Impact of the implementation of a rapid meningitis/encephalitis multiplex polymerase chain reaction panel on IV acyclovir duration: multicenter, retrospective cohort of adult and pediatric patients.

The standard for diagnosing meningoencephalitis includes cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Approval of the FilmArray® BioFire® Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) panel has reduced time to detection of several pathogens and improved diagnostic sensitivity. The objective of this study was to determine the impact on intravenous (IV) acyclovir duration of the ME panel compared to previously utilized CSF studies within a large health system with a central laboratory. A multicenter quasi-experimental cohort study of adult and pediatric patients was conducted (n = 208). The primary endpoint was duration of IV acyclovir, which was decreased (41.6 v. 30.8 hours; P < 0.01) with the ME panel. Secondary outcomes including test-turnaround time (TAT) and the impact of utilizing a central laboratory were explored. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that number of daily couriers from hospital to the central laboratory (0 versus 7 versus 3 versus 2 couriers) and hospital distance from the central laboratory (0 versus 1-10 versus 11-20 versus 21-30 miles) significantly impacted TAT (P < 0.01). While duration of IV acyclovir for the entire healthcare system was reduced, the duration at individual sites was not impacted by number of couriers or distance from the central laboratory.

Clinical Utility of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Screening for Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Review of Current Literature.

Significant clinical and financial consequences are associated with both inadequate and unnecessary exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics. As such, antimicrobial stewardship programs seek objective, reliable, and cost-effective tests to identify patients at highest or lowest risk for drug-resistant organisms to guide empirical antimicrobial selection. Use of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal screening to rule out MRSA in lower respiratory tract infections has led to significant reductions in duration of vancomycin therapy. The clinical utility of MRSA nasal screening in other types of infection remains less clear. This review describes the performance of MRSA nasal screening in predicting MRSA infection, highlights practical considerations for use of MRSA nasal screening, and provides guidance for incorporating MRSA nasal screening into clinical practice. With a high negative predictive value when the prevalence of MRSA is low, MRSA nasal screening is a valuable antimicrobial stewardship tool with potential applications beyond lower respiratory tract infections. In appropriately selected patients, negative MRSA nasal screening can prevent initiation or guide discontinuation of anti-MRSA therapy. Antimicrobial stewardship programs should develop institutional guidelines to promote proper use of MRSA nasal screening. Pharmacists are well positioned to assist with education, interpretation, and application of MRSA nasal screening results.

Improved Diagnosis and Treatment of Bone and Joint Infections Using an Evidence-based Treatment Guideline.

BACKGROUND: Our institution created a multidisciplinary guideline for treatment of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) and septic arthritis (SA) in response to updates in evidence-based literature in the field and existing provider variability in treatment. This guideline aims to improve the care of these patients by standardizing diagnosis and treatment and incorporating up to date evidence-based research into practice. The primary objective of this study is to compare cases before versus after the implementation of the guideline to determine concrete effects the guideline has had in the care of patients with AHO and SA. METHODS: This is an Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective study of pediatric patients age 6 months to 18 years hospitalized between January 2009 and July 2016 with a diagnosis of AHO or SA qualifying for the guideline. Cohorts were categorized: preguideline and postguideline. Exclusion criteria consisted of: symptoms >14 days, multifocal involvement, hemodynamic instability, sepsis, or history of immune deficiency or chronic systemic disease. Cohorts were compared for outcomes that described clinical course. RESULTS: Data were included for 117 cases that qualified for the guideline: 54 preguideline and 63 postguideline. Following the successful implementation of the guideline, we found significant decrease in the length of intravenous antibiotic treatment (P<0.001), decrease in peripherally inserted central catheter use (P<0.001), and an increase in bacterial identification (P=0.040). Bacterial identification allowed for targeted antibiotic therapy. There was no change in length of hospital stay or readmission rate after the implementation of the guideline. CONCLUSION: Utilizing an evidence-based treatment guideline for pediatric acute hematogenous bone and joint infections can lead to improved bacterial diagnosis and decreased burden of treatment through early oral antibiotic use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III- retrospective comparative study.

Decreasing Exposure to Radiation, Surgical Risk, and Costs for Pediatric Complicated Pneumonia: A Guideline Evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: This report describes the creation and successful implementation of a complicated pneumonia care algorithm at our institution. Outcomes are measured for specific goals of the algorithm: to decrease radiation exposure, surgical risk, and patient charges without adversely affecting clinical outcomes. METHODS: We describe steps involved in algorithm creation and implementation at our institution. To depict outcomes of the algorithm, we completed a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized pediatric patients with a diagnosis of complicated pneumonia at a single institution between January 2010 and April 2016 who met criteria for the algorithm. Charts were manually reviewed and data were analyzed via Wilcoxon rank sum, χ2, and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: Throughout the algorithm creation process, our institution began to see a change in practice. We saw a statistically significant decrease in the number of patients who underwent a chest computed tomography scan and an increase in patients who underwent a chest ultrasound (P < .001). We also saw an increase in the use of chest tube placement with fibrinolytics and a decrease in the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery as the initial chest procedure (P ≤ .001) after algorithm implementation. These interventions reduced related charges without significantly affecting length of stay, readmission rate, or other variables studied. CONCLUSIONS: The collaborative creation and introduction of an algorithm for the management of complicated pneumonia at our institution, combined with an effort among physicians to incorporate evidence-based clinical care into practice, led to reduced radiation exposure, surgical risk, and cost to patient.

Comparison of Intravenous Palivizumab and Standard of Care for Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Evidence suggests palivizumab may be beneficial for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in pediatric patients, although it is only approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for RSV prophylaxis. The objective of this study is to compare outcomes among pediatric patients with RSV infection who received intravenous palivizumab and standard of care versus standard of care alone. METHODS: This is a retrospective, single-center cohort study conducted between November 2003 and October 2013. Pediatric patients with active RSV infection treated with intravenous (IV) palivizumab after initiation of mechanical ventilation were matched 1:1 to a control selected from ventilated patients who received standard of care. The primary end point evaluated the duration of mechanical ventilation between groups. Secondary end points included hospital length of stay, intensive care unit length of stay, duration of respiratory support over baseline, time to RSV microbiologic cure, duration of antibiotic therapy, and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 22 patients with a median age of 3 months were included in the study. Patients in the treatment group received a median of 2 doses of IV palivizumab, with a mean dose of 14.2 mg/kg. All patients received bronchodilators and corticosteroids, with the exception of 1 patient in the control group, and only 1 treatment group patient received IV ribavirin. Duration of mechanical ventilation was longer in the treatment group (18.9 ± 9.5 vs. 14.3 ± 9.3 days; p = 0.26). No statistically significant differences were observed between groups for any of the secondary end points. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients who received IV palivizumab in addition to standard of care for treatment of RSV infection following initiation of mechanical ventilation experienced similar outcomes to those who received standard of care alone. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the potential benefit of IV palivizumab in addition to current standard of care.

Positive affect predicts improved lip movement in facial movement disorder.

OBJECTIVES: Positive affect in individuals with a facial movement disorder may promote lip corner movement (zygomaticus major) during smiling. We investigated whether a positive affect marker (orbicularis oculi activity) observed in an initial clinic visit of individuals with facial movement disorder (N = 28) predicted increased lip corner movement at a subsequent visit. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: In this clinical outcomes study, lip corner movement was assessed with the use of automated facial analysis. Asymmetry of movement was compared in individuals who smiled with or without the positive affect marker at an initial clinic visit. RESULTS: The positive affect marker at the initial visit was associated with a reduction in the asymmetry of the lip corner movement at the second visit. CONCLUSION: Positive affect predicts improved facial movement outcomes in patients with facial movement disorders. SIGNIFICANCE: Positive emotion in facial movement patients may be an important factor in recovery of facial movement during therapy.