Clinical Outcomes With Continuous Nafcillin Infusions in Children

OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this study was to describe the clinical outcomes of continuous nafcillin infusion in pediatric patients. METHODS This was a retrospective case study performed at a freestanding, tertiary care children's hospital. Subjects were included if they were at least 30 days old and had received more than 1 dose of nafcillin by continuous infusion (CI) between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2012. Clinical and microbiological data were extracted from the medical record. Documented adverse events potentially associated with nafcillin were recorded. Treatment success was defined by any one of the following outcomes without the presence of conflicting data: microbiological cure, prescriber-documented treatment success, or normalization of abnormal clinical or laboratory parameters. RESULTS Forty subjects with a median of 9 (interquartile range [IQR], 2.3–12) years of age were included. Median length of stay (in days) for all indications observed was 7 (IQR, 5–21.8) days. Extended lengths of stay, indicated by ≥10 days, were more common in cases of endocarditis, skin and soft tissue infection, and bacteremia. Adverse reactions were documented in 20% of patients. CONCLUSIONS In this pediatric study, overall treatment success was observed in 92.5% of patients. Microbiological cure was documented in 91.3% of patients by using follow-up cultures. Length of stay may be positively impacted by CI nafcillin. Continuously infused nafcillin appears to be an acceptable alternative to intermittently infused nafcillin in children. Further studies are needed to address the question of whether clinical outcomes of CI nafcillin are superior to those of conventional infusion.

Download Full-text

Analysis of the Effects of Applying Federal Diagnosis-Related Grouping (DRG) Guidelines to a Population of High-Risk Newborn Infants

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.76.1.104 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 76 (1) ◽

pp. 104-109

Author(s):

Ronald L. Poland ◽

Robert O. Bollinger ◽

Mary P. Bedard ◽

Sanford N. Cohen

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Newborn Infants ◽

Frequency Distributions ◽

Federal Register ◽

Children's Hospital ◽

Lengths Of Stay ◽

Children’S Hospital

Length of stay data collected for high-risk newborn infants admitted to a tertiary care children's hospital neonatal unit over a 6-year period were compared with mean and outlier lengths of stay published in the Federal Register as part of a proposed system for prospective payment of hospital cost by diagnosis-related groupings (DRGs). We found that the classification system for newborns markedly underestimated the number of days required for the treatment of these infants. The use of the geometric mean instead of the arithmetic mean as the measure of central tendency was a significant contributor to the discrepancy, especially in those sub-groups with bimodal frequency distributions of lengths of stay. Another contributor to the discrepancy was the lack of inborn patients in the children's hospital cohort. The system of prospective payments, as outlined, does not take into account several factors that have a strong influence on length of stay such as birth weight (which requires more than three divisions to serve as an effective predictor), surgery, outborn status, and ventilation. Implementation of the system described in the Federal Register would severely discourage tertiary care referral hospitals from providing neonatal intensive care.

Download Full-text

THE IMPACT OF ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP ON THE PATTERNS OF ANTIBIOTICS’ PRESCRIPTION AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN THE MEDICAL WARD OF A MALAYSIAN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.22159/ijpps.2021v13i3.40460 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 20-25

Author(s):

OVAIS ULLAH SHIRAZI ◽

NORNY SYAFINAZ AB RAHMAN ◽

CHE SURAYA ZIN ◽

HANNAH MD MAHIR ◽

SYAMHANIN ADNAN

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Tertiary Care Hospital ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Medical Ward ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Slope Change ◽

The Impact

Objective: To evaluate the impact of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) on antibiotic prescribing patterns and certain clinical outcomes, the length of stay (LOS) and the re-admission rate (RR) of the patients treated within the medical ward of a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted retrospectively. The prescriptions of the AMS included alert antibiotics (AA) such as cefepime, ceftazidime, colistin (polymyxin E), imipenem-cilastatin, meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin were reviewed for the period of 24 mo before (May, 2012–April, 2014) and after (May, 2014–April, 2016) the AMS implementation for the patients who were treated within the medical ward of a Malaysian tertiary care hospital. Patterns of antibiotics prescribed were determined descriptively. The impact of the AMS on the length of stay (LOS) and readmission rate (RR) was determined by the interrupted time series (ITS) comparative analysis of the pre-and post-AMS segments segregated by the point of onset (May, 2014) of the AMS program. Data analysis was performed through autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) Winter Additive model and the Games-Howell non-parametric post hoc test by using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: A total of 1716 prescriptions of the AA included for the AMS program showed that cefepime (623, 36.3%) and piperacillin-tazobactam (424, 24.7%) were the most prescribed antibiotics from May 2012 to April 2016. A 23.6% drop in the number of the AA prescriptions was observed during the 24-month post-AMS period. The LOS of the patients using any of the AA showed a post-AMS decline by 3.5 d. The patients’ LOS showed an average reduction of 0.12 (95% CI, 0.05–0.19, P=0.001) with the level and slope change of 0.18 (95% CI, 0.04–0.32, P=0.02) and 0.074 (95% CI, 0.02–0.12, P=0.002), respectively. Similarly, the percent RR reduced from 20.0 to 9.85 during the 24-month post-AMS period. The observed post-AMS mean monthly reduction of the RR for the patients using any AA was 0.38 (95% CI, 0.23–0.53, P<0.001) with the level and slope change of 0.33 (95% CI, 0.14–0.51, P=0.02) and 0.37 (95% CI, 0.16–0.58, P=0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The AMS program of a Malaysian tertiary care hospital was a coordinated set of interventions implemented by the AMS team of the hospital that comprised of the infectious diseases (ID) physician, clinical pharmacists and microbiologist. The successful implementation of the AMS program from May, 2014 to April, 2016 within the medical ward resulted in the drop of the number of AA prescriptions that sequentially resulted in the significant (P<0.05) post-AMS reduction of the LOS and the RR.

Download Full-text

Management of necrotising fasciitis within a burns centre: do outcomes differ?

Scars Burns & Healing ◽

10.1177/2059513120924749 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 205951312092474

Author(s):

Joseph A Ward ◽

John A G Gibson ◽

Dai Q Nguyen

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Plastic Surgery ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Burn Injury ◽

Wound Care ◽

Quality Care ◽

Multidisciplinary Care ◽

Necrotising Fasciitis ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Significant Difference

Introduction: Many similarities exist between the care of necrotising fasciitis (NF) and burn injury patients. Each group represents a small but complex cohort requiring multiple theatre trips, specialist reconstruction, meticulous wound care and multidisciplinary management. Over a six-year period, we sought to examine the clinical outcomes of NF patients managed within a burns centre against those managed by a plastic surgery service. Methods: A retrospective case-note review was performed for all identifiable patients referred to our institution’s designated burns centre or plastic surgery service between 2008–2014. Patient characteristics, length of stay, wound-related and clinical outcomes were extracted and descriptively presented with statistical analysis performed for survival and length of stay. Results: Twenty-nine patients were included in the study (burns centre [B]: 17 patients; plastic surgery service [P]: 12 patients). Median total length of stay (B: 37 vs. P: 50 days, P=0.38), local length of stay (27 vs. 19 days, P=0.29) and survival till discharge (94.4% vs. 100%, P=0.73) demonstrated no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: Caring for NF patients within a burns centre facilitated easier access to specialist reconstructive expertise and multidisciplinary care but did not lead to statistically significant differences in length of stay or survival. The management of NF within a burns centre facilitated provision of high-quality care to a highly challenging patient group.

Download Full-text

Safety of hot and cold site admissions within a high volume urology department in the United Kingdom at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic

10.1101/2020.08.04.20154203 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Luke Stroman ◽

Beth Russell ◽

Pinky Kotecha ◽

Anastasia Kantarzi ◽

Luis Ribeiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Surgical Procedures ◽

Operative Mortality ◽

Elective Surgery ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

High Volume ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Surgical Department ◽

The United Kingdom

Importance: Contracting COVID-19 peri-operatively has been associated with a mortality rate as high as 23%. Using hot and cold sites has led to a low rate of post-operative diagnosis of COVID-19 infection and allowed safe continuation of important emergency and cancer operations in our centre. Objective: The primary objective was to determine the safety of the continuation of surgical admissions and procedures during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic using hot and cold surgical sites. The secondary objective is to determine risk factors of contracting COVID-19 to help guide further prevention. Setting: A single surgical department at a tertiary care referral centre in London, United Kingdom. Participants: All consecutive patients admitted under the care of the urology team over a 3-month period from 1st March to 31st May 2020 over both hot acute admission sites and cold elective sites were included. Exposures: COVID-19 was prevalent in the community over the three months of the study at the height of the pandemic. The majority of elective surgery was carried out in a cold site requiring patients to have a negative COVID-19 swab 72 hours prior to admission and to self-isolate for 14 days pre-operatively, whilst all acute admissions were admitted to the hot site. Main outcomes and measures: COVID-19 was detected in 1.6% of post-operative patients. There was 1 (0.2%) post-operative mortality due to COVID-19. Results: A total of 611 patients, 451 (73.8%) male and 160 (26.2%) female, with a median age of 57 (interquartile range 44-70) were admitted under the surgical team. Of these, 101 (16.5%) were admitted on the cold site and 510 (83.5%) on the hot site. Surgical procedures were performed in 495 patients of which 8 (1.6%) contracted COVID-19 post-operatively with 1 (0.2%) post-operative mortality due to COVID-19. Overall, COVID-19 was detected in 20 (3.3%) patients with 2 (0.3%) deaths. On multivariate analysis, length of stay was associated with contracting COVID-19 in our cohort (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.39). Conclusions and Relevance: Continuation of surgical procedures using hot and cold sites throughout the COVID-19 pandemic was safe practice, although the risk of COVID-19 remained and is underlined by a post-operative mortality. Reducing length of stay may be able to reduce contraction of COVID-19.

Download Full-text

Clinical Outcomes and Complications of Midfoot Charcot Reconstruction With Intramedullary Beaming

Foot & Ankle International ◽

10.1177/1071100718799966 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 18-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Samuel E. Ford ◽

Bruce E. Cohen ◽

W. Hodges Davis ◽

Carroll P. Jones

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Corrective Osteotomy ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Case Series ◽

Deep Infection ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Patient Reported

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes and complications of patients with midfoot Charcot managed with midfoot osteotomy, realignment arthrodesis, and stabilization using intramedullary beams. Methods: Consecutive patients with midfoot Charcot treated at a tertiary-care foot and ankle center from January 2013 to July 2016 who underwent corrective osteotomy with internal beam fixation were identified; 25 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients with a minimum 1-year follow-up were evaluated with physical examination, weightbearing radiographs, and patient-reported outcome measures. The primary outcome measure was defined as restoration of a stable, plantigrade, ulcer-free foot. Median age was 58 years, median BMI was 32, and 80% were diabetic (75% insulin-dependent). Results: An ulcer-free, stable, plantigrade foot was obtained in 84% of patients. The radiographic lateral and anteroposterior Meary angle medians improved 9° and 15°, respectively, from preoperative to final postoperative weightbearing measurements ( P < .001 and P = .02). Overall, 46% of midfoot osteotomies were united on final radiographs at a median 18-month radiographic follow-up. Deep infection developed in 6 (24%) patients. The presence of a preoperative ulcer was found to be predictive of postoperative infection (P = .04); all 6 deep infections occurred in patients with preoperative ulceration. Four (16%) patients progressed to amputation at a mean 15 postoperative months, all for deep infection. Conclusion: Midfoot Charcot reconstruction with intramedullary beaming allowed for restoration of an ulcer-free, plantigrade foot in most patients, but the complication rates were high, especially in patients with preoperative ulceration. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Download Full-text

LO073: Implementation of an ED atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter pathway decreases ED length of stay

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2016.110 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (S1) ◽

pp. S55-S55

Author(s):

D. Barbic ◽

D.R. Harris ◽

R. Stenstrom ◽

C. Dewitt ◽

J. Marsden ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Case Series ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Administrative Database ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Chi Square ◽

Referral Rates ◽

Return Rates ◽

Dependent Samples

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation and flutter (AFF) are the most common arrhythmias presenting to the emergency department. A coordinated ED AFF electronic order-set and management pathway was developed in collaboration with cardiologists at our institution. The primary objective of this study was to compare the ED length of stay pre and post pathway implementation. Secondary objectives included comparison of the following outcomes pre and post-pathway (PRE & POST): AFF Clinic referral rates, ED return rates, and mortality. Methods: This was a retrospective case series of patients presenting to our quarternary care ED with AFF pre and post AFF pathway implementation. Cases were identified using an administrative database covering 120 000 annual ED visits. Trained research assistants and the primary investigator extracted data from the electronic medical record. 20% of all charts were double collected to ensure accuracy (k=0.85). Descriptive variables were described using counts, means, medians and confidence intervals. Chi-square statistics of dependent samples were calculated for the primary outcome. Results: We examined 307 cases of AFF presenting to our ED (n=130 PRE; n=177 POST). Demographic variables were similar PRE and POST: mean age (66.0 [95%CI 63.8-68.3] PRE; 65.0 [63.0-67.0] POST), % male (59.2% PRE; 59.3% POST), presenting rhythm (66.2% A.fib [58.0-74.3] A. flutter 29.2% [21.4-37.0] PRE; 61.0% A.fib [53.8-68.1] A. flutter 17.5% [11.9-23.1] POST), and CHADS2VASC score (2.1 [1.8-2.4] PRE; 1.9 [1.7-2.1] POST). The mean ED LOS decreased by 72.5 minutes (95% CI -22.9 to -122.1; P < 0.001). AFF clinic referral rates increased from 16.9% PRE to 25.4% POST (not significant). ED return rates within 30 days for AFF, CHF, major bleeding and CVA were unchanged. 30 day mortality rates were not statistically different (1.5% PRE vs. 2.8% POST). Conclusion: A coordinated ED AFF pathway was associated with a significant reduction in ED LOS without significant changes in ED return rates or mortality.

Download Full-text

Blastomyces dermatitidis Prostatic and Testicular Infection in Eight Dogs (1992–2005)

Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association ◽

10.5326/jaaha-ms-5622 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 413-418 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Amy Kaye Totten ◽

Marcella D. Ridgway ◽

Debra S. Sauberli

Keyword(s):

Body Temperature ◽

Systemic Disease ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Treatment Success ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Diagnostic Procedures ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

The University ◽

Retrospective Case Study

This was a retrospective case study of eight dogs diagnosed with prostatic or testicular B. dermatitidis infection. Signalment, clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, and treatment options were evaluated. Review of medical records of dogs diagnosed with blastomycosis at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 1992 to 2005 yielded four dogs with prostatic blastomycosis (PB) and four dogs with testicular blastomycosis (TB). Three of the four dogs with PB and all four dogs with TB had evidence of urogenital disease. Three dogs with PB had an elevated body temperature and all had systemic disease. All dogs with TB had a normal body temperature, and three had systemic disease and one had clinical signs limited to testicular disease. Cytology or histopathology was used to diagnose PB or TB. Treatment included itraconazole or fluconazole with or without nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. PB and TB are infrequently recognized and may be under diagnosed due to failure to specifically evaluate these tissues. PB or TB should be considered in the evaluation and staging of male dogs with blastomycosis. Male dogs with urogenital signs should be evaluated via prostatic or testicular cytology or histopathology since proper identification and management of PB or TB may improve overall treatment success.

Download Full-text

A retrospective analysis of clinical acuity markers on hospital length of stay in patients with febrile neutropenia

Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1177/1078155217744379 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 535-543 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Herman J Johannesmeyer ◽

Charles F Seifert

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Febrile Neutropenia ◽

Supportive Care ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Hospital Length ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Hospital Length Of Stay ◽

Patient Acuity ◽

Total Hospital ◽

Antibiotic Dose

Objective The primary objective of this study was to identify factors that have predictive value in determining total hospital length of stay in patients with febrile neutropenia, particularly time to first antibiotic dose. Methods This study was a retrospective chart review analyzing patients admitted to a 443 bed tertiary county teaching hospital from 1 November 2010 through 1 November 2015. Patients were eligible for enrollment into the study if they met Infectious Diseases Society of America accepted criteria for febrile neutropenia. Results Ninety-three patients were included for analysis. Time to first antibiotic dose, first empirically appropriate antibiotic dose, and time to first isolate-appropriate antibiotic did not show a significant correlation to total hospital length of stay (p = 0.71, p = 0.342, and p = 0.77, respectively). Subject’s Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer and Simplified Acute Physiology II scores were significantly correlated with hospital lengths of stay (p = 0.0052, rs = −0.243 and p = 0.0001, rs = 0.344, respectively). Higher median (interquartile ranges) Simplified Acute Physiology II scores were also associated with hospital mortality [dead = 46 (34.8–51.7) vs. alive = 34 (28–43.3), p = 0.0173]. Conclusions Measures of patient acuity, such as the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer and Simplified Acute Physiology II scores, did show a correlation to clinical outcomes in patients with febrile neutropenia. Timing of initial antibiotics between 2.32 and 6.27 hours after presentation in patients with febrile neutropenia did not correlate with clinical outcomes.

Download Full-text

254. Review of Clinical Outcomes in Patients Treated with Beta-lactam vs Non-beta-lactam Therapy for AmpC Producing Bacterial Bloodstream Infections

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.298 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S126-S126

Author(s):

Mary L Staicu ◽

Tyler Baumeister ◽

Maryrose R Laguio-Vila

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Bloodstream Infections ◽

Hospital Length ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Hospital Length Of Stay ◽

Beta Lactam ◽

Beta Lactams ◽

Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background AmpC beta-lactamase producing organisms are traditionally treated with carbapenem or fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Recent studies, however, describe similar clinical outcomes in patients that receive cefepime or piperacillin/tazobactam. We sought to assess outcomes in patients with bloodstream infections caused by AmpC-producing organisms that received beta-lactams compared non-beta-lactam therapy. Methods Data was obtained retrospectively from the electronic health record (EHR) from January 2012 to February 2020. The primary objective was 30-day mortality from the day of first positive blood cultures with Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., or Serratia spp. in patients who received non-beta-lactam therapy (carbapenem, fluoroquinolone, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) to those who received beta-lactam therapy (cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam). Secondary objectives included 30-day recurrence of bacteremia, pathogen isolated, source of bacteremia, hospital length of stay, and duration of antimicrobial therapy. Results A total of 90 patients were included, 50 in the non-beta lactam group and 40 in the beta-lactam group. Demographics were similar between groups. Thirty-day mortality was significantly higher in the beta-lactam group (20% vs 2%, p=0.009). Enterobacter spp. was the most frequently identified pathogen (67%), most commonly isolated from a urinary (31%) or intra-abdominal source (22%). The average duration of antibiotic therapy was significantly higher in the non-beta lactam group (18 vs 12 days, p=0.001). In contrast, there was no significant difference found in hospital length of stay, recurrence of bacteremia, pathogen isolated or source of bacteremia between groups. Conclusion Beta-lactam therapy for the treatment of bloodstream infections caused by Amp-C producing organisms was associated with significantly greater 30-day mortality compared to patients that received non-beta-lactam therapy. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Download Full-text

Fluoroquinolone Versus Nonfluoroquinolone Treatment of Bloodstream Infections Caused by Chromosomally Mediated AmpC-Producing Enterobacteriaceae

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics9060331 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 331

Author(s):

Sarah Grace Gunter ◽

Katie E. Barber ◽

Jamie L. Wagner ◽

Kayla R. Stover

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Bloodstream Infections ◽

Clinical Failure ◽

Beta Lactam ◽

Definitive Therapy ◽

Effective Option ◽

Secondary Endpoints ◽

Microbiological Cure

Objectives: Chromosomally mediated AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CAE) display high susceptibility to fluoroquinolones; minimal clinical data exist supporting comparative clinical outcomes. The objective of this study was to compare treatment outcomes between fluoroquinolone and nonfluoroquinolone definitive therapy of bloodstream infections caused by CAE. Methods: This retrospective cohort assessed adult patients with positive blood cultures for CAE that received inpatient treatment for ≥48 h. The primary outcome was difference in clinical failure between patients who received fluoroquinolone (FQ) versus non-FQ treatment. Secondary endpoints included microbiological cure, infection-related length of stay, 90-day readmission, and all-cause inpatient mortality. Results: 56 patients were included in the study (31 (55%) received a FQ as definitive therapy; 25 (45%) received non-FQ). All non-FQ patients received a beta-lactam (BL). Clinical failure occurred in 10 (18%) patients, with 4 (13%) in the FQ group and 6 (24%) in the BL group (p = 0.315). Microbiological cure occurred in 55 (98%) patients. Median infection-related length of stay was 10 (6–20) days, with a significantly longer stay occurring in the BL group (p = 0.002). There was no statistical difference in 90-day readmissions between groups (7% FQ vs. 17% BL; p = 0.387); one patient expired. Conclusion: These results suggest that fluoroquinolones do not adversely impact clinical outcomes in patients with CAE. When alternatives to beta-lactam therapy are needed, fluoroquinolones may provide an effective option.

Download Full-text