We compared rates of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection in patients receiving or not receiving oral vancomycin prophylaxis with systemic antimicrobial therapy. The incidence of C. difficile infection was significantly lower in patients receiving prophylaxis (4.2% vs 26.6% in those without prophylaxis; odds ratio, 0.12; 95% confidence interval, .04-.4; P < .001).

-Purpose. Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI) is a growing concern, yet limited data exists to clarify which patients are at highest risk. Identification of these patients may better inform decisions of those who may benefit from prophylactic intervention. The purpose of this study was to determine which factors are associated with the recurrence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and to develop a risk stratification tool. Methods. Patients readmitted within 10 weeks of positive C. difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with symptoms were included in this retrospective case control study. The primary outcome was analyzed via univariate regression analyses of the independent factors including age, gender, number of CDI episodes, administration of acid blocking agents, antibiotics or chemotherapy, Charlson Comorbidity Index, gastrointestinal conditions, and exposure to healthcare facilities. Results. Recurrent CDI was identified in 44 of 220 included patients. In the univariate analysis, factors associated with development of RCDI included antibiotic exposure (OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.14-5.54; p 0.02) and inflammatory bowel disease (OR 5.77, 95% CI 1.24-26.79; p 0.03). An evaluation tool was created from a well-fit model. Additional factors included in the tool were chosen based on evaluation of findings from existing literature. Conclusions. Antibiotic therapy and inflammatory bowel disease were found to be associated with RCDI. Although a statistically significant association with RCDI was not found for other factors, this is likely related to small sample size. The creation of an evaluation tool using specific patient factors can help determine the risk of RCDI, while future studies may validate this tool.

Objectives:Existing research comparing hospital length of stay for patients treated with non–vitamin K oral anticoagulants or parenteral bridging to warfarin has been conducted primarily with the agent rivaroxaban. The objective of this study was to compare hospital length of stay between patients initiated on the non–vitamin K oral anticoagulants, apixaban or rivaroxaban, and patients initiated on parenteral anticoagulation agents plus warfarin for the treatment of venous thromboembolism.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted at an 859-bed, not-for-profit, teaching hospital. Adult patients admitted for a primary diagnosis of venous thromboembolism between 1 November 2012 and 31 August 2015 and treated with apixaban or rivaroxaban or a parenteral anticoagulant plus warfarin were included in the study. Eligible patients were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for a primary diagnosis of acute thromboses and emboli and medication administration record data. Individuals using anticoagulation therapy prior to admission, released from the emergency department, or treated with thrombectomy or fibrinolytic therapy were excluded.Results:A total of 152 patients were included in this study. Patient characteristics, including renal function, were similar between study arms. Venous thromboembolism treatment with apixaban or rivaroxaban compared to a parenteral anticoagulant plus warfarin was associated with a reduced hospital length of stay (2.63 vs 5.33 days; p < 0.05) and decreased total hospital cost adjusted to 2015 dollars (US$21,694 vs US$38,851; p = 0.013).Conclusion:These results suggest that treatment with a non–vitamin K anticoagulant may significantly reduce hospital length of stay and total hospital cost compared to a parenteral anticoagulant plus warfarin for patients admitted for venous thromboembolism.

Background: Transitions of care (TOC) points are those where patient outcomes can be affected, especially patients at high risk for medication errors. Pharmacist-led postdischarge telephone counseling positively affects patient outcomes, though challenges exist relating to successful patient contact. Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a discharge education service bridging the inpatient and outpatient setting to increase successful patient contact points during the TOC process from hospital to home. Methods: This prospective, single-centered observational study examined the impact of a discharge medication education program on successful telephone follow-up contact. The primary outcome was the percentage of high-risk patients educated at hospital discharge who were successfully reached via follow-up telephone contact within 2 business days of discharge. Secondary end points included hospital readmission rates and patient survey responses. Results: A total of 50 patients were included in the initial evaluation of this service; 78% of patients were successfully contacted within 2 business days after discharge, an increase from a 20% success rate prior to service implementation. At follow-up telephone calls, patients reported taking an average of 16 medications. The 30-day readmission rate was 10% for patients receiving this service, compared with 19% prior to implementation. When asked if they understood the medication component of their care and if they found the TOC service to be satisfactory, 100% and 96% of patients strongly agreed or agreed with these statements, respectively, and none disagreed. Conclusion and Relevance: This service demonstrates how pharmacists can interact with a high-risk population and increase contact points to optimize care at crucial health care transition points.

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The available literature does not support the initiation of statins in hemodialysis patients who were not receiving statin therapy before requiring hemodialysis. At this time, there are no conclusive data to support discontinuation of statins in ESRD patients on hemodialysis receiving statins for either primary or secondary prevention of CHD.

Purpose: Inpatient hyperglycemia is associated with poor outcomes. Existing research assessing inpatient hyperglycemia protocols has shown improvements in average blood glucose levels with inconsistent results regarding rates of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of an inpatient hyperglycemia protocol on glycemic control. Methods: This retrospective cohort study at a large, community teaching hospital included adult patients in non-critical care units requiring insulin administration for glycemic control. The intervention examined was utilization of an inpatient hyperglycemia protocol, comprised of a computerized physician order entry order set and provider education at the time of implementation. Two cohorts, a pre-protocol implementation group and a post-protocol implementation group, were compared. The primary outcome was the incidence of blood glucose values within 70-180 mg/dL over a 72-hour period between groups. Key secondary outcomes included the incidence of hypoglycemia (less than 70 mg/dL), severe hyperglycemia (above 300 mg/dL), total insulin use, and hospital length of stay. Results: The primary outcome was significantly improved following protocol implementation (54.2% vs. 58.4%, p = 0.001). Compared to the pre-protocol group, the post-protocol group had lower incidence of hypoglycemia (3.1% vs. 1.2%, p < 0.001), severe hyperglycemia (9.9% vs. 6.7%, p < 0.001), less total insulin use (1.1 units/kg vs. 0.6 units/kg, p < 0.001), and shorter length of stay (5.1 days vs. 3.7 days, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The implementation of an inpatient hyperglycemia protocol was associated with improved glycemic control, decreased incidence of both hypoglycemia and severe hyperglycemia, and less total insulin use.

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