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The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society represent the core expertise regarding healthcare infection prevention and infectious diseases and have written multisociety statement for healthcare facility leaders, regulatory agencies, payors, and patients to strengthen requirements and expectations around facility infection prevention and control (IPC) programs. Based on a systematic literature search and formal consensus process, the authors advocate raising the expectations for facility IPC programs, moving to effective programs that are:
• Foundational and influential parts of the facility’s operational structure
• Resourced with the correct expertise and leadership
• Prioritized to address all potential infectious harms
This document discusses the IPC program’s leadership—a dyad model that includes both physician and infection preventionist leaders—its reporting structure, expertise, and competencies of its members, and the roles and accountability of partnering groups within the healthcare facility. The document outlines a process for identifying minimum IPC program medical director support. It applies to all types of healthcare settings except post-acute long-term care and focuses on resources for the IPC program. Long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) staffing and antimicrobial stewardship programs will be discussed in subsequent documents.
To review and explore the eating disorder admissions to an in-patient child and adolescent mental health hospital which had restarted taking such presentations. This was done by conducting three audits using RiO (an electronic patient records system) and including all young people with eating disorders or related difficulties admitted between 1 February 2019 and 30 June 2023. As part of this, relevant practice standards were identified using the baseline assessment tool in UK national guidelines.
Results
The audits identified 46 completed admissions, detailing demographic information, nasogastric and restraint feeding, therapeutic interventions and medication, admission and discharge routes, length of admission and more.
Clinical implications
The review highlighted the apparent overall success of a general admission unit in treating eating disorders and related difficulties and identified key areas of importance and development in terms of clinical practice.
Interval estimates of the Pearson, Kendall tau-a and Spearman correlations are reviewed and an improved standard error for the Spearman correlation is proposed. The sample size required to yield a confidence interval having the desired width is examined. A two-stage approximation to the sample size requirement is shown to give accurate results.
Paediatric patients with heart failure requiring ventricular assist devices are at heightened risk of neurologic injury and psychosocial adjustment challenges, resulting in a need for neurodevelopmental and psychosocial support following device placement. Through a descriptive survey developed in collaboration by the Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network and the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative, the present study aimed to characterise current neurodevelopmental and psychosocial care practices for paediatric patients with ventricular assist devices.
Method:
Members of both learning networks developed a 25-item electronic survey assessing neurodevelopmental and psychosocial care practices specific to paediatric ventricular assist device patients. The survey was sent to Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network site primary investigators and co-primary investigators via email.
Results:
Of the 63 eligible sites contacted, responses were received from 24 unique North and South American cardiology centres. Access to neurodevelopmental providers, referral practices, and family neurodevelopmental education varied across sites. Inpatient neurodevelopmental care consults were available at many centres, as were inpatient family support services. Over half of heart centres had outpatient neurodevelopmental testing and individual psychotherapy services available to patients with ventricular assist devices, though few centres had outpatient group psychotherapy (12.5%) or parent support groups (16.7%) available. Barriers to inpatient and outpatient neurodevelopmental care included limited access to neurodevelopmental providers and parent/provider focus on the child’s medical status.
Conclusions:
Paediatric patients with ventricular assist devices often have access to neurodevelopmental providers in the inpatient setting, though supports vary by centre. Strengthening family neurodevelopmental education, referral processes, and family-centred psychosocial services may improve current neurodevelopmental/psychosocial care for paediatric ventricular assist device patients.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for a shift towards virtual forms of working, and specific support for the provision of virtual therapy (BPS, 2020). Remotely delivered therapy has known potential benefits, such as improving access to people living in underserved areas and for those who struggle to attend face-to-face appointments due to psychosocial, physical or geographical constraints. Those with neurological conditions frequently fall in these groups.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based psychological intervention which aims to improve the physical and mental health of people living with neurological conditions. However, there are several considerations to translating this into a virtual therapy for this clinical group that have not yet been thoroughly empirically evaluated. Such considerations include: fatigue, cognitive difficulties in the context of virtual communication, adaptations within the therapeutic alliance, and translation of dynamic and interactive therapeutic exercises within a virtual medium.
This study aimed to describe the experiences of Clinical Psychologists delivering ACT remotely in the context of two randomised controlled feasibility and acceptability clinical trials for young people (aged 11 to 24) who have experienced a brain tumour or Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Exploring therapist perceptions and experiences provides valuable insights into potential barriers and facilitators to engagement with remote ACT delivery.
Participants and Methods:
Clinical Psychologists who were trained to deliver ACT via videoconferencing were invited to take part in virtual interviews. The semi-structured interview guide aimed to draw on their experience of ACT training, supervision, remote delivery, and perceived impact of ACT. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results:
Five Clinical Psychologists were interviewed. Interview data were coded into broad themes around the experience of delivering ACT, engaging with remote systems, the wider perceived impact of ACT and the adaptability of ACT. ACT training was reported to be an effective, positive experience and the opportunity for regular peer and group supervision worked to solidify the training and support fidelity to the ACT processes. It was largely acknowledged that while remote delivery of the intervention did create some initial challenges to the therapeutic process, this approach created opportunity for the young people to access psychological support that they might not have been able to engage with due to logistical considerations. Clinical Psychologists also shared that training in and experience of delivering ACT had a positive and meaningful impact on their clinical practice and personal conduct. They also reported that ACT was adaptable to the needs of the young people in the clinical trials and felt appropriate to deliver in this context.
Conclusions:
This in-depth, qualitative study demonstrated the clinical promise of remotely delivered ACT. Clinical Psychologists viewed remotely delivered ACT as an appropriate, acceptable and feasible intervention for young people with experience of brain tumour and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex within the context of research, that would be generalisable to everyday clinical practice.
Edited by
Dennis S. Chi, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York,Nisha Lakhi, Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island,Nicoletta Colombo, University of Milan-Bicocca
Randomized clinical trials, a large NCI-Kaiser Permanente real-world follow-up study involving over one million women, and the three US FDA registration trials clearly demonstrate that HPV primary screening for cervical cancer is safe and effective. Co-testing that combines both HPV testing and cytology offers minimal, if any, additional benefit over HPV primary testing and increases costs, requires follow-up of HPV-negative women with ASCUS and LSIL that can lead to unnecessary colposcopies/biopsies and retains the medico-legal risk of false-negative cytology results. A number of countries have adopted HPV primary screening for their national screening programs and in the United States HPV primary screening is now classified as the preferred screening approach for women >25 years by the 2020 American Cancer Society guidelines.
Voting is an intrinsic part of being a member of society and promotes social inclusion. The vast majority of mental health service users have the same right to vote as the general population but are a disenfranchised group and inpatients are half as likely to vote. Service users experience many barriers to voting including knowledge of their eligibility and the accessibility of the registration and voting process. Mental health staff need to understand service users’ voting rights so they can offer appropriate support. This project aimed to explore staff knowledge of service users’ voting rights.
Methods
77 multidisciplinary team members from inpatient and community settings in Haringey were surveyed about voting rights.
Questions focussed on staff knowledge of service users’ right to vote (whether or not subject to various civil or forensic sections), if capacity to vote was required and if those with certain diagnoses were legally disenfranchised.
27 Care Coordinators were asked if they discussed voting with service users and whether support around voting and registration was in care plans.
Results
The response rate was 96%. No respondents answered completely correctly. Staff knowledge was similar across all groups and settings.
The majority of staff believed community service users (89%) and informal inpatients (93%) were able to vote.
63% of respondents knew inpatients on civil sections could vote. 81% knew those on a Community Treatment Order could vote. 40% of responses regarding the forensic sections were correct.
56% believed service users needed to have capacity in order to vote.
Certain diagnoses were believed to legally prevent service users from voting, including dementia (19%) and schizophrenia (13%).
44% of Care Coordinators discussed voting with service users and 26% included voting in care plans.
Conclusion
Despite a national campaign, the level of staff knowledge is disappointingly low throughout all groups and settings, risking service users being given wrong information. This further disenfranchises a group that already experiences significant barriers to vote.
It is of particular concern that a significant minority of staff believed certain diagnoses legally prevent voting.
It was poorly understood that capacity is not relevant to the right to vote.
Voting rights and available support is not widely discussed by care coordinators with service users.
Clearly, education and training on voting rights is necessary for mental health professionals. We are planning staff education sessions and service user workshops as a quality improvement project.
OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The aim of this study was to design and implement the Pharos application to map the cellular network support structure around Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. Additionally, the Pharos app was used to collect images of disease-relevant vector and plant life surrounding the study sites to train a computer vision algorithm to map disease-relevant areas. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Pharos was provided to a 4-person team of healthcare workers. The app was pre-loaded on both iOS and Android devices to be used during the course of normal field activity. Pharos ambiently collects network data and the team was asked to capture images of landmarks relevant to their work in schistosomiasis control. The field team traveled to 4 counties of differing schistosomiasis risk surrounding Kisumu, Kenya in autumn 2022 and will return to these areas in early spring 2023. Cell signal indicators (upload and download speed) were collected and asynchronously uploaded to a database for further analysis. Additionally, all landmark images (cell network towers, landmarks (e.g. schools, churches, public centers), plant life, vectors, and water bodies) were recorded and tagged with GPS coordinates and time stamps. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Iterative development powered by small, informal, user-centered focus group discussions with the field team led to several key adaptations to the Pharos software. On the first deployment, 1,297 unique upload and download events were recorded across 3 Kenyan cell providers and 1 American provider. 1,197 data points were collected in Kenya using both Android and iOS devices using several versions of the Pharos application. 154 unique landmarks were photographed, but a distinct difference in landmark recording was observed between devices, prompting a transition to iOS-only data collection. Of the landmarks recorded, the majority (120, 77.9%) were landmarks or cell network towers, while 22.1% were water bodies, plant life, or schistosomiasis vectors. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: For the first time, high-detail maps of cellular signal and critical schistosomiasis-related landmarks were generated. Future work on this project is focused on training computer vision algorithms using the captured images of environmental and ecological factors to isolate possible areas of human disease transmission.
Studies have reported mixed findings regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on pregnant women and birth outcomes. This study used a quasi-experimental design to account for potential confounding by sociodemographic characteristics.
Methods
Data were drawn from 16 prenatal cohorts participating in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. Women exposed to the pandemic (delivered between 12 March 2020 and 30 May 2021) (n = 501) were propensity-score matched on maternal age, race and ethnicity, and child assigned sex at birth with 501 women who delivered before 11 March 2020. Participants reported on perceived stress, depressive symptoms, sedentary behavior, and emotional support during pregnancy. Infant gestational age (GA) at birth and birthweight were gathered from medical record abstraction or maternal report.
Results
After adjusting for propensity matching and covariates (maternal education, public assistance, employment status, prepregnancy body mass index), results showed a small effect of pandemic exposure on shorter GA at birth, but no effect on birthweight adjusted for GA. Women who were pregnant during the pandemic reported higher levels of prenatal stress and depressive symptoms, but neither mediated the association between pandemic exposure and GA. Sedentary behavior and emotional support were each associated with prenatal stress and depressive symptoms in opposite directions, but no moderation effects were revealed.
Conclusions
There was no strong evidence for an association between pandemic exposure and adverse birth outcomes. Furthermore, results highlight the importance of reducing maternal sedentary behavior and encouraging emotional support for optimizing maternal health regardless of pandemic conditions.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted the lack of agreement regarding the definition of aerosol-generating procedures and potential risk to healthcare personnel. We convened a group of Massachusetts healthcare epidemiologists to develop consensus through expert opinion in an area where broader guidance was lacking at the time.
Testing of asymptomatic patients for severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (ie, “asymptomatic screening) to attempt to reduce the risk of nosocomial transmission has been extensive and resource intensive, and such testing is of unclear benefit when added to other layers of infection prevention mitigation controls. In addition, the logistic challenges and costs related to screening program implementation, data noting the lack of substantial aerosol generation with elective controlled intubation, extubation, and other procedures, and the adverse patient and facility consequences of asymptomatic screening call into question the utility of this infection prevention intervention. Consequently, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) recommends against routine universal use of asymptomatic screening for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare facilities. Specifically, preprocedure asymptomatic screening is unlikely to provide incremental benefit in preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the procedural and perioperative environment when other infection prevention strategies are in place, and it should not be considered a requirement for all patients. Admission screening may be beneficial during times of increased virus transmission in some settings where other layers of controls are limited (eg, behavioral health, congregate care, or shared patient rooms), but widespread routine use of admission asymptomatic screening is not recommended over strengthening other infection prevention controls. In this commentary, we outline the challenges surrounding the use of asymptomatic screening, including logistics and costs of implementing a screening program, and adverse patient and facility consequences. We review data pertaining to the lack of substantial aerosol generation during elective controlled intubation, extubation, and other procedures, and we provide guidance for when asymptomatic screening for SARS-CoV-2 may be considered in a limited scope.
Admission laboratory screening for asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been utilized to mitigate healthcare-associated severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission. An understanding of the impact of such testing across a variety of patient populations is needed.
Methods:
SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification admission testing results for all asymptomatic patients across 4 distinct inpatient facilities between April 20, 2020, and June 14, 2021, were analyzed. Positivity rates and the number needed to test (NNT) to identify 1 asymptomatic infected patient were calculated. Admission results were compared to COVID-19 community incidence rates for the system’s surrounding metropolitan service area. Using a national survey of hospital epidemiologists, a clinically meaningful NNT of 1:100 was identified.
Results:
In total, 51,187 tests were collected (positivity rate, 1.8%). During periods of high transmission, the NNT met the clinically relevant threshold in all populations. The NNT approached or met the threshold for most locations during periods of lower transmission. For all transmission levels, the NNT for fully vaccinated patients did not meet the threshold.
Conclusions:
Implementing an asymptomatic patient admission testing program can provide clinically relevant data based on the NNT, even during periods of lower transmission and among different patient populations. Limiting admission testing to non–fully vaccinated patients during periods of lower transmission may be a strategy to address resource concerns around this practice. Although the impact of such testing on healthcare-associated COVID-19 among patients and healthcare workers could not be clearly determined, these data provide important information as facilities weigh the costs and benefits of such testing.
The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) has emerged out of the quantitative approach to psychiatric nosology. This approach identifies psychopathology constructs based on patterns of co-variation among signs and symptoms. The initial HiTOP model, which was published in 2017, is based on a large literature that spans decades of research. HiTOP is a living model that undergoes revision as new data become available. Here we discuss advantages and practical considerations of using this system in psychiatric practice and research. We especially highlight limitations of HiTOP and ongoing efforts to address them. We describe differences and similarities between HiTOP and existing diagnostic systems. Next, we review the types of evidence that informed development of HiTOP, including populations in which it has been studied and data on its validity. The paper also describes how HiTOP can facilitate research on genetic and environmental causes of psychopathology as well as the search for neurobiologic mechanisms and novel treatments. Furthermore, we consider implications for public health programs and prevention of mental disorders. We also review data on clinical utility and illustrate clinical application of HiTOP. Importantly, the model is based on measures and practices that are already used widely in clinical settings. HiTOP offers a way to organize and formalize these techniques. This model already can contribute to progress in psychiatry and complement traditional nosologies. Moreover, HiTOP seeks to facilitate research on linkages between phenotypes and biological processes, which may enable construction of a system that encompasses both biomarkers and precise clinical description.
Background: Admission laboratory screening for asymptomatic COVID-19 has been utilized to mitigate healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 transmission. A better understanding of the impact of such testing across a variety of patient populations is needed. Methods: Beginning April 2020, every patient admitted within an academic healthcare system underwent SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing upon admission. Between April 20, 2020 through June 14, 2021, results were analyzed in asymptomatic patients across 4 inpatient facilities: a tertiary-care adult hospital, a free-standing pediatric hospital, a community-based hospital, and a behavioral health hospital. Positivity rates and the number needed to test (NNT) to identify 1 asymptomatic infected patient were calculated overall, by hospital type, by patient vaccination status, and by CDC-defined levels of community transmission. Weekly community incidence rates of COVID-19 for the system’s metropolitan service area (8 central Tennessee counties) were obtained from Tennessee Department of Health records. Weekly COVID-19 incidence rates per 100,000 people were calculated using US Census Bureau data. Using a national survey of hospital epidemiologists, a clinically meaningful NNT was identified (ie, 1 positive patient per 100 patients tested). A crude admission testing cost (covering testing supplies, reagents, and lab personnel costs) was obtained from operational data ($50 per test) to assess testing utility. Results: In total, 51,187 tests were collected during the study period with a positivity rate of 1.8%. No periods of low transmission were observed (Table 1). During high transmission periods, the NNT met the clinically relevant threshold in all populations. In addition, the NNT approached or met the 1:100 threshold for most locations during periods of less transmission, suggesting continued benefit even as infection rates decline. In all transmission periods, the NNT for non–fully vaccinated patients met the clinically meaningful threshold, in contrast to testing of fully vaccinated patients (Table 2). Discussion: Implementing an asymptomatic patient admission testing program can provide clinically relevant value based on the NNT, even during lower periods of transmission and in different patient populations. Limiting admission testing to non–fully vaccinated patients during periods of lower transmission may be a strategy to address cost and resource concerns around this practice. Further investigations into the impact of booster vaccination and newer SARS-CoV-2 variants on admission testing programs are also necessary. Although the impact of such testing on healthcare-associated COVID-19 among patients and healthcare workers could not be clearly determined, these data provide important information as facilities weigh the costs and benefits of such testing.
OBJECTIVES/GOALS: In triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), obesity is associated with poor outcomes. Adipose stem cells (ASCs) from obese patients (obASCs) secrete higher levels of adipokines compared to ASCs from lean individuals. Leptin, one of these adipokines, has been implicated in many cancers. This study seeks to examine the role of leptin signaling in TNBC. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Previous work in conjunction with a collaborating lab has shown that leptin signaling promotes metastasis and increased expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in triple negative breast cancer cell lines. This project expands upon this work through using both patient-derived cell lines and and patient-derived xenografts (PDX), and examines the role of leptin signaling both in vitro and in vivo. To determine the effects of obesity upon a PDX model of TNBC, a high fat diet was used to induce obesity in vivo. A pharmacological inhibitor of the leptin receptor was used to test the requirement for leptin signaling both in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Exposure to conditioned media harvested from obASCs increased the percentage of TNBC cells that expressed cancer stem cell markers, whereas exposure to an inhibitor of the leptin receptor decreased the percentage of cells with cancer stem cell markers. PDX tumors implanted into mice with diet-induced obesity had an increased volume compared to tumors implanted into lean controls. Further analysis will be conducted on metastasis, circulating tumor cells, and survival in both lean and obese mice. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Understanding the complex signaling events in the obese tumor microenvironment is essential, as these molecular differences may contribute to different outcomes for obese and lean individuals with triple negative breast cancer. Therefore, study of the crosstalk between obASCs and TNBC cells is critical.
The aim of this study was to identify pre-discharge risk factors associated with early inpatient readmission in general adult service users, with a particular focus on modifiable factors. We hypothesised that stability prior to discharge would reduce readmission to inpatient services within 90 days.
Background
Early readmission to inpatient psychiatric services is a poor outcome for service users, staff and the healthcare system. A variety of clinical, demographic and system factors, mostly non-modifiable, have been investigated previously. The identification of pre-discharge and particularly modifiable factors associated with readmission would give an opportunity for intervention and changes in policy.
Method
272 medical records of all admissions within an 8 month period to a NHS inner city psychiatric inpatient service were reviewed to identify factors associated with readmission within 90 days of discharge. The data were analysed by simple comparison, calculation of odds ratios and logistic regression.
Result
26% of service users were readmitted to the mental health trust within 90 days of discharge. Incidents (OR = 3.86; 95% CI 1.39–10.75) and psychotropic medication change in the week before discharge (OR = 2.94; 95% CI 1.43–6.03) were significantly associated with readmission, as were the number of previous admissions, and comorbid substance misuse. Successful overnight leave was found to be significantly protective against readmission (OR = 0.29; 95% CI 0.11–0.72).
Conclusion
The ability to predict those at high risk for readmission means they can be targeted for interventions and it can also help develop best practice around inpatient care and the discharge process. The novel findings in this study of pre-discharge modifiable risk factors such as stability and successful overnight leave could have significant implications in discharge planning policy.
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs) are prevalent in older people living with HIV (PLWH) worldwide. HAND prevalence and incidence studies of the newly emergent population of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-treated older PLWH in sub-Saharan Africa are currently lacking. We aimed to estimate HAND prevalence and incidence using robust measures in stable, cART-treated older adults under long-term follow-up in Tanzania and report cognitive comorbidities.
Design:
Longitudinal study
Participants:
A systematic sample of consenting HIV-positive adults aged ≥50 years attending routine clinical care at an HIV Care and Treatment Centre during March–May 2016 and followed up March–May 2017.
Measurements:
HAND by consensus panel Frascati criteria based on detailed locally normed low-literacy neuropsychological battery, structured neuropsychiatric clinical assessment, and collateral history. Demographic and etiological factors by self-report and clinical records.
Results:
In this cohort (n = 253, 72.3% female, median age 57), HAND prevalence was 47.0% (95% CI 40.9–53.2, n = 119) despite well-managed HIV disease (Mn CD4 516 (98-1719), 95.5% on cART). Of these, 64 (25.3%) were asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment, 46 (18.2%) mild neurocognitive disorder, and 9 (3.6%) HIV-associated dementia. One-year incidence was high (37.2%, 95% CI 25.9 to 51.8), but some reversibility (17.6%, 95% CI 10.0–28.6 n = 16) was observed.
Conclusions:
HAND appear highly prevalent in older PLWH in this setting, where demographic profile differs markedly to high-income cohorts, and comorbidities are frequent. Incidence and reversibility also appear high. Future studies should focus on etiologies and potentially reversible factors in this setting.
Background: Handshake antibiotic stewardship is an effective but resource-intensive strategy for reducing antimicrobial utilization. At larger hospitals, widespread implementation of direct handshake rounds may be constrained by available resources. To optimize resource utilization and mirror handshake antimicrobial stewardship, we designed an indirect feedback model utilizing existing team pharmacy infrastructure. Methods: The antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) utilized the plan-do-study-act (PDSA) improvement methodology to implement an antibiotic stewardship intervention centered on antimicrobial utilization feedback and patient-level recommendations to optimize antimicrobial utilization. The intervention included team-based antimicrobial utilization dashboard development, biweekly antimicrobial utilization data feedback of total antimicrobial utilization and select drug-specific antimicrobial utilization, and twice weekly individualized review by ASP staff of all patients admitted to the 5 hospitalist teams on antimicrobials with recommendations (discontinuation, optimization, etc) relayed electronically to team-based pharmacists. Pharmacists were to communicate recommendations as an indirect surrogate for handshake antibiotic stewardship. As reviewer duties expanded to include a rotation of multiple reviewers, a standard operating procedure was created. A closed-loop communication model was developed to ensure pharmacist feedback receipt and to allow intervention acceptance tracking. During implementation optimization, a team pharmacist-champion was identified and addressed communication lapses. An outcome measure of days of therapy per 1,000 patient days present (DOT/1,000 PD) and balance measure of in-hospital mortality were chosen. Implementation began April 5, 2019, and data were collected through October 31, 2019. Preintervention comparison data spanned December 2017 to April 2019. Results: Overall, 1,119 cases were reviewed by the ASP, of whom 255 (22.8%) received feedback. In total, 236 of 362 recommendations (65.2%) were implemented (Fig. 1). Antimicrobial discontinuation was the most frequent (147 of 362, 40.6%), and most consistently implemented (111 of 147, 75.3%), recommendation. The DOT/1,000 PD before the intervention compared to the same metric after intervention remained unchanged (741.1 vs 725.4; P = .60) as did crude in-hospital mortality (1.8% vs 1.7%; P = .76). Several contributing factors were identified: communication lapses (eg, emails not received by 2 pharmacists), intervention timing (mismatch of recommendation and rounding window), and individual culture (some pharmacists with reduced buy-in selectively relayed recommendations). Conclusion: Although resource efficient, this model of indirect handshake did not significantly impact total antimicrobial utilization. Through serial PDSA cycles, implementation barriers were identified that can be addressed to improve the feedback process. Communication, expectation management, and interpersonal relationship development emerged as critical issues contributing to poor recommendation adherence. Future PDSA cycles will focus on streamlining processes to improve communication among stakeholders.
Delivering high quality genomics-informed care to patients requires accurate test results whose clinical implications are understood. While other actors, including state agencies, professional organizations, and clinicians, are involved, this article focuses on the extent to which the federal agencies that play the most prominent roles — the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services enforcing CLIA and the FDA — effectively ensure that these elements are met and concludes by suggesting possible ways to improve their oversight of genomic testing.