Perceptions, Barriers, and Knowledge of Inpatient Glycemic Control: A Survey of Health Care Workers.

OBJECTIVES: To assess knowledge and perceptions of health care workers regarding optimal care for patients with hyperglycemia and identify commonly perceived barriers for the development of a hospital-wide education program. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional design was utilized to survey health care workers involved in managing hyperglycemia in an urban, community teaching hospital. Each health care worker received a survey specific to their health care role. RESULTS: Approximately 50% of questions about best clinical practices were answered correctly. Correct responses varied across disciplines (n, mean ± standard deviation [SD]), that is, physicians (n = 112, 53% ± 26%), nurses (n = 43, 52% ± 35%), pharmacists (n = 20, 64% ± 23%), dietitians (n = 5, 48% ± 30%), and patient care assistants (n = 12, 38% ± 34%). Most health care workers perceived hyperglycemia treatment to be very important and that sliding scale insulin was commonly used because of convenience but not efficacy. CONCLUSION: Knowledge regarding hyperglycemia management was suboptimal across a sample of health care workers when compared to clinical best practices. Hyperglycemia management was perceived to be important but convenience seemed to influence the management approach more than efficacy. Knowledge, perceptions, and barriers seem to play an important role in patient care and should be considered when developing education programs prior to implementation of optimized glycemic protocols.

Pilot and Revision of a Basal-Bolus Dosing Guideline for the Management of Hyperglycemia in Noncritically Ill Adult Patients.

The use of basal-bolus insulin (BBI) regimens for the treatment of inpatient hyperglycemia has become standard of care. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a newly piloted dosing guideline and utilize the results to adjust it prior to its implementation hospital-wide. This was an institutional review board approved, prospective, and multiphase study. An interdisciplinary team was developed and created a dosing guideline, which was followed by a 3-month, single-unit pilot of the guideline in noncritically ill adult patients. The resulting data were used to revise the guideline. Forty-three patients were included. There was a significant decrease in median blood glucose (BG) with use of the guideline (219 mg/dL [162-281] vs 190 mg/dL [136-246], P < .05) in patients not utilizing it. There was also a significant increase in the number of values within the target range of 70 to 180 mg/dL (30.2% vs 41.4%, P < .05). Moreover, there was comparable hypoglycemia before and after the intervention (1.6% vs 2.4%, P = .51). Based on these results, the dosing factor used for the total daily dose of insulin was increased in certain populations. Use of a BBI dosing guideline is safe and effective in decreasing BG values in noncritically ill patients at our institution.

Evaluation of nutrition support pharmacist interventions.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the number and types of interventions performed by our nutrition support service (NSS) pharmacists that were not directly related to the nutrition formula prescription. METHODS: This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective study of all adult pharmacy NSS consultations from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. All interventions assessed were categorized as the following: fluids and electrolytes, glucose management, alternate therapy, diagnostics, general laboratory result monitoring, vitamin and trace element monitoring, discontinuing medication, adding medication, dose adjustment, and other. The primary endpoint was to determine the total number of interventions and their acceptance rates. The secondary endpoint was to determine which categories had the most accepted and most denied interventions. RESULTS: There were 132 adult consults evaluated with a total of 383 interventions performed. The overall acceptance rate was 84%, and the top 3 accepted intervention categories were general laboratory result monitoring (96%), fluids and electrolytes (96%), and other (100%). The top 3 denied intervention categories were dose adjustment (60%), diagnostics (50%), and adding medication (22%). CONCLUSIONS: The interventions performed by the pharmacists demonstrate the unique perspective, knowledge, and importance of a pharmacist on nutrition support teams.

Acrodermatitis enteropathica during adequate enteral nutrition.

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare skin disorder of zinc deficiency. This case report describes a 91-year-old female nursing home resident who presented with a skin eruption resembling acrodermatitis enteropathica while receiving adequate enteral nutrition (EN) via a percutaneous gastrostomy tube. A low zinc level of 36 mcg/dL confirmed zinc deficiency, and treatment with oral zinc sulfate 220 mg 3 times a day resulted in rapid resolution of the skin lesions. This case supports the notion of close monitoring of patients on long-term EN for clinical manifestations of zinc deficiency, especially in the presence of an unexplained skin rash. Although micronutrient deficiencies are more prevalent in underdeveloped countries and with patients receiving parenteral nutrition, these deficiencies should be kept in mind for patients in developed countries as well as patients receiving EN.

Readministration of drotrecogin alfa (activated) in an adult with severe sepsis.

PURPOSE: The case of a patient with severe, multidrug-resistant, postoperative sepsis who was successfully treated with drotrecogin alfa (activated) on two occasions is reported. SUMMARY: After a thigh debridement procedure, a 55-year-old African-American woman developed systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) secondary to necrotizing fasciitis. Despite empiric treatment including piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin, the patient remained severely hemodynamically unstable, exhibiting signs of multiorgan failure and requiring mechanical ventilation and the placement of a tracheostomy tube. After the administration of i.v. drotrecogin alfa (activated) 160 mg (24 µg/kg/hr) over 96 hours in combination with standard i.v. antimicrobials and vasopressin, the patient's hemodynamic status improved considerably. About three weeks later, the patient again developed SIRS that was refractory to standard therapies. After the results of laboratory cultures indicated ventilator-associated pneumonia due to multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, the woman received a second course of drotrecogin alfa and other therapies. Her condition improved and she was extubated and eventually transferred to a medical-surgical unit for continued care. While drotrecogin alfa, a recombinant form of human activated protein C (APC), has been shown to reduce mortality in adults with severe sepsis and acute organ dysfunction, previous reports indicated an increased risk of thrombotic events with the use of the drug, and there is speculation that the development of anti-APC antibodies might result in a diminished therapeutic response. In the case described here, there were no thrombotic events during or after either drotrecogin alfa infusion and no clinical evidence of antibody formation. CONCLUSION: A patient received two complete courses of drotrecogin alfa (activated) without any treatment-related complications.

Treatment of Eikenella corrodens and Actinomyces odontolyticus foot abscess in a penicillin-allergic patient.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of Eikenella corrodens and Actinomyces odontolyticus foot abscess secondary to a toothpick puncture in a penicillin-allergic patient that was successfully treated with a long-term course of doxycycline. CASE SUMMARY: A 39-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus type 2 and hyperlipidemia presented with difficulty ambulating as well as pain and swelling of her right foot. Prior to presentation, she sustained a toothpick puncture to her right foot; she removed the toothpick intact and did not know whether it had been used. Due to a penicillin allergy, she began treatment with levofloxacin, which was changed to clindamycin one day later. The patient was diagnosed with right Achilles tendonitis/cellulitis and was discharged on a one-week course of clindamycin. Twenty-five days later she was readmitted, complaining of pain and swelling in the same area, which this time presented as an abscess. Upon this admission, vancomycin and levofloxacin were initiated and incision and drainage (I & D) was performed. Cultures and sensitivities from I & D were significant for E. corrodens and A. odontolyticus, and treatment was changed to intravenous doxycycline 100 mg every 12 hours for 10 weeks. Oral doxycycline 100 mg every 12 hours was then used for 3 months, and treatment was successful. DISCUSSION: E. corrodens and A. odontolyticus are 2 slow-growing organisms that are part of the normal oropharyngeal flora. Extraoral infections due to either of these organisms may be difficult to treat and might need lengthier treatments than are necessary for most infections. First-line treatment for such infections is penicillins and cephalosporins; however, in a patient with penicillin allergy, treatment options become limited, as there is potential cross-reactivity with other agents. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with infections secondary to E. corrodens and/or A. odontolyticus in whom penicillin allergy is a concern can be treated effectively with doxycycline.