Prevalence and incidence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms among hospitalized inflammatory bowel disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience frequent hospitalizations and use of immunosuppressive medications, which may predispose them to colonization with antimicrobial-resistant organisms (ARO). OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of ARO colonization on admission to hospital and the incidence of infection during hospitalization among hospitalized IBD patients. METHODS: A chart review comparing the prevalence of colonization and incidence of infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL) in hospitalized IBD patients with those of non-IBD controls was performed. RESULTS: On admission, there were no significant differences between IBD inpatients and controls in the prevalence of colonization of methicillin-resistant S aureus (1.0% versus 1.2%; P=0.74), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (0.2% versus 0%; P=1.0) or ESBL (4.1% versus 5.5%; P=0.33). Pooling data from historical clinic-based cohorts, IBD patients were more likely than controls to have ESBL colonization (19% versus 6.6%; P<0.05). Antibiotic use on admission was associated with ESBL colonization among IBD inpatients (OR 4.2 [95% CI 1.4 to 12.6]). The incidence of ARO infections during hospitalization was not significantly different between IBD patients and controls. Among IBD patients who acquired ARO infections during hospitalizations, the mean time interval from admission to infection was shorter for those who were already colonized with ARO on admission. CONCLUSIONS: This particular population of hospitalized IBD patients was not shown to have a higher prevalence or incidence of ARO colonization or infection compared with non-IBD inpatients.

HISTORIQUE: Les patients atteints d'une maladie inflammatoire de l'intestin (MII) sont souvent hospitalisés et prennent souvent des immunosuppresseurs, ce qui peut les prédisposer à des organismes résistants aux antimicrobiens (ORA). OBJECTIF: Déterminer la prévalence de colonisation par des ORA à l'admission à l'hôpital ainsi que l'incidence d'infection pendant l'hospitalisation de patients atteints d'une MII. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Les chercheurs ont procédé à l'analyse des dossiers comparant la prévalence de colonisation et d'incidence d'infection par le Staphylococcus aureus résistant à la méthicilline (SARM), les entérocoques résistant à la vancomycine (EVM) et les entérobactériacées productrices de bêta-lactamase à spectre étendu (BLSE) des patients hospitalisés atteints d'une MII à celle de sujets témoins n'ayant pas de MII. RÉSULTATS: À l'admission, les chercheurs n'ont pas constaté de dif-férences significatives entre les patients hospitalisés atteints d'une MII et les sujets témoins pour ce qui est de la prévalence de colonisation par le SARM (1,0 % par rapport à 1,2 %; P=0,74), les EVM (0,2 % par rapport à 0 %; P=1,0) ou les BLSE (4,1 % par rapport à 5,5 %; P=0,33). Selon les données regroupées de cohortes cliniques rétrospectives, les patients atteints d'une MII étaient plus susceptibles que les sujets témoins d'être colonisés par des BLSE (19 % par rapport à 6,6 %; P<0,05). L'utilisation d'antibiotiques à l'admission s'associait à une colonisation par les BLSE chez les patients atteints d'une MII (RRR 4,2 [95 % IC1,4 à 12,6]). L'incidence d'infections par des ORA pendant l'hospitalisation n'était pas significativement différente entre les patients atteints d'une MII et les sujets témoins. Chez les patients atteints d'une MII qui avaient contracté une infection par des ORA pendant l'hospitalisation, l'intervalle moyen entre l'admission et l'infection était plus court pour ceux qui étaient déjà colonisés par des ORA à l'admission. CONCLUSIONS: Cette population de patients hospitalisés atteints d'une MII ne présentait pas de prévalence ou d'incidence plus élevée de colonisation par des ORA que les patients n'ayant pas de MII.

Endoscopic management and outcomes of pregnant women hospitalized for nonvariceal upper GI bleeding: a nationwide analysis.

BACKGROUND: Upper GI endoscopy has an important diagnostic and therapeutic role in the management of nonvariceal upper GI bleeding (NVUGB). OBJECTIVE: To characterize nationwide patterns of utilization of upper GI endoscopy in pregnant women with NVUGB and to assess health outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Participating hospitals from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1998-2007. PATIENTS: Pregnant and age-matched nonpregnant women admitted for NVUGB. INTERVENTION: The study population was classified as pregnant women with NVUGB (n = 1210) and nonpregnant women with NVUGB (n = 6050). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Rate of upper GI endoscopy, maternal mortality, fetal death/complications, and premature delivery. RESULTS: Pregnant women were less likely than nonpregnant women to undergo upper GI endoscopy (26% vs 69%; P < .0001) even after adjustment for comorbidities, transfusion requirement, and the presence of hypovolemic shock (adjusted odds ratio, 0.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.22). Among those who underwent endoscopy, pregnant women were less likely to undergo the procedure within 24 hours of admission (50% vs 57%; P = .02). Mortality was lower among pregnant women compared with nonpregnant women (0% vs 0.6%; P = .006). In comparing outcomes between those who did and did not undergo endoscopy, there was no difference in fetal loss (0.2% vs 0.6%), fetal distress/complications (2.7% vs 2.6%), or premature delivery (7.3% vs 6.4%). LIMITATIONS: The study was based on administrative data. CONCLUSION: A conservative nonendoscopic approach is common in the management of pregnant women with NVUGB and is not associated with worse maternal or fetal outcomes. Upper GI endoscopy is, however, safe when judiciously implemented in the actively bleeding patient.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Training During Adult Gastroenterology Residency: A National Survey of Canadian Program Directors and Trainees.

BACKGROUND: Clinical training in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a mandated component of adult gastroenterology fellowship. This study aims to assess methods of instruction in IBD and identify priorities and gaps in IBD clinical training among residents and program directors (PDs). METHODS: Using both an online and in-person platform, we administered a 15-question PD survey and 19-question trainee survey that assessed the methods of IBD teaching and trainee perceptions of knowledge transfer of 22 IBD topics. The survey was previously developed and administered to US gastroenterology trainees and PDs. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 9 of 14 (62.3%) PDs and 44 of 62 (71%) trainees. Both trainee years were equally represented (22 residents in each year of training). All respondents were based at university teaching hospitals with full-time IBD faculty on staff. Dedicated IBD rotations were not offered by more than half of training programs, and IBD exposure was most commonly encountered during inpatient rotations. Overall, only 14 (31.2%) trainees were fully satisfied with the level of IBD exposure during their training. Thirty-six (81.8%) trainees reported being comfortable with inpatient IBD management, whereas only 23 (52.3%) trainees reported being comfortable with outpatient IBD management. There was strong concordance between the proportion of PDs ranking an IBD topic as essential and trainee comfort in that area (Pearson's rho 0.59; P=0.004). Fewer than half of trainees reported comfort in 11 of 22 (50%) proposed IBD topics. Identified areas of deficiency included phenotypic and endoscopic classification of IBD, inpatient management of severe active IBD, perianal disease management, monitoring biologic therapy and extra-intestinal manifestations of IBD. CONCLUSIONS: Only one-third of Canadian gastroenterology trainees are fully satisfied with the level of IBD exposure under the current training model. Furthermore, several IBD topics appear to be inadequately covered during training. Our findings, which are similar to previously published US data, highlight the need for additional focus on IBD during gastroenterology residency.

Frequency and Variables Associated with Fasting Orders in Inpatients with Ulcerative Colitis: The Audit of Diet Orders-Ulcerative Colitis (ADORE-UC) Study.

INTRODUCTION: Current clinical practice guidelines suggest that patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) hospitalized because of a disease flare should be offered a normal diet, unless such a diet is not tolerated. Studies of hospitalized patients have demonstrated iatrogenic malnutrition from unjustified or inappropriate nil per os (NPO) or clear liquid diet (CLD) orders. In this study, we aim to characterize the burden of this problem in hospitalized patients with UC. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients with UC admitted to the gastroenterology service or the general internal medicine service at a tertiary, academic hospital between January 2009 and December 2014, with a length of stay between 2 and 30 days. The frequency and duration of bowel rest and CLD orders was recorded, and the number of meals missed because of these orders was assessed. NPO or CLD diet orders were considered justified if the patient had intractable nausea or vomiting, pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, toxic megacolon or were awaiting endoscopy, or if alternative enteral nutrition was provided. Clinical and demographic factors associated with unjustified underfeeding were identified. RESULTS: A total of 187 admissions among 158 patients with UC were identified during the study period and included in the final analysis. Most admissions were to the gastroenterology service (148/187, 79.1%). The mean age at admission was 35.0 years (SD = 15), and 83/158 (52.5%) were female. The median length of stay was 8 days (interquartile range = 4-12). Registered dietician consultation was obtained in only 32 admissions (17.1%), and admission weight was recorded in only 68 (36.4%) admissions. A total of 252 NPO or CLD dietary orders were encountered in 142 admissions (75.9%). Of those, 112 orders were unjustified (44%). On average, patients with unjustified NPO or CLD orders spent 3 days on an NPO or CLD diet, which corresponded to a mean of 10 missed meals. Characteristics associated with unnecessary fasting included female gender, less frequent endoscopic disease staging, less frequent escalation of therapy to prednisone and/or biologics, and admission to a non-gastroenterology service. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high burden of unjustified underfeeding among hospitalized patients with UC, particularly in patients admitted without evidence of objective disease flare. This may lead to nutritional compromise in an at-risk population, and further studies are needed to assess the nutritional impact of unjustified bowel rest on patients with UC. Our findings also suggest that targeted quality improvement interventions are needed to decrease the frequency of inappropriate bowel rest among hospitalized patients with UC.

Chronic postsurgical pain and persistent opioid use following surgery: the need for a transitional pain service.

AIM: To identify the 3-month incidence of chronic postsurgical pain and long-term opioid use in patients at the Toronto General Hospital. METHODS: 200 consecutive patients presenting for elective major surgery completed standardized questionnaires by telephone at 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: 51 patients reported a preoperative chronic pain condition, with 12 taking opioids preoperatively. 3 months after surgery 35% of patients reported having surgical site pain and 13.5% continued to use opioids for postsurgical pain relief. Postoperative opioid use was associated with interference with walking and work, and lower mood. CONCLUSION: Chronic postsurgical pain and ongoing opioid use are concerns that warrant the implementation of a Transitional Pain Service to modify the pain trajectories and enable effective opioid weaning following major surgery.