Impact of a Best Practice Prevention Bundle on Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) Rates and Outcomes in Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Patients in Inpatient and Ambulatory Settings.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric hematology, oncology, and hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) patients are at increased risk for bloodstream infections. The authors sought to evaluate the influence of a standardized best practice central venous catheter (CVC) maintenance bundle on the burden of and risk factors for mucosal barrier injury (MBI) and non-MBI central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) across a common inpatient and ambulatory continuum in this high-risk population. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients with underlying malignancy, hematologic disorders, and HCT recipients with a CVC in place at the time of CLABSI diagnosis in both inpatient and ambulatory settings from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016. Descriptive, nonparametric statistics were used to describe patient characteristics and outcomes. Logistic regression analyses were applied to identify potential risk factors for inpatient versus ambulatory and MBI versus non-MBI CLABSI. RESULTS: During the 5-year period, 118 of 808 (14.6%) patients had 159 laboratory-confirmed CLABSIs for ambulatory and inpatient CLABSI rates of 0.27 CLABSI/1000 and 2.2 CLABSI/1000 CVC days, respectively. CLABSI occurred more frequently in hospitalized patients after HCT and with underlying leukemia, most frequently caused by Gram-negative bacteria. MBI CLABSI accounted for 42% of all CLABSI with a 3-fold higher risk in hospitalized patients. Having multiple CVC or a CVC that was not a port independently associated with higher CLABSI risk. CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, non-MBI CLABSI continued to account for the majority of CLABSI. CVC type is independently associated with higher overall CLABSI risk. Further studies are needed to reliably define additional prevention strategies when CLABSI maintenance bundles elements are optimized in this high-risk population.

The Cancer Care Index: A Novel Metric to Assess Overall Performance of a Pediatric Oncology Program.

OBJECTIVE: Childhood cancer metrics are currently primarily focused on survival rates and late effects of therapy. Our objectives were to design and test a metric that reflected overall quality and safety performance, across all cancer types, of an oncology-bone marrow transplant service line and to use the metric to drive improvement. METHOD: The Cancer Care Index (CCI) aggregates adverse safety events and missed opportunities for best practices into a composite score that reflects overall program performance without regard to cancer type or patient outcome. Fifteen domains were selected in 3 areas as follows: (1) treatment-related quality and safety, (2) provision of a harm-free environment, and (3) psychosocial support. The CCI is the aggregate number of adverse events or missed opportunities to provide quality care in a given time frame. A lower CCI reflects better care and improved overall system performance. Multidisciplinary microsystem-based teams addressed specific aims for each domain. The CCI was widely followed by all team members, particularly frontline providers. RESULTS: The CCI was easy to calculate and deploy and well accepted by the staff. The annual CCI progressively decreased from 278 in 2012 to 160 in 2014, a 42% reduction. Improvements in care were realized across most index domains. Multiple new initiatives were successfully implemented. CONCLUSIONS: The CCI is a useful metric to document performance improvement across a broad range of domains, regardless of cancer type. By the use of quality improvement science, progressive reduction in CCI has occurred over a 3-year period.

A Quality Improvement Approach to Increase Exercise Assessment in Survivors of Childhood Leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of treatment-related cardiovascular disease, the severity of which is impacted by the level of regular exercise. Exercise assessments (EAs) are not a routine component of follow-up care. METHODS: We incorporated a quantitative EA tool into the clinic triage during follow-up visits for survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The nursing staff was surveyed on the use of the EA tool to gauge understanding and level of comfort with addressing patient questions. RESULTS: Over 27 months, the percentage of off-therapy acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with documented EA increased from 0% to 80%. We noted degradation in EA completions in the last 6 months of the project, which we attributed to project nursing staff transition and failure to maintain education. Interventions that improved the percentage of completed EA included the incorporation the assessment tool into the electronic medical record and weekly reminders of scheduled eligible patients. A nurse incentive plan did not impact project success. Survey results revealed that the nursing staff were comfortable with the EA and did not view the new process as hurting patient flow. CONCLUSION: Implementation of an EA tool into routine clinic follow-up was successful. We met the project goal of assessing greater than 50% of the follow-up patients. This work will serve as the foundation for the next phase of the project, which will be to provide education on the importance of exercise and earlier intervention when a sedentary lifestyle is identified.

A multiyear quality improvement project to increase influenza vaccination in a pediatric oncology population undergoing active therapy.

BACKGROUND: In an effort to reduce morbidity and mortality from vaccine preventable influenza infection, national consensus guidelines recommend vaccination of patients who are immunocompromised as a result of receiving cancer therapy. Quality improvement (QI) processes are a proven method used to improve vaccination rates. PROCEDURE: We conducted a QI initiative aimed at increasing influenza vaccination in oncology patients undergoing active treatment. Primary drivers for the project focused on patient education, staff and provider education, and communication regarding vaccine-eligible patients. We performed a retrospective analysis of influenza infection among the vaccine-eligible population. This approach has validity at our institution because of the consistent follow-up and hospital admission pattern of cancer patients on active therapy such that nearly all follow-up care is delivered at our institution. RESULTS: We successfully achieved greater than 87% vaccination of eligible patients each vaccine season (September to March). During the recommended timeframe for delivering influenza vaccine between September and December of each vaccine season, we offered the vaccine to 100% of patients on active therapy and vaccinated >90%. Barriers to success, including vaccine refusals, increased late in the vaccine season. Influenza infection was documented in 0.5-7.3% of the vaccine-eligible group. CONCLUSION: A robust influenza vaccination program implemented using a standardized QI approach can sustain a high vaccination rate in a pediatric oncology population receiving active treatment. The influenza infection rate was under 10% in the vaccinated group.