Gastrointestinal colonization by KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae following hospital discharge: duration of carriage and risk factors for persistent carriage

The natural history of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC KP) carriage is unknown. We aimed to examine the duration of KPC KP carriage following hospital discharge and to study the risk factors for persistent carriage. A cohort of 125 KPC KP carriers was followed monthly for between 3 and 6 months after discharge from an acute-care hospital. Rectal swabs and data were collected at baseline and at each visit. KPC KP was detected by culture and direct bla_KPC PCR. Acquisition time was regarded as the earliest date of KPC KP isolation. Resolution of carriage was defined as a negative KPC KP test in at least two consecutive samples. Analyses were separated for recent (<4 months) (REC, 75 patients) and remote (≥4 months) (REM, 50 patients) acquisition groups. Risk factors for persistent carriage were examined by survival analyses for the REC group and by prevalence methods for the REM group. The mean age of patients was 67.5 years and 49.6% were male. Forty-six (61%) patients in the REC group and 14 (28%) in the REM group were persistent carriers (p < 0.001). A significant risk factor for persistent carriage identified in both the REC and REM groups was the presence of any catheter (p < 0.05). Unique risk factor groups included long-term care facility (LTCF) residence (p < 0.01) and a low functional status as measured by the Barthel’s index (p < 0.05) in the REC group and high Charlson’s score in the REM group (p < 0.05). Out of the entire 100 patients who had at least one negative sample, only 65 remained negative on subsequent cultures. In conclusion, persistent carriage of KPC KP is associated with catheter use and a low functional status; it is more common in patients with recent acquisition and is related to LTCF stay. A single negative KPC KP test is insufficient to exclude persistent carriage.     

Factors influencing decision‐making processes for unwell residents in residential aged care: Hospital transfer or Residential InReach referral?

Objective

To investigate decision‐making around hospital transfer and/or referral of residents to a Residential InReach (RiR) service in north‐eastern metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, from the perspectives of residential aged care facility (RACF) staff, general practitioners (GPs) and RiR registered nurses (RNs).

Methods

Thirty‐one staff from eight RACFs, five GPs and four RiR RNs participated in individual or group interviews.

Results

Residential aged care facility staff and GPs valued and relied upon RiR to manage unwell residents. Thematic analysis identified RiR utilisation was driven by the following: (i) complexity of decision‐making processes in RACFs; (ii) variability in facility‐based medical and nursing care; and (iii) impact of RiR service outcomes on patients and referrers.

Conclusion

Availability of timely and appropriate medical and nursing care in RACFs was reported to influence transfers to the hospital and/or referrals to RiR. RiR was used to complement or substitute usual care available to residents. Further research and improvements in RACF and RiR resources are required.

     

Seroprevalence of hepatitis A antibodies among residents of a centre for people with developmental disabilities

Abstract Background: In February 1993,11 cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) were identified in permanent residents of a centre for young people with developmental disabilities. Aims: To define the extent of the outbreak in the centre, to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A antibodies (anti-HAV) in permanent residents, and to ascertain risk factors for serological evidence of HAV infection. Methods: A cross-sectional serological survey of 270 permanent residents, aged eight to 40 years, in a centre for people with developmental disabilities, was conducted in western Sydney. Using a radioimmunoassay technique, sera were tested for anti-HAV (IgM and total antibody). We used logistic regression to determine risk factors for presence of anti-HAV. Results: Blood samples were collected from 259 permanent residents (96%). Serological testing revealed anti-HAV in 128 residents tested (49%). Presence of anti-HAV was associated with living in specific residential units, and with residents' age and length of stay at the centre, but was not associated with reported behavioural factors. Conclusions: More than half of the residents of the centre were susceptible to HAV infection. Behavioural characteristics of the residents and their close contact with each other make HAV transmission difficult to control. HAV vaccine should be promoted in communities at risk, such as those with developmental disabilities. (Aust NZ J Med 1994; 24: 365–367.)     

Creating a Network of High‐Quality Skilled Nursing Facilities: Preliminary Data on the Postacute Care Quality Improvement Experiences of an Accountable Care Organization

Postacute care (PAC) is an important source of cost growth and variation in the Medicare program and is critical to accountable care organization (ACO) and bundled payment efforts to improve quality and value in the Medicare program, but ACOs must often look outside their walls to identify high‐value external PAC partners, including skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). As a solution to this problem, the integrated health system, Partners HealthCare System (PHS) and its Pioneer ACO launched the PHS SNF Collaborative Network in October 2013 to identify and partner with high‐quality SNFs. This study details the method by which PHS selected SNFs using minimum criteria based on public scores and secondary criteria based on self‐reported measures, describes the characteristics of selected and nonselected SNFs, and reports SNF satisfaction with the collaborative. The selected SNFs (n = 47) had significantly higher CMS Five‐Star scores than the nonselected SNFs (n = 93) (4.6 vs 3.2, P < .001) and were more likely than nonselected SNFs that met the minimum criteria (n = 35) to have more than 5 days of clinical coverage (17.0% vs 2.9%, P = .02) and to have a physician see admitted individuals within 24 (38.3% vs 17.1%, P = .02) and 48 hours (93.6% vs 80.0%, P = .03). A survey sent to collaborative SNFs found high satisfaction with the process (average satisfaction, 4.6/5, with 1 = very dissatisfied and 5 = very satisfied, n = 19). Although the challenges of improving care in SNFs remain daunting, this approach can serve as a first step toward greater clinical collaboration between acute and postacute settings that will lead to better outcomes for frail older adults.     

京津地区养老机构《老年人营养不良风险评估》应用效果评价研究

背景　营养筛查与评估是开展规范化营养支持的基础,WS/T 552-2017《老年人营养不良风险评估》发布前后,尚缺乏关于此标准中评估工具信效度研究的有关报告。目的　评价《老年人营养不良风险评估》在京津地区有代表性的养老机构应用的信效度。方法　2019年5-6月,采用方便抽样对北京、天津7家养老机构中入住的444名老年人进行问卷调查。采用临界比、条目-总分相关系数、探索性因子分析、Cronbach's α系数和折半信度系数评价《老年人营养不良风险评估》的信效度。结果　共发放问卷474份,回收有效问卷444份,有效回收率为93.7%。《老年人营养不良风险评估》各条目临界比为-1.992~13.272,条目-总分相关系数为-0.051~0.566;探索性因子分析共提取8个公因子,累积解释变异量为62.069%,4个条目因子载荷<0.40而未达标准;《老年人营养不良风险评估》的Cronbach's α系数为0.323,折半信度为0.531,8个公因子的Cronbach's α系数为-0.542~0.649,折半信度为-0.424~0.637。结论　《老年人营养不良风险评估》在养老机构中应用时部分条目的鉴别度和同质性不高,结构效度和内部一致性不是非常理想,在进行养老机构老年人营养状况筛查与评价时,需要对条目进一步斟酌,才能更有效地评价养老机构老年人的营养状况。