1984. Implementation of an integrated infectious disease and substance use disorder team for the treatment of severe injection-related infections

Abstract

Background Hospitalizations for severe injection drug use-related infections (SIRIs) are characterized by high costs, frequent patient-directed discharge, and high readmission rates. Beyond the health system impacts, these admissions can be traumatizing to people who inject drugs (PWID), who often receive inadequate treatment for their substance use disorders (SUD). The Jackson SIRI team was developed as an integrated infectious disease/SUD treatment team for patients hospitalized at a public safety-net hospital in Miami, Florida in 2020. In order to facilitate implementation of this team, we conducted a qualitative study of patients and providers to identify barriers and facilitators to the team’s success. Methods Participants were patients with history of SIRIs (n=7) at the Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH) and healthcare providers (HCPs) (n=8) at JMH. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were performed with a guide created using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Science (CFIR). Interviews were transcribed and double coded by study team members using determinants adapted from the CFIR. Results Key barriers to SIRI team success included: 1) complexity of SIRI and SUD care requiring multidisciplinary teams and resources; 2) lack of resources for PWID experiencing homelessness, financial insecurity, and uninsured status; 3) stigma and lack of knowledge around addiction and medications for SUD; and 4) suspected understaffing and underfunding for the team. Facilitators of team success included: 1) holistic, integrated care being more efficient and effective than fragmented care; 2) the team’s advocacy for PWID as a means of institutional culture change; 3) provision of close post-hospital follow-up for an often-abandoned population; 4) non-judgmental, harm reduction-oriented approach; and 5) addressing diverse needs such as housing, insurance, and psychological wellbeing. Conclusion Integration of infectious disease and substance use disorder treatment is a promising approach to managing patients with SIRIs; however, success depends on institutional buy-in, holistic care beyond the medical domain, and an ethos rooted in harm reduction. Disclosures Susanne Doblecki-Lewis, MD, MSPH, Gilead Sciences: Grant/Research Support.

Integrated Infectious Disease and Substance Use Disorder Care for the Treatment of Injection Drug Use–Associated Infections: A Prospective Cohort Study With Historical Control

“…Preventing the known harms of homelessness among persons with SUD is a third potential contributor to the intervention's impact [ 35 ]. Additionally, SIRI team patients identified trust in the team, harm reduction focus, patient advocacy, and nonstigmatizing care as strengths of the intervention, which may have also facilitated the team's effectiveness [ 36 ].…”