Diabetes care in hospital—the impact of a dedicated inpatient care team

Aims At any given time, people with diabetes occupy approximately 5–10% of acute hospital beds. In addition, diabetes is associated with a greater length of stay (LOS). This is partially because of increased complexity of the cases but also because of unfamiliarity of dealing with the condition by other specialist teams. Methods In 2002, with increasing pressure on acute hospital beds, a team was established to improve the care of inpatients with diabetes admitted to Derriford Hospital. The team consisted of five diabetes specialist nurses dedicated to inpatient care, supported by a consultant and specialist registrar diabetologist. A link nurse responsible for diabetes was appointed on every ward and each individual with a diagnosis of diabetes was identified on admission. We have compared LOS of all patients with diabetes admitted between January 2002 and December 2006. Results LOS fell from a mean ± se of 8.3 ± 0.18 days in 2002 to 7.7 ± 0.10 days in 2006 (P = 0.002). Significant falls were seen for emergency admissions (9.7 ± 0.23 vs. 9.2 ± 0.20, P < 0.001) but not elective admissions. The data show significant reductions in LOS for medical admissions (9.2 ± 0.24 vs. 8.4 ± 0.20, P < 0.001) but not surgical admissions. Over the same period, LOS for the total hospital population fell by 0.3 days (P < 0.001). Conclusion In conclusion, a team specifically employed to focus on inpatient diabetes care has a significant impact on LOS of this patient group.     

DOT and timely treatment completion among Asian-born immigrant tuberculosis patients.

SETTING: A large urban tuberculosis (TB) control program. OBJECTIVES: To identify factors associated with directly observed therapy (DOT) participation and to quantify how early use of DOT affected treatment duration. DESIGN: A retrospective study of 731 Asian-born patients with drug-susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates who were verified in New York City between 1993 and 1997 and completed treatment. RESULTS: Overall, 297 (41%) of 731 patients in the study participated in DOT for some or all of their TB treatment. DOT participation was significantly associated with TB disease in a pulmonary site (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.85, 95% CI 1.86-4.35), more recent year of diagnosis (aOR 1.70, 95% CI 1.50-1.94) and male sex (aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.30-2.66). Patients who received > or = 70% of their TB treatment at a health department chest clinic were also significantly more likely to participate in DOT (aOR 3.83, 95% CI 2.55-5.74). Among 297 DOT patients, those who completed treatment by 9 months received a greater amount of treatment by DOT during the first 4 months of treatment than those who took longer to complete treatment. CONCLUSION: Earlier DOT participation can lead to overall shorter treatment duration. Health care providers should encourage TB patients to participate in DOT as early as possible in their TB treatment.     

西班牙结核病人的治疗完成和病死率现状

目的：确定结核病人的完成治疗情况，并分析中断治疗和病死的相关因素。方法：在SEPAR结核病和呼吸道感染工作组成员工作的地区，对1999年6月1日至2000年5月31日期间开始接受治疗的结核病人进行前瞻性队列分析。利用logistic回归对与中断治疗和病死相关的诸因素进行了研究，并计算各因素的比数比(OR)及其95％CI。结果：本项研究涉及76家医院142名医生提供的1515例病例信息。82％的病人完成了全部治疗，14％中断治疗，5％死亡，0．5％治疗失败，8．7％由于迁出或其它原因中断了治疗。与中断治疗有关的变量是静脉吸毒(IVDU)(OR=6．00，95％CI：2．59-13．89)和移民(OR=8．57，95％CI：3．78-19．45)；性别、年龄、无家可归、监禁、DOT或住院治疗与中断治疗无关。病人病死率的预报因素有酗酒(OR=6．38，95％CI：2．09-19．48)；HIV感染(OR=7．08，95％CI：2．08-29．15)和年龄大于64岁(OR=10，95％CI：2．9-34．07)，性别、吸毒、无家可归、DOT和住院治疗与病人的病死率无关。结论：在发达国家应对吸毒和移民病人采用DOT，另外，需要对酗酒、HIV感染、年龄大于64岁者实施严格监督以降低其病死率。     

The development of a palliative care program for managed care patients: a case example

Palliative care is emerging as an important new field. Although programs are developing in hospital environments, little is known about development of programs in outpatient practices or those serving large managed care populations. This article provides a framework for the development of a comprehensive palliative care program in a large multispecialty group practice that serves managed care patients. The article addresses guiding principles, the need for obtaining baseline data, how the clinical consultation service was established, development of outcomes measures, and information on current program status. Five themes emerged as key to successful program development, most importantly the close collaboration between administrative and clinical staff in all aspects of program development.     

Current status of treatment completion and fatality among tuberculosis patients in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: To determine treatment completion among patients with tuberculosis (TB), and to analyse factors associated with treatment default and fatality. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of patients who began treatment between 1 June 1999 and 31 May 2000 in areas where members of the SEPAR Tuberculosis and Respiratory Infections Group work. Factors associated with treatment default and fatality were studied using logistic regression, calculating odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: The study involved 142 physicians from 76 different hospitals who provided information on 1515 cases. Eighty-two per cent of the patients completed treatment correctly, 14% defaulted, 5% died, 0.5% failed, and 8.7% interrupted treatment due to transfer or other reasons. The variables associated with default were intravenous drug use (IVDU) (OR 6.00, 95%CI 2.59-13.89) and immigration (OR 8.57, 95%CI 3.78-19.45); sex, age, homelessness, incarceration, directly observed treatment (DOT) or hospitalisation were not associated with default. Variables found to be predictive of fatality were alcoholism (OR 6.38, 95%CI 2.09-19.48), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (OR 7.08, 95%CI 2.08-29.15) and age >64 years (OR 10, 95%CI 2.9-34.07), whereas sex, IVDU, homelessness, DOT and hospitalisation were not. CONCLUSIONS: In industrialised countries, IVDU patients and immigrants should be targeted for DOT, while to reduce fatality rates stricter monitoring is required for patients who are alcoholic, HIV-infected, or aged >64 years.     

Residual lung damage after completion of treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

SETTING: Limpopo Province, South Africa. OBJECTIVE: To assess the residual lung damage of patients who completed treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). DESIGN: Chest radiograph and lung function tests were performed at the end of treatment. The radiographs were read by two independent observers who attributed a zonal score of between 0 and 18, depending on the extent of radiographic abnormalities (opacification or cavitation), counted the number of visible cavities and measured the diameter of the largest cavity. RESULTS: The mean zonal score was 6.5. Cavitation was present in more than half of the patients. Of 33 patients, 31 (94%) had abnormal lung function tests. The median FEV1 was 63% and FVC was 57% of the predicted value. Restrictive and combined restrictive-obstructive lung function patterns were the predominant abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Residual lung damage in MDR-TB patients who completed treatment is common and extensive. This may increase the risk of relapse of tuberculosis and reduce the quality of life and life expectancy of these patients. Additional efforts are warranted to diagnose MDR-TB early to reduce the extent of residual lung damage. Close follow-up of MDR-TB patients completing treatment will have to be ensured to detect relapses.     

治疗老年共病患者的重要模式：多学科整合团队

目的 总结老年科住院患者对多学科团队查房的需求及其解决的问题,推广适合我国国情的多学科团队医疗模式.方法 建立多学科整合团队查房的制度和流程,对2011至2012年北京协和医院老年示范病房的住院患者的团队查房情况进行统计,分析团队查房的使用情况.结果 时间段内共收治患者274例,其中65岁以上老年患者198例(72.3%),年龄(75.4±7.0)岁.134例(67.7%)超过65岁的老年患者接受过团队查房.这些患者均有共病,涉及营养问题96例(71.6%),精神心理问题55例(41%),康复医疗52例(38.8%),调整用药13例(9.7%).经过团队医护后,好转出院130例(97.0%),死亡4例(30%).结论 老年住院患者对团队查房有较高需求.多学科整合团队是为老年共病患者提供全方位处理的重要工作模式.     

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment outcome in Iran: a case series of seven patients

BackgroundExtensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has recently been identified as a major threat to global health. XDR-TB poses a risk of higher failure rates and death during TB treatment. We report herein the outcomes of XDR-TB in patients treated with the standardized regimen in Iran.Patients and methodsBetween 2002 and 2006, seven patients were diagnosed with XDR-TB. All patients were treated with the standardized second-line regimen containing cycloserine, prothionamide, amikacin, and ofloxacin. First-line drugs, such as ethambutol and pyrazinamide, were added to the regimen if drug susceptibility testing showed sensitivity to these drugs.ResultsFour (57.1%) patients were male. All seven patients were HIV-negative. The patient age range was 22–79 years. Of the seven cases, the final outcome was ‘cure’ in two (28.6%), ‘relapse’ in one, ‘treatment failure’ in one, and ‘death’ in two; the outcome for one patient was unknown.ConclusionOur study shows a poor prognosis in patients with XDR-TB. This indicates the necessity of detecting XDR-TB cases earlier, as well as the need to gain access to more second-line agents. This is particularly important in resource-limited settings in order to administer individualized regimens.     

Improved case detection of tuberculosis through a public-private partnership

Case detection of tuberculosis under public DOTS programmes is still low and there is currently a search for new ways to improve these programmes. We investigated the impact of a public-private partnership DOTS programme on tuberculosis case detection in New Delhi, India. Time series of case detection in an intervention and a control area were analysed through segmented linear regression modelling. We found that a significant positive trend shift occurred in the intervention area as compared to the control area after the partnership was initiated. The study indicates that public-private partnership is feasible way to improve TB case detection.     

Individual versus team case management in optimizing community care for chronically ill patients with dementia

Secondary analyses of a randomized trial comparing two models of case management of community residing chronically ill elderly showed that the greatest cost savings of the more intensive neighborhood-based team model, as opposed to the centralized individual model, were in the group with dementia. Estimated costs of health care in the team group were 41% lower than costs for the control group. No differences in survivorship, functional and care need status, or in caregiver satisfaction were found, suggesting no negative effect of reduction in use. Team case managers had much smaller caseloads, made many more home visits, (with much more counseling for family support), and made more referrals for medical evaluation, respite, and day care than did case managers for the control group.     

Enhancement of treatment completion for latent tuberculosis infection with 4 months of rifampin

BACKGROUND: Isoniazid is the standard medication used to treat latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The lengthy treatment with isoniazid, its perceived hepatotoxicity, and the increasing influx of foreign-born persons from countries with a higher prevalence of isoniazid resistance have compromised this regimen. In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines recommended 4 months of rifampin (4R) as an acceptable alternative regimen to 9 months of isoniazid (9H). In a county chest clinic in northern New Jersey, a self-administered 9H regimen for patients with LTBI was generally prescribed until the year 2002. After recognizing poor completion rates, LTBI treatment was shifted predominantly to the alternative 4R regimen. METHODS: Medical records of patients placed on LTBI treatment during 2000 (predominantly a 9H regimen) and 2003 (predominantly a 4R regimen) were reviewed. A total of 474 patients were included in the study. chi(2), Fishers exact, two-sample t, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. The main outcome variable was treatment completion. RESULTS: A total of 80.5% of patients receiving 4R and 53.1% receiving 9H completed treatment (p < 0.0001); 34.7% of patients receiving 9H were unavailable for follow-up, compared to 12.6% receiving 4R (p = <0.0001). Fewer drug reactions were observed in the group receiving 4R compared to the group receiving 9H (3.1% vs 5.8%), although this was not statistically significant. Logistic regression analysis identified treatment regimen as a significant predictor for treatment completion (odds ratio [OR], 5.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3 to 8.1). Employment was negatively associated with treatment completion in the same model (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving 4R were significantly more likely to complete therapy than those receiving 9H.