National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Adverse Events (5)
- Antibiotics (4)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (7)
- Blood Clots (1)
- Care Management (1)
- Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) (2)
- Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) (4)
- Children/Adolescents (3)
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS) (1)
- Clostridium difficile Infections (2)
- Community-Acquired Infections (2)
- Comparative Effectiveness (2)
- COVID-19 (2)
- Critical Care (2)
- Decision Making (1)
- Elderly (1)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (4)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (33)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- Home Healthcare (3)
- Hospitalization (1)
- Hospitals (15)
- Implementation (2)
- (-) Infectious Diseases (46)
- Injuries and Wounds (1)
- Inpatient Care (6)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (5)
- Long-Term Care (1)
- Medication (3)
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (8)
- Newborns/Infants (2)
- Nursing (1)
- Nursing Homes (1)
- Outcomes (2)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- (-) Patient Safety (46)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Payment (2)
- Policy (2)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Prevention (24)
- Provider (1)
- Provider Performance (2)
- Public Health (3)
- Quality Improvement (2)
- Quality of Care (2)
- Registries (1)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Risk (1)
- Sepsis (3)
- Surgery (7)
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) (2)
- Vaccination (1)
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 25 of 46 Research Studies DisplayedMasonbrink AR, Harris M, Hall M
Safety events in children's hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted hospitals, potentially affecting quality and safety. The objective of this study was to compare pediatric hospitalization safety events during the pandemic versus previous years. The investigators concluded that postoperative sepsis rates increased among children hospitalized during COVID-19. They suggest that efforts are needed to improve safety of postoperative care for hospitalized children.
AHRQ-funded; HS024554; HS024592.
Citation: Masonbrink AR, Harris M, Hall M .
Safety events in children's hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hosp Pediatr 2021 Jun;11(6):e95-e100. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2020-004937..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Patient Safety, Sepsis, Adverse Events, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Inpatient Care, Infectious Diseases, Public Health
Harris AD, Morgan DJ, Pineles L
Acquisition of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria in the Benefits of Universal Glove and Gown (BUGG) cluster randomized trial.
This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized trial in 20 hospital intensive units called Benefits of Universal Glove and Gown (BUGG) to see if intervention decreases the acquisition of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria. The primary outcome included 40,492 admission and discharge perianal swabs from 20,246 individual patient admissions. A non-statistically significant decrease in acquisition of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria was associated with universal glove and gown use.
AHRQ-funded; HS024045.
Citation: Harris AD, Morgan DJ, Pineles L .
Acquisition of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria in the Benefits of Universal Glove and Gown (BUGG) cluster randomized trial.
Clin Infect Dis 2021 Feb 1;72(3):431-37. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa071..
Keywords: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Patient Safety
Lee BY, Bartsch SM, Lin MY
How long-term acute care hospitals can play an important role in controlling carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in a region: a simulation modeling study.
Researchers investigated how implementing control measures in long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) can impact carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) spread regionwide. They used their own Chicago metropolitan region agent-based model to simulate CRE spread and control. They found that a prevention bundle in only LTACHs decreased prevalence and averted new carriers, infections, and deaths over 3 years compared with no CRE control measures. When LTACHs and intensive care units intervened, prevalence decreased further. They concluded that LTACHs may be more important than other acute care settings for controlling CRE, and regional efforts to control drug-resistant organisms should start with LTACHs as a centerpiece.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Lee BY, Bartsch SM, Lin MY .
How long-term acute care hospitals can play an important role in controlling carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in a region: a simulation modeling study.
Am J Epidemiol 2021 Feb 1;190(3):448-58. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwaa247..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Hospitals, Patient Safety, Implementation
Lee BY, Bartsch SM, Hayden MK
How to choose target facilities in a region to implement carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae control measures.
The authors investigated how best to choose the highest-yield facilities to target for interventions when trying to control regional spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). They used their own Regional Healthcare Ecosystem Analyst-generated agent-based model of Chicago metropolitan area inpatient facilities to simulate the spread of CRE and to choose facilities to apply prevention bundles. They found that, while choosing target facilities based on single metrics (including most inpatient beds, most connections to other facilities) achieved better control than randomly choosing facilities, more effective targeting occurred when considering how these and other factors (including patient length of stay, care for higher-risk patients) interacted as a system.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Lee BY, Bartsch SM, Hayden MK .
How to choose target facilities in a region to implement carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae control measures.
Clin Infect Dis 2021 Feb 1;72(3):438-47. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa072..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Implementation, Prevention, Patient Safety
Vsevolozhskaya OA, Manz KC, Zephyr PM
Measurement matters: changing penalty calculations under the Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP) cost hospitals millions.
Since October 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has penalized 25% of U.S. hospitals with the highest rates of hospital-acquired conditions under the Hospital Acquired Conditions Reduction Program (HACRP). While early evaluations of the HACRP program reported cumulative reductions in hospital-acquired conditions, more recent studies have not found a clear association between receipt of the HACRP penalty and hospital quality of care. In this article, the authors posit that some of this disconnect may be driven by frequent scoring updates.
AHRQ-funded; HS025148.
Citation: Vsevolozhskaya OA, Manz KC, Zephyr PM .
Measurement matters: changing penalty calculations under the Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP) cost hospitals millions.
BMC Health Serv Res 2021 Feb 10;21(1):131. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06108-w..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Hospitals, Policy, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Patient Safety
Soares WE, Schoenfeld EM, Visintainer P
Safety assessment of a noninvasive respiratory protocol for adults with COVID-19.
As evidence emerged supporting noninvasive strategies for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related respiratory distress, the investigators implemented a noninvasive COVID-19 respiratory protocol (NCRP) that encouraged high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and self-proning across our healthcare system. To assess safety, the investigators conducted a retrospective chart review evaluating mortality and other patient safety outcomes after implementation of the NCRP protocol (April 3, 2020, to April 15, 2020) for adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19, compared with preimplementation outcomes (March 15, 2020, to April 2, 2020).
AHRQ-funded; HS025701.
Citation: Soares WE, Schoenfeld EM, Visintainer P .
Safety assessment of a noninvasive respiratory protocol for adults with COVID-19.
J Hosp Med 2020 Dec;15(12):734-38. doi: 10.12788/jhm.3548..
Keywords: Patient Safety, COVID-19, Respiratory Conditions, Inpatient Care, Infectious Diseases
Anderson DJ, Ilieş I, Foy K
Early recognition and response to increases in surgical site infections using optimized statistical process control charts-the Early 2RIS Trial: a multicenter cluster randomized controlled trial with stepped wedge design.
This paper discusses the study protocol that was used to conduct the Early 2RIS Trial, which was a multicenter cluster randomized controlled trial from 2016 to 2020 to reduce surgical site infection (SSI) rates. The trial was performed in 29 hospitals in the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (DICON) and 105 clusters over 4 years. All patients who underwent one of 13 targeted procedures at study hospitals were included. Six clusters were identified: cardiac, orthopedic, gastrointestinal, OB-GYN, vascular, and spinal. Clusters were randomized to intervention, and also underwent surveillance and feedback using optimized SPC charts. Surveillance data feedback was provided to all clusters, regardless of allocation or type of surveillance. The goal was to lower SSI through SPC intervention compared to traditional surveillance and feedback alone.
AHRQ-funded; HS023821.
Citation: Anderson DJ, Ilieş I, Foy K .
Early recognition and response to increases in surgical site infections using optimized statistical process control charts-the Early 2RIS Trial: a multicenter cluster randomized controlled trial with stepped wedge design.
Trials 2020 Oct 28;21(1):894. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04802-4..
Keywords: Surgery, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Patient Safety
Gall E, Long A, Hall KK
Chlorhexidine bathing strategies for multidrug-resistant organisms: a summary of recent evidence.
This systematic literature review investigated the latest evidence for patient bathing with a 2%-4% chlorhexidine gluconate solution to reduce multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) transmission and infection. Three databases were searched for articles from 2008 through 2018, as well as any key articles published after 2018. Findings focused on health care-associated infections (HAIs) and 3 categories of MDROs: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). Chlorhexidine reduced MRSA acquisition and carriage, but no studies found significant reductions in infections. Several studies found that chlorhexidine bathing reduced VRE acquisition and carriage. Two very large studies found bathing significantly reduced HAIs, but these reductions may be smaller when HAIs are already controlled with other anti-infection measures.
AHRQ-funded; HHSP233201500013I.
Citation: Gall E, Long A, Hall KK .
Chlorhexidine bathing strategies for multidrug-resistant organisms: a summary of recent evidence.
J Patient Saf 2020 Sep;16(3S Suppl 1):S16-s22. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000743..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Prevention, Patient Safety, Infectious Diseases
Schoyer E, Hall K
Environmental cleaning and decontamination to prevent clostridioides difficile infection in health care settings: a systematic review.
The aim of this systematic review was to examine the most effective and feasible methods for environmental cleaning and decontamination to prevent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in health care settings. The investigators concluded that the studied practices for environmental cleaning and decontamination were associated with significant decreases in facility-level CDI rates in most of the reviewed studies; however, study quality was low.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500013I.
Citation: Schoyer E, Hall K .
Environmental cleaning and decontamination to prevent clostridioides difficile infection in health care settings: a systematic review.
J Patient Saf 2020 Sep;16(3S Suppl 1):S12-s15. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000749..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Patient Safety
Chatterjee P, Williams MD, Coppin JD
Effectiveness of copper-impregnated solid surfaces on lowering microbial bio-burden levels in an acute care hospital.
This study examined whether using novel coper-impregnated solid materials on high-touch surfaces in patient rooms lowered bacterial contamination which may lead to health care-associated infections in acute care hospitals. Sixteen rooms were installed with copper-impregnated surfaces and were compared to standard noncopper laminate surfaces in 16 rooms over a 3-day period. Samples were taken 3 times per day. A lower level of microbial contamination was found in copper-impregnated solid surfaces as compared to standard surfaces.
AHRQ-funded; HS025598.
Citation: Chatterjee P, Williams MD, Coppin JD .
Effectiveness of copper-impregnated solid surfaces on lowering microbial bio-burden levels in an acute care hospital.
Open Forum Infect Dis 2020 Aug;7(8). doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa238..
Keywords: Patient Safety, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Hospitals, Comparative Effectiveness, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice
Dowding D, Russell D, Trifilio M
Home care nurses' identification of patients at risk of infection and their risk mitigation strategies: a qualitative interview study.
Investigators sought to understand if and how home care nurses identify patients at high risk of infection and which strategies they use to mitigate that risk. Interviews with fifty nurses were audio recorded and transcribed. Factors identified by the nurses as putting a patient at higher risk of infection included being older, having diabetes, and inadequate nutrition as well as inadequate clinical information available at start of care. The main strategy for infection prevention was patient and caregiver education. Nurses also discussed the importance of their own infection prevention behaviors and the ability to adjust a patient's plan of care according to their infection risk.
AHRQ-funded; HS024723.
Citation: Dowding D, Russell D, Trifilio M .
Home care nurses' identification of patients at risk of infection and their risk mitigation strategies: a qualitative interview study.
Int J Nurs Stud 2020 Jul;107:103617. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103617..
Keywords: Home Healthcare, Community-Acquired Infections, Infectious Diseases, Patient Safety, Prevention, Nursing, Decision Making
Ilieş I, Anderson DJ, Salem J
Large-scale empirical optimisation of statistical control charts to detect clinically relevant increases in surgical site infection rates.
Researchers sought to determine which statistical process control chart types and design parameters maximized the detection of clinically relevant surgical site infection (SSI) rate increases while minimizing false alarms. Statistically significant SSI rate increases (signals) at individual hospitals were identified using 50 different statistical process control chart variations; blinded epidemiologists evaluated the clinical significance of 2709 representative signals of potential outbreaks and rated them as requiring action or no action. The researchers concluded that an optimized combination of two moving average charts had the best performance for identifying clinically relevant small but sustained above-network SSI rates and large short-term individual hospital increases.
AHRQ-funded; HS023821.
Citation: Ilieş I, Anderson DJ, Salem J .
Large-scale empirical optimisation of statistical control charts to detect clinically relevant increases in surgical site infection rates.
BMJ Qual Saf 2020 Jun;29(6):472-81. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2018-008976..
Keywords: Surgery, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Hospitals, Patient Safety
Baker AW, Nehls N, Ilies I
Use of optimised dual statistical process control charts for early detection of surgical site infection outbreaks.
This study analyzed the use of optimized dual statistical process control (SPC) charts to predict surgical site infection (SSI) outbreaks. The researchers retrospectively applied an optimized pair of moving average (MA) SPC charts to all 30 SSI outbreaks previously identified and investigated from 2007 to 2015 in the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (DICON), which is a network of more than 50 community hospitals. The dual MA SPC chart approach detected all 30 outbreaks at a median of 16 months prior to traditional surveillance detection.
AHRQ-funded; HS23821.
Citation: Baker AW, Nehls N, Ilies I .
Use of optimised dual statistical process control charts for early detection of surgical site infection outbreaks.
BMJ Qual Saf 2020 Jun;29(6):517-20. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-010586..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Surgery, Patient Safety, Hospitals, Public Health, Infectious Diseases
Bartsch SM, Wong KF, Stokes-Cawley OJ
Knowing more of the iceberg: how detecting a greater proportion of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae carriers influences transmission.
This study examined the impact of detecting a greater proportion of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) carriers in the hospital inpatient population. The researchers used the Regional Healthcare Ecosystem Analyst-generated agent-based model of adult inpatient healthcare facilities in Orange County, California. They found that only if the detection level is increased to 1 in 5 carriers does it garner large reductions in the number of new CRE carriers. At the present time the detection level is 1 in 9 carriers.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Bartsch SM, Wong KF, Stokes-Cawley OJ .
Knowing more of the iceberg: how detecting a greater proportion of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae carriers influences transmission.
J Infect Dis 2020 May 11;221(11):1782-94. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiz288..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Hospitals, Patient Safety, Prevention
Meddings J, Greene MT, Ratz D
Multistate programme to reduce catheter-associated infections in intensive care units with elevated infection rates.
AHRQ’s Safety Program for ICUs aimed to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) in intensive care units with elevated rates. Included hospitals had at least one adult intensive care unit with elevated CLABSI or CAUTI rates. The investigators targeted intensive care units with elevated catheter infection rates but yielded no statistically significant reduction in CLABSI, CAUTI or catheter utilization in the first two of six planned cohorts. Improvements in the interventions based on lessons learned from these initial cohorts are being applied to subsequent cohorts.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500016I.
Citation: Meddings J, Greene MT, Ratz D .
Multistate programme to reduce catheter-associated infections in intensive care units with elevated infection rates.
BMJ Qual Saf 2020 May;29(5):418-29. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009330..
Keywords: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Patient Safety, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Hospitals, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Inpatient Care, Critical Care
Lee BY, Bartsch SM, Hayden MK
How introducing a registry with automated alerts for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) may help control CRE spread in a region.
This study examined the effectiveness of implementing a registry which tracks patients that carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). The researchers developed an agent-based model of all inpatient healthcare facilities in the Chicago metropolitan area and surrounding areas. They used their Regional Healthcare Ecosystem Analyst software platform to study patient flow. They created scenarios where all, 75%, 50%, and 25% of Chicago-area facilities participated. Even at 25% participation there was a 9.1% relative reduction in incident carriers and 2.8% relative reduction of prevalence. At 100% there was an 11.6% relative reduction in new carrier and CRE prevalence by 7.6%.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Lee BY, Bartsch SM, Hayden MK .
How introducing a registry with automated alerts for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) may help control CRE spread in a region.
Clin Infect Dis 2020 Feb 14;70(5):843-49. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciz300..
Keywords: Registries, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Patient Safety
Milstone AM, Voskertchian A, Koontz DW
Effect of treating parents colonized with Staphylococcus aureus on transmission to neonates in the intensive care unit: a randomized clinical trial.
This study examined the effect of treating parents of neonates in the intensive care unit (NICUs) with intranasal mupirocin and topical chlorhexidine compared with a placebo treatment and whether it reduces transmission of Staphlyococcus aureus to their babies. A double-blind randomized trial was conducted at 2 tertiary NICUs in Baltimore, MD from November 2014 to December 2018. Parents were given intranasal treatments for 5 days. Of the intervention group 13 of 89 neonates acquired S aureus, and in the control group 29 of 101 neonates acquired S aureus with the same strain as their parents. The results showed a significant reduction in transmission.
AHRQ-funded; HS022872.
Citation: Milstone AM, Voskertchian A, Koontz DW .
Effect of treating parents colonized with Staphylococcus aureus on transmission to neonates in the intensive care unit: a randomized clinical trial.
JAMA 2020 Jan;323(4):295-386. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.20785..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Patient Safety, Prevention
Patel SA, Araujo T, Rodriguez LP
Long peripheral catheters: a retrospective review of major complications.
The risk of infectious and noninfectious complications associated with long peripheral catheters (LPCs) is unknown. In this retrospective study of 539 catheters, the investigators did a retrospective review of major complications. Among other discoveries, they found LPCs were often placed for the indications of difficult access and long-term antibiotics.
AHRQ-funded; HS025891.
Citation: Patel SA, Araujo T, Rodriguez LP .
Long peripheral catheters: a retrospective review of major complications.
J Hosp Med 2019 Dec;14(12):758-60. doi: 10.12788/jhm.3313..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Adverse Events, Patient Safety, Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Blood Clots, Infectious Diseases, Risk
Parrish KL, Wylie KM, Reich PJ
Carriage of the toxic shock syndrome toxin gene by contemporary community-associated Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2019 Nov 6;8(5):470-73. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piy098.
In this study, the investigators report the prevalence of the tst-1 gene among 252 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolates and 458 methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) isolates collected from 531 subjects between 2008 and 2017.
In this study, the investigators report the prevalence of the tst-1 gene among 252 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolates and 458 methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) isolates collected from 531 subjects between 2008 and 2017.
AHRQ-funded; HS024269.
Citation: Parrish KL, Wylie KM, Reich PJ .
Carriage of the toxic shock syndrome toxin gene by contemporary community-associated Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
Carriage of the toxic shock syndrome toxin gene by contemporary community-associated Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
.
.
Keywords: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Infectious Diseases, Community-Acquired Infections, Sepsis, Patient Safety
Sheetz KH, Dimick JB, Englesbe MJ
Hospital-acquired condition reduction program is not associated with additional patient safety improvement.
In 2013 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that it would begin levying penalties against hospitals with the highest rates of hospital-acquired conditions through the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program. This study evaluates whether the program has been successful in improving patient safety or not. The investigators concluded that the program did not improve patient safety in Michigan beyond existing trends.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053; HS026244.
Citation: Sheetz KH, Dimick JB, Englesbe MJ .
Hospital-acquired condition reduction program is not associated with additional patient safety improvement.
Health Aff 2019 Nov;38(11):1858-65. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05504..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Patient Safety, Provider Performance, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Infectious Diseases, Payment
Chopra V, Kaatz S, Swaminathan L
Variation in use and outcomes related to midline catheters: results from a multicentre pilot study.
This study examined complication rates from placement of midline vascular catheters. They have become more common in use recently. Complications were analyzed using medical records from hospitalized patients in 12 hospitals from January 2017 to February 2018. Most midline catheters were placed in general ward settings for difficult intravenous access. About half were removed within 5 days of insertion. Major or minor complications occurred in 10.3% of midlines with minor complications accounting for 71% of all adverse events. These minor complications included dislodgement, leaking, and infiltration. Major complications included occlusion, upper-extremity DVT and BSI. Use of midlines and outcomes varied widely across hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS025891.
Citation: Chopra V, Kaatz S, Swaminathan L .
Variation in use and outcomes related to midline catheters: results from a multicentre pilot study.
BMJ Qual Saf 2019 Sep;28(9):714-20. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2018-008554..
Keywords: Patient Safety, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Adverse Events, Practice Patterns, Outcomes, Hospitals
Anderson DJ, Watson S, Moehring RW
Feasibility of core antimicrobial stewardship interventions in community hospitals.
The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and results of implementing 2 core stewardship intervention strategies in community hospitals. The two antimicrobial stewardship strategies targeted vancomycin hydrochloride, piperacillin-tazobactam, and the antipseudomonal carbapenems on formulary at the study hospitals: (1) modified preauthorization (PA), in which the prescriber had to receive pharmacist approval for continued use of the antibiotic after the first dose, and (2) postprescription audit and review (PPR), in which the pharmacist would engage the prescriber about antibiotic appropriateness after 72 hours of therapy.
AHRQ-funded; HS023866.
Citation: Anderson DJ, Watson S, Moehring RW .
Feasibility of core antimicrobial stewardship interventions in community hospitals.
The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and results of implementing 2 core stewardship intervention strategies in community hospitals. The two antimicrobial stewardship strategies targeted vancomycin hydrochloride, piperacillin-tazobactam, and the antipseudomonal carbapenems on formulary at the study hospitals: (1) modified preauthorization (PA), in which the prescriber had to receive pharmacist approval for continued use of the antibiotic after the first dose, and (2) postprescription audit and review (PPR), in which the pharmacist would engage the prescriber about antibiotic appropriateness after 72 hours of therapy..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Infectious Diseases, Medication, Patient Safety
Krein SL, Saint S, Trautner BW
Patient-reported complications related to peripherally inserted central catheters: a multicentre prospective cohort study.
The objective of this study was to systematically elicit and characterize peripherally inserted central catheter-related complications as experienced by patients during and after hospitalization. Results showed that over 60% of patients reported signs or symptoms of a possible complication or adverse effect after peripherally inserted central catheter placement. Bothersome complications from the patient perspective were more common than those that typically rise to the level of healthcare provider attention or concern. Recommendations included an understanding of the patient experience in order to provide safe and effective care.
AHRQ-funded; HS025891.
Citation: Krein SL, Saint S, Trautner BW .
Patient-reported complications related to peripherally inserted central catheters: a multicentre prospective cohort study.
BMJ Qual Saf 2019 Jul;28(7):574-81. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2018-008726..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Patient Safety, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases
Burnham JP, Fritz SA, Yaeger LH
Telemedicine infectious diseases consultations and clinical outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
This article describes a proposed systematic review that will evaluate the current evidence on the effect of telemedicine infectious diseases consultation within a range of clinical outcomes, including mortality, hospital readmission, antimicrobial use, and cost. Standard systematic review methodology will be used. Data will be grouped by outcome. Primary outcome will be 30-day all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes will include: readmission within 30 days after discharge from an initial hospitalization with an infection; patient compliance/adherence; patient satisfaction; cost effectiveness; hospital length of stay, use of antimicrobials and antimicrobial stewardship. The findings of this review will add to the established literature regarding feasibility of telemedicine consultation.
AHRQ-funded; HS024269.
Citation: Burnham JP, Fritz SA, Yaeger LH .
Telemedicine infectious diseases consultations and clinical outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
Syst Rev 2019 Jun 7;8(1):135. doi: 10.1186/s13643-019-1056-y..
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Health Information Technology (HIT), Infectious Diseases, Outcomes, Patient Safety
Musuuza JS, Guru PK, O'Horo JC
The impact of chlorhexidine bathing on hospital-acquired bloodstream infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This review and meta-analysis examined the effect of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing on reducing hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HABSIs) and also assessed fidelity to the implementation of this intervention. The literature research included randomized controlled trials, cluster randomized trials, and quasi-experimental studies that evaluated the effect of CHG bathing versus a non-CHG comparator; studies involving pediatric patients, pre-surgical CHG use, and those without a non-CHG comparison arm were excluded. Outcomes were HABSIs, patient-centered outcomes, and implementation fidelity assessed through five elements: adherence, exposure or dose, quality of delivery, participant responsiveness, and program differentiation. The findings indicate that patient bathing with CHG significantly reduced the incidence of HABSIs in both ICU and non-ICU settings. Many studies, however, did not report fidelity to intervention or patient-centered outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024039.
Citation: Musuuza JS, Guru PK, O'Horo JC .
The impact of chlorhexidine bathing on hospital-acquired bloodstream infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMC Infect Dis 2019 May 14;19(1):416. doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-4002-7..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Patient Safety, Prevention