Retrospective study of OPAT patients treated with intravenous teicoplanin
“We undertook a retrospective study of 549 consecutive adult Out-Patient Antimicrobial Treatment (OPAT) episodes treated with intravenous teicoplanin” Matthews et al (2014).
Economic evaluation of an outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service
“A significant proportion of patients with MRSA SSTI may be suitable for outpatient management with either oral therapy via OPAT, with the potential for significant reduction in healthcare costs” Seaton et al (2014).
Non-availability of blood test results increases readmission during OPAT
“Non-availability of recommended test results to treating physicians for patients on OPAT is associated with increased readmissions during OPAT” Huck et al (2014).
Outcomes from global adult outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy programmes
“This work has shown how prospective data collection in the OPAT setting can yield valuable insights into the effectiveness and safety of the management of many conditions, such as osteoarticular infection and endocarditis, in a diverse range of populations and increasingly from different countries” MacKenzie et al (2014).
Study finds low incidence of VTE in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy patients
“This retrospective cohort study found a low incidence of VTE in OPAT patients, and does not support routine application of inpatient VTE prophylaxis algorithms to patients treated for infection in the community” Barr et al (2014).
Article suggests interventions to prevent OPAT readmissions
“Patients prescribed OPAT are at risk for readmission. A subgroup of patients at especially high risk can be identified using easily obtainable clinical characteristics at the time of hospital discharge” Allison et al (2014).
Patients receiving daptomycin at home have 60% fewer antimicrobial adverse events
“Patients receiving daptomycin at home have 60% fewer antimicrobial adverse events and require 80% fewer antimicrobial interventions than similar patients receiving vancomycin” Shrestha et al (2014).
Clinical outcomes and cost savings of patients denied OPAT
“At our university-affiliated county teaching hospital with mandatory Infectious Diseases (ID) approval for all OPAT courses, we looked at clinical outcomes and cost savings of patients denied OPAT” Conant et al (2014).
Ertapenem delivered in a hospital-based OPAT unit for TRUSPBx prophylaxis
“We report successful use of ertapenem delivered in a hospital-based OPAT unit for TRUSPBx prophylaxis” Shakil et al (2014).
Safety and efficacy of long-term outpatient ertapenem therapy
“We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients who received outpatient ertapenem therapy at our center between 2010 and 2013” Qureshi et al (2014).
Review of smart infusion pump (SIP) technology in paediatric care
“No significant relationship was found between RNs’ perceptions of SIP and error reduction, but data retrieved from the pumps revealed 93 manipulations of the pumps, of which error reduction was captured 65 times” Mason et al (2014).
Risk factors for nosocomial infections identified in extremely preterm infants
“It is important to identify the high risk factors for nosocomial infections in extremely premature infants. To shorten time for mechanical ventilation, central venous catheterization and hospitalization days would be conducive to reducing the morbidity of nosocomial infection” Jiang et al (2014).
Routine use of a decontamination regimen reduces CLABSI
“In intubated patients, the use of topical polymyxin/tobramycin/amphotericin B plus mupirocin/chlorhexidine was associated with the reduction of all-cause ICU-acquired infections” Camus et al (2014).
Alternative IV fat emulsions in parenteral nutrition improve clinical outcomes
“Use of alternative IV fat emulsions in parenteral nutrition, particularly olive and fish oil, was associated with improved clinical outcomes” Edmunds et al (2014).
Comparison of accelerated Seldinger technique and modified Seldinger technique
“The purpose of this randomized, prospective study was to determine whether the accelerated Seldinger technique (AST) offers significant safety advantages over the modified Seldinger technique (MST) for peripherally inserted central catheter insertion” Caparas et al (2014).
Survey of ultrasound guidance for central venous catheter placement
“The objective was to survey practicing emergency physicians (EPs) across the United States regarding the frequency of using ultrasound (US) guidance in central venous catheter (CVC) placement and, secondarily, to determine factors associated with the use or barriers to the use of US guidance” Buchanan et al (2014).
Antimicrobial activity of IV dressing adhesive containing chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)
“The adhesive containing CHG was associated with a sustained antimicrobial effect that was not present in the control. Incorporating the antimicrobial into the adhesive layer confers upon it bactericidal properties in marked contrast to the non-antimicrobial adhesive, which contributed to bacterial proliferation when the wear time was ≥4 days.” Carty et al (2014).
Tego needlefree connector is associated with reduced incidence of CRBSI
“Use of the Tego connector may reduce the risk of CRBSI and result in lower utilization of thrombolytics, antibiotics, and ESAs, as well as fewer missed dialysis treatments” Brunelli et al (2014).
Overall intraosseous complication rate was 2.1%
“In a literature search, we identified 5,759 patients treated with IO catheters. The overall complication rate was 2.1%. In this article, we discuss the literature on IO catheter complications and report 2 cases of orthopedic management of IO catheter complications” Barlow and Kuhn (2014).
Blood transfusion via indwelling central venous catheters resulting in sepsis
“Blood transfusion through an indwelling CVC may lead to septic reaction owing to subclinical microbial colonization. This risk should be considered before transfusion and during investigation of transfusion reactions” Ricci et al (2014).
Clinical nurse compliance with standard precautions
“To perform detailed psychometric testing of the compliance with standard precautions scale (CSPS) in measuring compliance with standard precautions of clinical nurses and to conduct cross-cultural pilot testing and assess the relevance of the CSPS on an international platform” Lam (2014).
Prevention of duplicate blood tests resulted in cost savings of $183,586
“This CDST blocked 11,790 unnecessary duplicate test orders in these 2 years, which resulted in a cost savings of $183,586. There were no untoward effects reported associated with this intervention” Procop et al (2014).
Study evaluates the effect of the ‘order of draw’ on blood tests
“The ‘order of draw’ has been advocated since 1982 to reduce the risk of cross-contaminating blood tubes with additives from a previously filled tube” Indevuyst et al (2014).
Iatrogenic anaemia can occur in patients who have frequent blood tests
Blood loss due to diagnostic phlebotomy jest a very serious problem, especially for newborn, infants and critically ill patients on intensive care units. Although single blood loss can be easily tolerated in adults, in small babies and in patients who are frequently monitored based on laboratory tests iatrogenic anaemia can occur” Sztefko et al (2014).
Qualitative study investigates procedure-related pain in children
“Most children experienced mild pain during procedures. The children’s positioning during the procedure and prior experience with the procedure seem to influence their experience of procedural pain and it is therefore essential that therapy is tailored for each child and includes a multimodal approach” Rømsing et al (2014).
Biplane ultrasound probe for visualization of the internal jugular vein
“We report the use of a new biplane ultrasound probe which allows the user to simultaneously view the internal jugular vein in transverse and longitudinal views in real time” Kaplowitz and Bigeleisen (2014).
Hypodermoclysis efficacy in hydration against the intravenous (IV) route in elderly patients
“The objective of the present study is to evaluate the subcutaneous non-inferiority efficacy in hydration against the intravenous (IV) route in elderly patients with dehydration” Duems Noriega and Ariño Blasco (2014).
Incidence and composition of hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism
“Hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (HA-VTE, VTE occurring during a hospitalization) codes in hospital billing data are often used as a surrogate for hospital-associated VTE events occurring during or up to 30 days after a hospitalization, which are more difficult to measure” Khanna et al (2014).
Review of noncytotoxic drug extravasation and management
“The intent of this review is to provide a reference identifying noncytotoxic vesicants and the management of extravasations associated with specific agents” Le and Patel (2014).
Morbidity of peripherally inserted central catheters in pediatric complicated appendicitis
“The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative outcomes of pediatric patients with complicated appendicitis managed with or without a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)” Sulkowski et al (2014).