Machine Learning-Based Exploratory Clinical Decision Support for Newly Diagnosed Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treated With 7 + 3 Type Chemotherapy or Venetoclax/Azacitidine.

PURPOSE: There are currently limited objective criteria to help assist physicians in determining whether an individual patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is likely to do better with induction with either standard 7 + 3 chemotherapy or targeted therapy with venetoclax plus azacitidine. The study goal was to address this need by developing exploratory clinical decision support methods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Univariable and multivariable analysis as well as comparison of a range of machine learning (ML) predictors were performed using cohorts of 120 newly diagnosed 7 + 3-treated AML patients compared with 101 venetoclax plus azacitidine-treated patients. RESULTS: A variety of features in the two patient cohorts were identified that may potentially correlate with short- and long-term outcomes, toxicities, and other considerations. A subset of these diagnostic features was then used to develop ML-based predictors with relatively high areas under the curve of short- and long-term outcomes, hospital stays, transfusion requirements, and toxicities for individual patients treated with either venetoclax/azacitidine or 7 + 3. CONCLUSION: Potential ML-based approaches to clinical decision support to help guide individual patients with newly diagnosed AML to either 7 + 3 or venetoclax plus azacitidine induction therapy were identified. Larger cohorts with separate test and validation studies are necessary to confirm these initial findings.

Antibiotic Exposure and Risk for Hospital-Associated Clostridioides difficile Infection.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a health care-associated infection associated with significant morbidity and cost, with highly varied risk across populations. More effective, risk-based prevention strategies are needed. Here, we investigate risk factors for hospital-associated CDI in a large integrated health system. In a retrospective cohort of all adult admissions to 21 Intermountain Healthcare hospitals from 2006 to 2012, we identified all symptomatic (i) hospital-onset and (ii) health care-facility-associated, community-onset CDI. We then evaluated the risk associated with antibiotic exposure, including that of specific agents, using multivariable logistic regression. A total of 2,356 cases of CDI among 506,068 admissions were identified (incidence, 46.6 per 10,000). Prior antibiotic use was the dominant risk factor, where for every antibiotic day of therapy prior to the index admission, the odds of subsequent CDI increased by 12.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.2 to 13.4%; P < 0.0001). This was a much stronger association than was inpatient antibiotic exposure (odds ratio [OR], 1.007 [95% CI, 1.005 to 1.009]; P < 0.0001). The highest-risk antibiotics included second-generation and later cephalosporins (especially oral), carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, and clindamycin, while doxycycline and daptomycin were associated with a lower CDI risk. We concluded that cumulative antibiotic exposure prior to admission is the greatest contributor to the risk of subsequent CDI. Most classes of antibiotics carry some risk, which varies by drug and route. This information may be useful for antimicrobial stewardship efforts.

Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Invasive Fungal Infection in a US Health Care Network.

BACKGROUND: A better understanding of the epidemiology and clinical features of invasive fungal infection (IFI) is integral to improving outcomes. We describe a novel case-finding methodology, reporting incidence, clinical features, and outcomes of IFI in a large US health care network. METHODS: All available records in the Intermountain Healthcare Enterprise Data Warehouse from 2006 to 2015 were queried for clinical data associated with IFI. The resulting data were overlaid in 124 different combinations to identify high-probability IFI cases. The cohort was manually reviewed, and exclusions were applied. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group Consensus Group definitions were adapted to categorize IFI in a broad patient population. Linear regression was used to model variation in incidence over time. RESULTS: A total of 3374 IFI episodes occurred in 3154 patients. The mean incidence was 27.2 cases/100 000 patients per year, and there was a mean annual increase of 0.24 cases/100 000 patients (P = .21). Candidiasis was the most common (55%). Dimorphic fungi, primarily Coccidioides spp., comprised 25.1% of cases, followed by Aspergillus spp. (8.9%). The median age was 55 years, and pediatric cases accounted for 13%; 26.1% of patients were on immunosuppression, 14.9% had autoimmunity or immunodeficiency, 13.3% had active malignancy, and 5.9% were transplant recipients. Lymphopenia preceded IFI in 22.1% of patients. Hospital admission occurred in 76.2%. The median length of stay was 16 days. All-cause mortality was 17.0% at 42 days and 28.8% at 1 year. Forty-two-day mortality was highest in Aspergillus spp. (27.5%), 20.5% for Candida, and lowest for dimorphic fungi (7.5%). CONCLUSIONS: In this population, IFI was not uncommon, affected a broad spectrum of patients, and was associated with high crude mortality.

The clinical and economic impact of cytomegalovirus infection in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: CMV infection (CMV-I) remains an important complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center cohort study in HSCT recipients. Primary outcomes were adjusted cost and all-cause mortality. Secondary analyses investigated CMV risk factors and the effect of serostatus. RESULTS: Overall, 690 transplant episodes were included (allogeneic [n = 310]; autologous [n = 380]). All received preemptive CMV antiviral therapy at first detectable DNAemia. CMV-I occurred in 34.8% of allogeneic and 2.1% of autologous transplants; median time to onset was 45 days. In allogeneic HSCT recipients, the primary risk factor for CMV-I was CMV donor/recipient (D/R) serostatus. In a Markov multi-state model for allogeneic HSCT recipients, the hazard ratio for CMV-I and relapse was 1.5 (95% CI 0.8-2.8) and for CMV-I and mortality 2.4 (95% CI 0.9-6.5). In a multivariable model for all patients, CMV-I was associated with increased total cost (coefficient = 0.21, estimated incremental daily cost USD $500; P = 0.02). Cost was attenuated in allogeneic HSCT recipients (coefficient = 0.13, USD $699 vs $613, or $24 892 per transplant episode; P = 0.23). CMV disease (CMV-D) complicated 29.6% of CMV-I events in allogeneic HSCT recipients, but was not associated with an incrementally increased adjusted risk of mortality compared with CMV-I alone. CMV-I (56.4%) and CMV-D (19.8%) were significantly overrepresented in D-/R+ serostatus HSCT recipients, and mortality was higher in R+ HSCT recipients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite early preemptive antiviral treatment, CMV-I impacts clinical outcomes and cost after HSCT, but the impact on cost is less pronounced in allogeneic HSCT recipients compared with autologous HSCT recipients.

The Airtraq Optical Laryngoscope in helicopter emergency medical services: a pilot trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree of success helicopter emergency medical services personnel have in placing an endotracheal tube using a relatively new device for endotracheal intubation (ETI) known as the Airtraq (AT) Optical Laryngoscope (King Systems Corp, Noblesville, IN), and to determine the frequency with which flight crews had to resort to other means for advanced airway management. METHODS: This prospective, observational pilot trial evaluated the critical care flight team's ability to perform ETI using the AT as a first-line device in the prehospital setting. Flight crews were instructed to use the AT for any patient needing ETI. Teams completed a 30-minute training session followed by mannequin practice. They documented situations and outcomes: reason for ETI, success in placing the AT, reason for unsuccessful placement, end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration in expired air (ETCO2), and where patients were when they underwent intubation (field, ambulance, aircraft, hospital). Data were abstracted and analyzed using JMP software version 7.0 (SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, NC). RESULTS: Fifty cases involving use of the AT were analyzed. Median patient age was 51.5 years (range, 15-90; interquartile range, 36-64.5). Most patients were male (n = 37 [74%]). The primary reasons for intubation were unresponsiveness and altered loss of consciousness (n = 23 [46%]), respiratory distress or apnea (n = 8 [16%]), cardiac arrest (n = 10 [20%]), and combative behavior (n = 7 [14%]). AT was successful (n = 31[62%]) in 1 to 2 attempts. The primary reason for AT failure was blood or vomit in the airway (n = 8 [42.1%]); 48.1% (n = 25) of patients required a different management mode. CONCLUSIONS: HEMS crews had difficulty placing successful ET tubes with this device after minimal education with a single regular-sized device. Difficulty was pronounced when blood or vomit was present and obstructing the optical view. Further study is needed to evaluate the implementation time, training time required, and possible design advantages of the AT compared with those of traditional emergent airway management techniques.

Neurologic recovery following prolonged out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with resuscitation guided by continuous capnography.

A 54-year-old man with no known cardiac disease collapsed outdoors in a small rural community. The cardiac arrest was witnessed, and immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation was begun by a bystander and a trained first responder who was nearby. The patient was moved into a building across the street for continued resuscitation. First responders arrived with an automated external defibrillator, and ventricular fibrillation was documented. First responders delivered 6 defibrillation shocks, 4 of which transiently restored an organized electrocardiographic rhythm but with no pulse at any time. Additional emergency medical services personnel from nearby communities and an advanced life support (ALS) flight crew arrived. The flight crew initiated ALS care. The trachea was intubated, ventilation controlled, and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension continuously monitored. Antiarrhythmic and inotropic drugs were administered intravenously. An additional 6 shocks were delivered using the ALS defibrillator. End-tidal carbon dioxide measurements confirmed good pulmonary blood flow with chest compressions, and resuscitation was continued until a stable cardiac rhythm was restored after 96 minutes of pulselessness. The patient was transported by helicopter to the hospital. He was in cardiogenic shock but maintained a spontaneous circulation. Coronary angiography confirmed a left anterior descending coronary artery thrombotic occlusion that was treated successfully. After hospital admission, the patient required circulatory and ventilatory support and hemodialysis for acute renal failure. He experienced a complete neurologic recovery to his pre-cardiac arrest state. To our knowledge, this is the longest duration of pulselessness in an out-of-hospital arrest with a good outcome. Good pulmonary blood flow was documented throughout by end-tidal carbon dioxide measurements.

Legal and regulatory issues in hospital laboratory outreach and partnering arrangements.

An independent laboratory's joint venture with a chain of five nonprofit hospitals unraveled in 1999. Despite substantial management control over the joint venture and 3 years spent investing in and managing a massive consolidation project, the laboratory operator was ousted by the hospital group in favor of a national laboratory competitor. In the process, it lost the $6 million commercial laboratory business it brought to the joint venture. The laboratory operator sued the hospital group for destroying its business. Were the hospital's actions legal? Could the laboratory operator have protected itself better? Although by no means the only causes of this disaster, regulatory restrictions and uncertain contract terms contributed to the problems experienced by the laboratory operator.