New AHRQ Toolkit Helps Clinical Teams Implement Decolonization To Prevent Infections

AHRQ Stats

Access more data on this topic in the associated statistical brief, plus additional AHRQ data infographics.

Today's Headlines:

• New AHRQ Toolkit Helps Clinical Teams Implement Decolonization To Prevent Infections.
• Surcharges for Tobacco Users May Discourage Health Insurance Enrollment.
• Federal Register Notice Seeks Public Input on AHRQ’s Framework for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Investments.
• Highlights From AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network.
• Inconsistencies Often Lead to Ineffective Drug Alerts.
• AHRQ Seeks Leads To Develop Impact Case Studies.
• AHRQ in the Professional Literature.

New AHRQ Toolkit Helps Clinical Teams Implement Decolonization To Prevent Infections

AHRQ’s new Toolkit for Decolonization of Non-ICU Patients With Devices can help clinical teams implement a protocol to reduce bloodstream infections in patients with specific medical devices. The free, customizable toolkit includes step-by-step instructions, handouts and educational videos to show frontline teams how to apply a decolonization protocol for non-ICU patients who may be at greater risk of bloodstream infections because their treatment includes certain devices, such as central venous catheters. The decolonization protocol includes instructions on helping patients bathe with an antiseptic soap and applying a nasal antibiotic ointment to carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The protocol was used in more than 50 hospitals, where it was associated with a roughly 30 percent reduction in bloodstream infections. Access the toolkit.

Surcharges for Tobacco Users May Discourage Health Insurance Enrollment

The surcharges for tobacco users on Healthcare.gov, a health insurance marketplace, were associated with lower total enrollment and fewer enrollees who reported tobacco use, according to a study published in Health Affairs and funded by the American Cancer Society and AHRQ. The extra premiums, which average 14 percent of monthly premiums for people who do not use tobacco, seem to have a greater effect on enrollment in rural areas than in urban areas, which authors attribute to higher rates of tobacco use in the rural areas. The authors used 2014–2019 administrative data from Healthcare.gov to examine the relationship between surcharge rates, total health insurance enrollment in Healthcare.gov and enrollment by tobacco users. They suggested that reducing tobacco surcharges may increase total Marketplace enrollment. Access the abstract.

Federal Register Notice Seeks Public Input on AHRQ’s Framework for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Investments

A new Federal Register Notice solicits public input on a draft strategic framework for AHRQ’s future investments in patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) dissemination and implementation projects. The framework will help guide AHRQ’s PCOR investments, long-range planning and selection and scope of objectives, projects and outcomes. AHRQ’s investments, supported by the PCOR Trust Fund, are intended to have the greatest impact on equitable whole-person care across lifespans. Responses to AHRQ’s draft framework are sought from healthcare providers, patients, community groups, employers, health services researchers, dissemination and implementation scientists, communications experts, representatives from health systems, and public and private payers. The comment period ends April 19. Access more information about AHRQ’s draft framework and the agency’s PCOR activities.

Highlights From AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network

AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network (PSNet) highlights journal articles, books and tools related to patient safety. Articles featured this week include:

• Surgeon burnout, impact on patient safety and professionalism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
• Drug-related deaths among inpatients: a meta-analysis.
• Estimation of breast cancer overdiagnosis in a U.S. breast screening cohort.

Review additional new publications in PSNet’s current issue or access recent cases and commentaries in AHRQ’s WebM&M (Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web).

Inconsistencies Often Lead to Ineffective Drug Alerts

More than 90 percent of automated drug-drug interaction (DDI) alerts are overridden by clinicians, suggesting a need to reduce notifications by accounting for factors beyond specific drug interactions, according to an AHRQ-funded study. References for 14 high-priority DDIs identified external factors beyond the drugs themselves that could influence potential interactions. However, beyond factors related to the order and timing of drug administration, those related to dosage and route of administration were inconsistent across lists, indicating a need to improve consistency. Access the abstract in The American Journal of Health System Pharmacists.

AHRQ Seeks Leads To Develop Impact Case Studies

Has your organization used an AHRQ tool or resource to improve patient care, make a culture change or save costs? If so, please share your success story for possible development of an AHRQ Impact Case Study. Case study narratives, which are posted online, help demonstrate AHRQ’s commitment to making healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable and affordable. Examples may also be used in testimony to Congress, presentations by agency leadership or in other activities. Please provide your contact information and a short description of how and where AHRQ resources were used to ImpactCaseStudies@ahrq.hhs.gov.

AHRQ in the Professional Literature

Adolescents with vulvar ulcers: COVID-19 disease, COVID-19 vaccines and the value of case reports. Huppert, J. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2022 Apr;35(2):109-11. Epub 2022 Jan 31. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Cost analysis of an annual school-based pediatric hearing screening program in semi-rural Kenya. Kloosterman N, Griffith K, Yancey K. Am J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2021 Nov 1;4(10):1161. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Association of elementary school reopening status and county COVID-19 incidence. Michelson KA, Samuels-Kalow ME. Acad Pediatr 2021 Sep 20;S1876-2859(21)00446-0. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Physician risk perception and testing behaviors for children with fever. Marchese A, Fine A, Levy J, et al. Pediatr Emerg Care 2022 Feb 1;38(2):e805-10. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Association of socioeconomic characteristics with where children receive emergency care. Chang L, Rees CA, Michelson KA. Pediatr Emerg Care 2022 Jan;38(1):e264-7. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Development of a symptom-focused model to guide the prescribing of antipsychotics in children and adolescents: results of the first phase of the Safer Use of Antipsychotics in Youth (SUAY) Clinical Trial. Penfold RB, Thompson EE, Hilt RJ, et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2022 Jan;61(1):93-102. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Variation in bacterial respiratory culture results in children with neurologic impairment. Warniment A, Steuart R, Rodean J, et al. Hosp Pediatr 2021 Nov;11(11):e326-33. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Changes in outpatient opioid prescribing during the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time series analysis. Rikin S, Perez HR, Zhang C, et al. J Prim Care Community Health 2022 Jan-Dec;13:21501319221076926. Access the abstract on PubMed®.