Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Among Healthcare Workers With Differing Levels of COVID-19 Patient Exposure

Healthcare employees were tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Among 734 employees, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 1.6%. Employees with heavy COVID-19 exposure had similar antibody prevalence as those with limited or no exposure. Guidelines for PPE use seem effective for preventing COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers.Antibody testing was paid for by Indiana University Health,as part of an internal quality assessment initiative

Development and Implementation of a Pharmacist-managed Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Program

Purpose The development and implementation of a pharmacist-managed outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) program in a county teaching hospital are described. Summary A pharmacist-managed OPAT program was developed and implemented at a county teaching hospital to provide consistent evaluation, approval, and monitoring of patients requiring OPAT for the treatment of infection. The developmental and implementation stages of the OPAT program included (1) a needs assessment, (2) the identification of resources necessary for program operation, (3) delineation of general OPAT program operations and activities of individual OPAT clinicians, (4) the development of patient selection criteria, including a plan of care algorithm, and (5) acquisition of administrative support to approve the program. In this program, the OPAT pharmacist plays an integral role in the management and oversight of OPAT patients, working under a collaborative agreement with infectious diseases physicians. The OPAT pharmacist assists with appropriate patient and regimen selection, confirmation of orders on discharge, assuring that laboratory tests for safety surveillance are performed and evaluated, performing routine monitoring for adverse events and line complications, and assuring the removal of the vascular access device upon the completion of OPAT. Conclusion: The OPAT program provides structured monitoring, patient follow-up, and led to improvements in patient outcome with minimization of treatment and line-related adverse events

“Clinical Characteristics, Outcomes and Prognosticators in Adult Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19”

Background: COVID-19 is a novel disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Methods: We conducted a retrospective evaluation of patients admitted with COVID-19 to one site in March 2020. Patients were stratified into three groups: survivors who did not receive mechanical ventilation (MV), survivors who received MV and those who received MV and died during hospitalization. Results: There were 140 hospitalizations; 22 deaths (mortality rate 15.7%), 83 (59%) survived and did not receive MV, 35 (25%) received MV and survived; 18 (12.9%) received MV and died. Thee mean age of each group was 57.8 , 55.8 and 72.7 years respectively (p=.0001). Of those who received MV and died, 61% were male (p=.01). More than half the patients ( n=90, 64%) were African American. First measured d-dimer >575.5 ng/mL, procalcitonin > 0.24 ng/mL, LDH > 445.6 units/L and BNP > 104.75 pg/mL had odds ratios of 10.5, 5 , 4.5 and 2.9 respectively forMV (p 167.5 pg/mL had an odds ratio of 6.7 for inpatient mortalitywhen mechanically ventilated (p= .02).Conclusions: Age and gender may impact outcomes in COVID-19. D-dimer, procalcitonin, LDH and BNP may serve as early indicators of disease trajectory

Strategies for the successful implementation of disinfecting port protectors to reduce CLABSI in a large tertiary care teaching hospital

Disinfecting port protectors are a supplement to the central line–associated bloodstream infection prevention bundle as an optional recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite evidence of effectiveness, few centers have successfully reported systematic, sustained implementation of these devices. In this article, we discuss a successful implementation in a large tertiary care teaching hospital, using an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach

Rabbit anti‐thymocyte globulin administration to treat rejection in simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant recipients with recent COVID‐19 infection

Transplant recipients may be more susceptible to COVID‐19 and itsrelated complications.1‐3Despite most patients being managed with reduction of immunosuppression, the risk of rejection or graft loss does not seem to be increased during COVID‐19

Assessment of a Universal Preprocedural Screening Program for COVID-19

Objectives Study objectives were to: (1) Determine the value of a COVID-19 universal preprocedural screening program; and (2) Using the results of asymptomatic positive screens, determine the safety of resuming elective procedures. Design This was a descriptive study detailing the process and findings from implementation of a COVID-19 universal preprocedural screening program. Setting An adult academic tertiary center in Indiana. Patients Patients were included in the analysis if they were screened 96 hours prior to or within 24 hours after undergoing a procedure in the operating room, cardiac catheterization lab, or endoscopy. Methods A report was generated from the electronic health record of patients undergoing procedures from a six week period of time (May 4th-June 14th, 2020). Health records for positive screens were reviewed and classified as symptomatic if they met either criteria: (1) screen performed due to presence of COVID-19 symptoms; (2) documentation of symptoms at the time of the screen. Patients with a positive screen that did not meet symptomatic criteria were classified as asymptomatic. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate frequencies and percentages for the included sample. Results The initial sample included 2,194 patients, comprised of 46 positive and 2,148 negative screens. Out of the 46 patients who had a positive test, 17 were asymptomatic, resulting in an asymptomatic rate of 0.79% (17/2165). Conclusion Findings validated the value of the program through identification of a low rate of asymptomatic positive screens and procedural team adoption and sustainment. Findings may help inform decision making of like organizations attempting to enhance safety while resuming elective procedures

Antimicrobial Stewardship Training for Infectious Diseases Fellows: Program Directors Identify a Curriculum Need

A needs assessment survey of infectious diseases (ID) training program directors identified gaps in educational resources for training and evaluating ID fellows in antimicrobial stewardship. An Infectious Diseases Society of America-sponsored core curriculum was developed to address that need

Evaluation of the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Core Antimicrobial Stewardship Curriculum for Infectious Diseases Fellows

Background Antimicrobial stewardship (AS) programs are required by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and should ideally have infectious diseases (ID) physician involvement; however, only 50% of ID fellowship programs have formal AS curricula. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) formed a workgroup to develop a core AS curriculum for ID fellows. Here we study its impact. Methods ID program directors and fellows in 56 fellowship programs were surveyed regarding the content and effectiveness of their AS training before and after implementation of the IDSA curriculum. Fellows’ knowledge was assessed using multiple-choice questions. Fellows completing their first year of fellowship were surveyed before curriculum implementation (“pre-curriculum”) and compared to first-year fellows who complete the curriculum the following year (“post-curriculum”). Results Forty-nine (88%) program directors and 105 (67%) fellows completed the pre-curriculum surveys; 35 (64%) program directors and 79 (50%) fellows completed the post-curriculum surveys. Prior to IDSA curriculum implementation, only 51% of programs had a “formal” curriculum. After implementation, satisfaction with AS training increased among program directors (16% to 68%) and fellows (51% to 68%). Fellows’ confidence increased in 7/10 AS content areas. Knowledge scores improved from a mean of 4.6 to 5.1 correct answers of 9 questions (P = .028). The major hurdle to curriculum implementation was time, both for formal teaching and for e-learning. Conclusions Effective AS training is a critical component of ID fellowship training. The IDSA Core AS Curriculum can enhance AS training, increase fellow confidence, and improve overall satisfaction of fellows and program directors