Data Analytics for Diagnosis and Prediction of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Critical Care Units.

Central line-associated bloodstream infections are among the leading causes of in-hospital deaths in the United States and are a significant factor for increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. This study integrates several hospital data systems into a case-controlled database to use data analytics for the identification of significant central line-associated bloodstream infection risk factors and develop time-varying patient risk scores for central line-associated bloodstream infections. A case-control study was performed utilizing patient data collected from various sources then gathered and organized into a case-controlled dataset for analysis examining various patient-specific attributes for central line-associated bloodstream infections. Training and testing sets were created, and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify risk factors for central line-associated bloodstream infection. Furthermore, the Cox proportional hazards model was used to infer the hazard rate and risk score for central line-associated bloodstream infections for each individual patient during hospitalization. Significant attributes for central line-associated bloodstream infection cases were the ICU location (P = .008), time from insertion (P ≤ .001), number of surgeries (P = .003), and number of central line manipulations (P = .003). Real-time data analytics and point of care at the bedside can facilitate precision care for patients with an elevated central line-associated bloodstream infection risk, subsequently changing the way healthcare prevents hospital-acquired infections.

Need for Nurse Practitioner Fellowships in Ophthalmology in the USA.

Medical attention to vision impairment and associated eye care complications are a vital component of daily living and overall well-being. In the United States today, the physician to patient deficit places great strain on the availability of medical attention tenable to patients nationwide; in terms of specialty medicine, this deficit is even more widespread. The field of ophthalmology faced the same physician to patient deficit in 2020, a grim reality that has left many states void of ophthalmic care, rending millions of aging individuals without domestic eye care. The implementation of trained, ophthalmic nurse practitioners (NPs) can fill the needs of this deficit; however, efficient, accredited, and board-approved American ophthalmic fellowships and residencies that secure proper ophthalmic NP transitions from academia to clinical practice are non-existent. Though scant, evidence-based literature presents sound findings that support the efficacy and benefit for superior patient outcomes with care provided by ophthalmic-trained NPs, offering a viable, long-term solution to the need for ophthalmic medical providers across all states without mitigating patient care, emphasizing the great need for the implementation of ophthalmic NP residencies and fellowships to ensure the continuity of impeccable ophthalmic care for all populations.