An Initiative to Decrease Laboratory Testing in a NICU.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Laboratory testing is performed frequently in the NICU. Unnecessary tests can result in increased costs, blood loss, and pain, which can increase the risk of long-term growth and neurodevelopmental impairment. Our aim was to decrease routine screening laboratory testing in all infants admitted to our NICU by 20% over a 24-month period. METHODS: We designed and implemented a multifaceted quality improvement project using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Model for Improvement. Baseline data were reviewed and analyzed to prioritize order of interventions. The primary outcome measure was number of laboratory tests performed per 1000 patient days. Secondary outcome measures included number of blood glucose and serum bilirubin tests per 1000 patient days, blood volume removed per 1000 patient days, and cost. Extreme laboratory values were tracked and reviewed as balancing measures. Statistical process control charts were used to track measures over time. RESULTS: Over a 24-month period, we achieved a 26.8% decrease in laboratory tests performed per 1000 patient days (∽51 000 fewer tests). We observed significant decreases in all secondary measures, including a decrease of almost 8 L of blood drawn and a savings of $258 000. No extreme laboratory values were deemed attributable to the interventions. Improvement was sustained for an additional 7 months. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted interventions, including guideline development, dashboard creation and distribution, electronic medical record optimization, and expansion of noninvasive and point-of-care testing resulted in a significant and sustained reduction in laboratory testing without notable adverse effects.

Implementation of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate antimicrobial utilization and prescription practices in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP). DESIGN Quasi-experimental, interrupted time-series study. SETTING A 54-bed, level IV NICU in a regional academic and tertiary referral center. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS All neonates prescribed antimicrobials from January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2016, were eligible for inclusion. INTERVENTION Implementation of a NICU-specific ASP beginning July 2012. METHODS We convened a multidisciplinary team and developed guidelines for common infections, with a focus on prescriber audit and feedback. We conducted an interrupted time-series analysis to evaluate the effects of our ASP. Our primary outcome measure was days of antibiotic therapy (DOT) per 1,000 patient days for all and for select antimicrobials. Secondary outcomes included provider-specific antimicrobial prescription events for suspected late-onset sepsis (blood or cerebrospinal fluid infection at >72 hours of life) and guideline compliance. RESULTS Antibiotic utilization decreased by 14.7 DOT per 1,000 patient days during the stewardship period, although this decrease was not statistically significant (P=.669). Use of ampicillin, the most commonly antimicrobial prescribed in our NICU, decreased significantly, declining by 22.5 DOT per 1,000 patient days (P=.037). Late-onset sepsis evaluation and prescription events per 100 NICU days of clinical service decreased significantly (P<.0001), with an average reduction of 2.65 evaluations per year per provider. Clinical guidelines were adhered to 98.75% of the time. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of a NICU-specific antimicrobial stewardship program is feasible and can improve antibiotic prescribing practices. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:1137-1143.