Lindsay Croft

Comparative Effectiveness of Vancomycin and Metronidazole for the Prevention of Recurrence and Death in Patients With Clostridium difficile Infection

Importance Metronidazole hydrochloride has historically been considered first-line therapy for patients with mild to moderate Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) but is inferior to vancomycin hydrochloride for clinical cure. The choice of therapy may likewise have substantial consequences on other downstream outcomes, such as recurrence and mortality, although these secondary outcomes have been less studied. Objective To evaluate the risk of recurrence and all-cause 30-day mortality among patients receiving metronidazole or vancomycin for the treatment of mild to moderate and severe CDI. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective, propensity-matched cohort study evaluated patients treated for CDI, defined as a positive laboratory test result for the presence of C difficile toxins or toxin genes in a stool sample, in the US Department of Veterans Affairs health care system from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2012. Data analysis was performed from February 7, 2015, through November 22, 2016. Exposures Treatment with vancomycin or metronidazole. Main Outcomes and Measures The outcomes of interest in this study were CDI recurrence and all-cause 30-day mortality. Recurrence was defined as a second positive laboratory test result within 8 weeks of the initial CDI diagnosis. All-cause 30-day mortality was defined as death from any cause within 30 days of the initial CDI diagnosis. Results A total of 47 471 patients (mean [SD] age, 68.8 [13.3] years; 1947 women [4.1%] and 45 524 men [95.9%]) developed CDI, were treated with vancomycin or metronidazole, and met criteria for entry into the study. Of 47 147 eligible first treatment episodes, 2068 (4.4%) were with vancomycin. Those 2068 patients were matched to 8069 patients in the metronidazole group for a total of 10 137 included patients. Subcohorts were constructed that comprised 5452 patients with mild to moderate disease and 3130 patients with severe disease. There were no differences in the risk of recurrence between patients treated with vancomycin vs those treated with metronidazole in any of the disease severity cohorts. Among patients in the any severity cohort, those who were treated with vancomycin were less likely to die (adjusted relative risk, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; adjusted risk difference, –0.02; 95% CI, –0.03 to –0.01). No significant difference was found in the risk of mortality between treatment groups among patients with mild to moderate CDI, but vancomycin significantly reduced the risk of all-cause 30-day mortality among patients with severe CDI (adjusted relative risk, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.97; adjusted risk difference, –0.04; 95% CI, –0.07 to –0.01). Conclusions and Relevance Recurrence rates were similar among patients treated with vancomycin and metronidazole. However, the risk of 30-day mortality was significantly reduced among patients who received vancomycin. Our findings may further justify the use of vancomycin as initial therapy for severe CDI.

Effects of Contact Precautions on Patient Perception of Care and Satisfaction: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE Contact precautions decrease healthcare worker-patient contact and may impact patient satisfaction. To determine the association between contact precautions and patient satisfaction, we used a standardized interview for perceived issues with care. DESIGN Prospective cohort study of inpatients, evaluated at admission and on hospital days 3, 7, and 14 (until discharged). At each point, patients underwent a standardized interview to identify perceived problems with care. After discharge, the standardized interview and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey were administered by telephone. Responses were recorded, transcribed, and coded by 2 physician reviewers. PARTICIPANTS A total of 528 medical or surgical patients not admitted to the intensive care unit. RESULTS A total of 528 patients were included in the primary analysis, of whom 104 (20%) perceived some issue with their care. On multivariable logistic regression, contact precautions were independently associated with a greater number of perceived concerns with care (odds ratio, 2.05 [95% confidence interval, 1.31-3.21]; P < .01), including poor coordination of care (P = .02) and a lack of respect for patient needs and preferences (P = .001). Eighty-eight patients were included in the secondary analysis of HCAHPS. Patients under contact precautions did not have different HCAHPS scores than those not under contact precautions (odds ratio, 1.79 [95% confidence interval, 0.64-5.00]; P = .27). CONCLUSIONS Patients under contact precautions were more likely to perceive problems with their care, especially poor coordination of care and a lack of respect for patient preferences.

The Effect of Contact Precautions on Frequency of Hospital Adverse Events.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether use of contact precautions on hospital ward patients is associated with patient adverse events DESIGN Individually matched prospective cohort study SETTING The University of Maryland Medical Center, a tertiary care hospital in Baltimore, Maryland METHODS A total of 296 medical or surgical inpatients admitted to non-intensive care unit hospital wards were enrolled at admission from January to November 2010. Patients on contact precautions were individually matched by hospital unit after an initial 3-day length of stay to patients not on contact precautions. Adverse events were detected by physician chart review and categorized as noninfectious, preventable and severe noninfectious, and infectious adverse events during the patients stay using the standardized Institute for Healthcare Improvements Global Trigger Tool. RESULTS The cohort of 148 patients on contact precautions at admission was matched with a cohort of 148 patients not on contact precautions. Of the total 296 subjects, 104 (35.1%) experienced at least 1 adverse event during their hospital stay. Contact precautions were associated with fewer noninfectious adverse events (rate ratio [RtR], 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.95; P=.02) and although not statistically significant, with fewer severe adverse events (RtR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.46-1.03; P=.07). Preventable adverse events did not significantly differ between patients on contact precautions and patients not on contact precautions (RtR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.59-1.24; P=.41). CONCLUSIONS Hospital ward patients on contact precautions were less likely to experience noninfectious adverse events during their hospital stay than patients not on contact precautions.

Lessons Learned From Hospital Ebola Preparation

BACKGROUND Hospital Ebola preparation is underway in the United States and other countries; however, the best approach and resources involved are unknown. OBJECTIVE To examine costs and challenges associated with hospital Ebola preparation by means of a survey of Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) members. DESIGN Electronic survey of infection prevention experts. RESULTS A total of 257 members completed the survey (221 US, 36 international) representing institutions in 41 US states, the District of Columbia, and 18 countries. The 221 US respondents represented 158 (43.1%) of 367 major medical centers that have SHEA members and included 21 (60%) of 35 institutions recently defined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as Ebola virus disease treatment centers. From October 13 through October 19, 2014, Ebola consumed 80% of hospital epidemiology time and only 30% of routine infection prevention activities were completed. Routine care was delayed in 27% of hospitals evaluating patients for Ebola. LIMITATIONS Convenience sample of SHEA members with a moderate response rate. CONCLUSIONS Hospital Ebola preparations required extraordinary resources, which were diverted from routine infection prevention activities. Patients being evaluated for Ebola faced delays and potential limitations in management of other diseases that are more common in travelers returning from West Africa.

Risk factors for surgical site infections after pediatric spine operations.

Study Design. Matched case-control study. Objective. To identify modifiable risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) after pediatric spinal fusion. Summary of Background Data. The number of SSIs after pediatric spinal fusions increased. Methods. Between July 2001 and July 2010, 22 of 598 pediatric patients who underwent spinal fusion at a university hospital acquired SSIs. Each patient with an SSI was matched with 2 controls by procedure date. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were used to identify risk factors for SSIs and outcomes of SSIs. Results. Gram-negative organisms caused more than 50% of the SSIs. By multivariable analysis, neuromuscular scoliosis (odds ratio [OR] = 20.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1–889.5; P < 0.0001) and weight-for-age at the 95th percentile or higher (OR = 8.6; 95% CI, 1.2–124.9; P = 0.02) were preoperative factors associated with SSIs. Blood loss (OR = 1.0; 95% CI, 1.0–1.0; P = 0.039) and allografts and allografts in combination with other grafts were operative risk factors for SSIs. The final overall risk model for SSIs was weight-for-age at the 95th percentile or higher (OR = 4.0; 95% CI, 1.4–∞; P = 0.037), American Society of Anesthesiologists score 3 or more (OR = 3.8; 95% CI, 1.6–∞; P = 0.01), and prolonged operation duration (OR = 1.0/min increase; 95% CI, 1.0–1.0; P = 0.004). SSIs were associated with 2.8 days of additional postoperative length of stay (P = 0.02). Neuromuscular scoliosis was the only factor significantly associated with hospital readmission (OR = 23.6; 95% CI, 3.8–147.3; P = 0.0007). Conclusion. Our results suggest that pediatric patients undergoing spinal fusion might benefit from antimicrobial prophylaxis that covers gram-negative organisms. Surgical duration, graft implantation, and blood loss are potentially modifiable operative risk factors. Neuromuscular scoliosis, high weight-for-age, and American Society of Anesthesiologists scores 3 or more may help surgical teams identify patients at high risk for SSI. Level of Evidence: 4

Factors Associated with Treatment Failure in Vertebral Osteomyelitis Requiring Spinal Instrumentation

ABSTRACT Patients with vertebral osteomyelitis may require instrumentation for spinal stabilization. Determining the optimal duration and type of antimicrobial therapy for these patients is challenging. The aim of this study was to examine risk factors for treatment failure, in particular antimicrobial duration, in a cohort of patients requiring spinal instrumentation for vertebral osteomyelitis. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients with vertebral osteomyelitis who had spinal instrumentation between January 2002 and January 2012 at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The primary outcome measure was treatment failure >4 weeks postoperatively. We identified 131 patients with vertebral osteomyelitis requiring spinal instrumentation, 94 of whom had >4 weeks of follow-up and were included in the primary analysis. Treatment failure occurred in 22 of the 94 patients (23%) at a median of 4 months after surgery. Among patients who failed therapy, 20 of 22 failed within 1 year of surgery. Cervical and thoracic infection sites and the presence of negative cultures were associated with fewer treatment failures. Addition of rifampin and the use of chronic suppressive antimicrobials did not affect treatment failure rate. Twenty-three percent of patients with spinal instrumentation for vertebral osteomyelitis experienced treatment failure. Treatment failure almost always occurred within the first year of spinal instrumentation.

The Effect of Universal Glove and Gown Use on Adverse Events in Intensive Care Unit Patients

BACKGROUND No randomized trials have examined the effect of contact precautions or universal glove and gown use on adverse events. We assessed if wearing gloves and gowns during all patient contact in the intensive care unit (ICU) changes adverse event rates. METHODS From January 2012 to October 2012, intervention ICUs of the 20-site Benefits of Universal Gloving and Gowning cluster randomized trial required that healthcare workers use gloves and gowns for all patient contact. We randomly sampled 1800 medical records of adult patients not colonized with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and reviewed them for adverse events using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Global Trigger Tool. RESULTS Four hundred forty-seven patients (24.8%) had 1 or more ICU adverse events. Adverse events were not associated with universal glove and gown use (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], .48-1.36). This did not change with adjustment for ICU type, severity of illness, academic hospital status, and ICU size, (IRR, 0.91; 95% CI, .59-1.42; P = .68). Rates of infectious adverse events also did not differ after adjusting for the same factors (IRR, 0.75; 95% CI, .47-1.21; P = .24). CONCLUSIONS In ICUs where healthcare workers donned gloves and gowns for all patient contact, patients were no more likely to experience adverse events than in control ICUs. Concerns of adverse events resulting from universal glove and gown use were not supported. Similar considerations may be appropriate regarding use of contact precautions. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT0131821.

Advancing interprofessional patient safety education for medical, nursing, and pharmacy learners during clinical rotations

ABSTRACT Clinical errors are common and can lead to adverse events and patient death. Health professionals must work within interprofessional teams to provide safe and effective care to patients, yet current curricula is lacking with regards to interprofessional education and patient safety. We describe the development and implementation of an interprofessional course aimed at medical, nursing, and pharmacy learners during their clinical training at a large academic medical centre. The course objectives were based on core competencies for interprofessional education and patient safety. The course was offered as recurring three 1-hour sessions, including case-based discussions and a mock root cause analysis. Forty-three students attended at least one session over a 7-month period. We performed a cross-sectional survey of participants to assess readiness for interprofessional learning and a before and after comparison of patient safety knowledge. All students reported a high level of readiness for interprofessional learning, indicating an interest in interprofessional opportunities. In general, understanding and knowledge of the four competency domains in patient safety was low before the course and 100% of students reported an increase in knowledge in these domains after participating in the course.

Perceptions of Gown and Glove Use to Prevent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Transmission in Nursing Homes.

OBJECTIVES To explore current use and perceptions of glove and gown use in nursing homes. DESIGN Qualitative study using focus groups and semi-structured interviews. SETTING Three community-based nursing homes in Maryland. PARTICIPANTS Direct care staff, administrators, and residents. METHODS We conducted three focus groups among nursing home staff, one focus group among nursing home administrators, and five interviews with residents. Topic guides were created based on our recent study results and a review of the literature. Two investigators separately analyzed the transcribed recordings and identified recurrent themes. RESULTS Direct care staff reported using gowns and gloves primarily as self-protection against contact with bodily fluids, not to prevent MRSA transmission. Glove use was described as common and more acceptable to staff and residents than gown use. Administrators were surprised that MRSA transmission to health care worker hands and clothing occurred during activities when direct care staff perceives no contact with bodily fluids. Staff and administrators expressed willingness to use gowns and gloves for high-risk care activities, particularly if use is targeted toward specific types of residents such as those with pressure ulcers. There was a knowledge deficit about MRSA transmission and infection among direct care staff and residents. CONCLUSIONS Results from this study will inform a strategy to reduce MRSA transmission in long-term care.

Inappropriate Antibiotic Use and Gastric Acid Suppression Preceding Clostridium difficile Infection.

Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; 2. Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, Minnesota; 3. University of Minnesota Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota; 4. Department of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Address correspondence to Jeana Houseman, MHSA, Infection Prevention Department, University of Minnesota Medical Center, 420 Delaware St SE, Suite C370-1, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (Jhousem1@fairview.org). Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2016;37(4):493–494