04) were higher than those of patients who were excluded from the list for any reason except death ($4,647.78; 95% CI 2,469.35-8,748.04; P=0.254) or those who remained on the waiting list at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Although protocols of inclusion on the waiting list vary among transplant centers, similar approaches exist and common problems should be addressed. The results of this study may help centers with similar socioeconomic realities adjust their transplant policies.

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