Reducing costs and improving care after hospitalization: Economic evaluation of a novel transitional care clinic.

Transitional care management (TCM) is a novel strategy for reducing costs and improving clinical outcomes after hospitalization but remains under-utilized. An economic analysis was performed on a hospital-based transition of care clinic (TCC) open to all patients regardless of payor status. TCC reduced re-hospitalization and emergency department (ED) utilization at six-month follow up. A cost-consequence analysis based on real world data found the TCC intervention to be cost effective relative to usual care. Hospital managers should consider adoption of TCC to improve patient care and reduce costs.

Herpes simplex encephalitis with two false-negative cerebrospinal fluid PCR tests and review of negative PCR results in the clinical setting.

INTRODUCTION: Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE) is an acute infection accompanied by significant morbidity and mortality with the diagnosis often made by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a healthy 35-year-old woman presenting with altered mental status. Due to suspicion of herpes encephalitis, a CSF PCR for herpes virus was sent for examination and acyclovir was started. The patient had an immediate response to acyclovir; however, when the PCR returned negative she was discharged without therapy. The altered mental status returned and she was started on acyclovir therapy and a second CSF PCR sample was sent and was again negative. MRI performed at initial hospitalization was negative, but a repeat MRI demonstrated bilateral temporal lobe involvement suggestive of herpes encephalitis. The patient was successfully treated for 21 days with acyclovir. CONCLUSION: CSF PCR for herpes virus is highly sensitive and specific and remains the standard for diagnosing herpes encephalitis. Clinicians should be aware of the pitfalls of CSF PCR testing, specifically false-negative results. Although rare, these false negatives can result in premature termination of treatment.