A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Electronic Clinical Decision Support Tool for Inpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship.

BACKGROUND: The weighted incidence syndromic combination antibiogram (WISCA) is an antimicrobial stewardship tool that utilizes electronic medical record data to provide real-time clinical decision support regarding empiric antibiotic prescription in the hospital setting. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of WISCA utilization for empiric antibiotic prescription on hospital length of stay (LOS). METHODS: We performed a crossover randomized controlled trial of the WISCA tool at 4 hospitals. Study participants included adult inpatients receiving empiric antibiotics for urinary tract infection (UTI), abdominal-biliary infection (ABI), pneumonia, or nonpurulent cellulitis. Antimicrobial stewardship (ASP) physicians utilized WISCA and clinical guidelines to provide empiric antibiotic recommendations. The primary outcome was LOS. Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, 30-day readmission, Clostridioides difficile infection, acquisition of multidrug-resistant gram-negative organism (MDRO), and antibiotics costs. RESULTS: In total, 6849 participants enrolled in the study. There were no overall differences in outcomes among the intervention versus control groups. Participants with cellulitis in the intervention group had significantly shorter mean LOS compared to participants with cellulitis in the control group (coefficient estimate = 0.53 [-0.97, -0.09], P = .0186). For patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP), the intervention group had significantly lower odds of 30-day mortality compared to the control group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] .58, 95% confidence interval [CI], .396, .854, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Use of WISCA was not associated with improved outcomes for UTI and ABI. Guidelines-based interventions were associated with decreased LOS for cellulitis and decreased mortality for CAP.

The epidemiology of blastomycosis in Illinois and factors associated with death.

BACKGROUND: Blastomycosis is a systemic fungal disease that may be asymptomatic or progressive and may lead to death. METHODS: In response to a reported increase in the number of cases of blastomycosis in Illinois, surveillance data reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health from January 1993 to August 2003 were analyzed and the medical records of 4 patients who died were reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 500 cases reported, the median age of the patients was 43 years (range, 4-87 years), and 34 patients (7%) died. Higher rates of mortality were observed among persons who were black, who were > or =65 years of age, and who were male. The median time from onset of illness to diagnosis was 128 days (range, 12-489 days). Death was associated with a time from onset of illness to diagnosis of > or =128 days (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0-4.8). During the period from 1993 through 2002, the number of cases reported per year increased from 24 to 87 (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of blastomycosis has been increasing in Illinois. To reduce mortality related to delay in diagnosis and treatment, medical providers need to be educated about blastomycosis, with an emphasis on symptom recognition, methods of diagnosis, and appropriate antifungal treatment.