Advance Care Planning in Huntington Disease: The Elderly Care Physician's Perspective.

OBJECTIVE: Huntington disease (HD) has a poor prognosis. Decision-making capacity and communication ability may become impaired as the disease progresses. Therefore, HD patients are encouraged to engage in advance care planning (ACP). Elderly care physicians (ECPs) can play an important role in ACP in HD patients. However, little is known about their experiences in this role. The aim of this study is to gain insight into how ECPs practice ACP with HD patients. DESIGN: A qualitative interview study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Nine ECPs working in HD-specialized nursing homes in the Netherlands. METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews with ECPs between June 2018 and July 2020. RESULTS: Two phases could be identified in the process of ACP. In the first phase, when the feared future seems to be far away, the ECP asks about the patient's wishes for the future in an accommodating manner. In the second phase, when the feared future is closer, future medical treatment and care becomes less hypothetical. Agreement has to be reached on upcoming treatment decisions. In this phase, the ECP takes a more guiding role, and consequently encounters more difficulties, such as maintaining a positive patient/family-physician relationship while dealing with disagreements with patient or family. Most participants shared their experiences with euthanasia when asked about ACP. When making a comparison of ACP between HD patients and patients with other neurodegenerative disorders in nursing homes, the ECPs emphasized the similarities. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: ACP in HD can be classified into 2 phases, which differ in ECPs' approach and the complexity experienced by the ECP. Awareness of this finding may help to further develop training and education in ACP, including dealing with euthanasia, to make ECPs feel better equipped in practicing ACP in HD.

Nursing home residents with Huntington's disease: Heterogeneity in characteristics and functioning.

BACKGROUND: In Huntington's disease (HD), admission to a nursing home (NH) is required in advanced disease stages. To gain insight in care needs, more knowledge is needed on the functioning of this group. OBJECTIVE: Describing patient and disease characteristics, their functioning, and gender differences. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to collect data of 173 patients living in eight Dutch HD-specialized NHs. Data were collected on characteristics and functioning. We tested for gender differences. RESULTS: Mean age was 58.3 years and 49.7% were men. Activities of daily living and cognition varied from 46 to 49% mildly impaired to 22-23% severely impaired. Communication was severely impaired in 24%. Social functioning was low in 31% and high in 34%. A majority of patients used psychotropic medications (80.3%) and showed neuropsychiatric signs (74%). Women were on average more dependent in ADL (severely impaired 33.3% vs 12.8%), more often depressed (26.4% vs 11.6%), and prescribed antidepressant medications more often (64.4% vs 48.8%) than men. CONCLUSIONS: The population of HD patients in NHs is heterogeneous in terms of patient and disease characteristics, and functioning. As a consequence, care needs are complex leading to implications for the required expertise of staff to provide adequate care and treatment.

Prevalences and Indications of Psychotropic Drug Prescriptions in Nursing Home Residents with Korsakoff Syndrome.

Psychotropic drugs (PD) are often prescribed to nursing home residents with Korsakoff syndrome (KS). It is unknown whether these drugs are prescribed correctly or whether they are prescribed off-label, for example, to treat behavioral symptoms. To get more insight into PD prescriptions, a descriptive study was performed. The type, category and indications of PD prescriptions of 285 participants were analyzed using medication charts and questionnaires. Behavioral symptoms were investigated with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire. The results showed that atypical antipsychotics (57.1%) were prescribed more frequently than typical antipsychotics (49.3%). Of the antidepressants, selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (63.1%) were most frequently prescribed, followed by tricyclic antidepressants (23.4%). Of the benzodiazepines, anxiolytics (85.7%) were more prescribed than hypnotics (24.5%). Besides psychiatric disorders, PD were also prescribed to treat behavioral symptoms varying from 29.9% (antipsycho-tics) to 26.3% (benzodiazepines) and 9.3% (antidepressants). Furthermore, prescriptions were high if behavioral symptoms were present. To conclude, PD are often prescribed to residents with KS for an unapproved indication, namely behavioral symptoms. Additional research is needed to obtain further insight into the current prescribing culture and the effectiveness of PD. The insights thus obtained may, ultimately, contribute to the appropriate prescription of PD for people with KS.

Impaired Awareness in People with Severe Alcohol-Related Cognitive Deficits Including Korskoff's Syndrome: A Network Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Impaired awareness of one's own functioning is highly common in people with Korsakoff's syndrome (KS). However, it is currently unclear how awareness relates to impairments in daily functioning and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: We assessed how impaired awareness relates to cognitive, behavioral, physical, and social functioning and QoL by applying a network analysis. We used cross-sectional data from 215 patients with KS or other severe alcohol-related cognitive deficits living in Dutch long-term care facilities (LTCFs). RESULTS: Apathy has the most central position in the network. Higher apathy scores relate positively to reduced cognition and to a greater decline in activities of daily living and negatively to social participation and the use of antipsychotic drugs. Impaired awareness is also a central node. It is positively related to a higher perceived QoL, reduced cognition and apathy, and negatively to social participation and length of stay in the LTCF. Mediated through apathy and social participation, impaired awareness is indirectly related to other neuropsychiatric symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired awareness is closely related to other domains of daily functioning and QoL of people with KS or other severe alcohol-related cognitive deficits living in LTCFs. Apathy plays a central role. Network analysis offers interesting insights to evaluate the interconnection of different symptoms and impairments in brain disorders such as KS.

Patient perspectives on advance euthanasia directives in Huntington's disease. A qualitative interview study.

BACKGROUND: Huntington's disease (HD) has a poor prognosis. For HD patients in the Netherlands, one way of dealing with their poor prognosis is by drawing up an advance euthanasia directive (AED). Little is known about the perspectives of HD patients on their AED. AIM: To gain insight into patients' views on and attitudes towards their AED, and changes over time. METHODS: A longitudinal qualitative interview study using 1 to 6 semi-structured interviews over a period of maximum three years. Nine HD patients (5 outpatient clinic, 3 day care, 1 assisted living facility) who either had an AED or were thinking about drawing it up participated in this study. RESULTS: We identified two themes that characterize patients' perspectives on their AEDs: (1) general character of the AED; (2) uncertainty around their AED. Ad (1) The conditions that the participants described in their AED were generally not very specific for the person. Mostly they were general notions of unbearable suffering. Familiarity with HD in the family could play a role in drawing up an AED. Ad (2) Participants generally were aware of the tentative character of their AED and could have doubts concerning their own willingness or the willingness of others in the future. Sometimes these doubts were so great, that it prevented them from drawing up an AED. However, patients did not alter their AED during the follow-up period or changed in their view or attitude on their AED. CONCLUSION: HD patients that draw up an AED usually describe general conditions for euthanasia and recognize that these conditions may change as the disease progresses. An AED or the wish to draw one up may be a good conversation starter for conversations about goals and preferences for future care.

Gaining insight into the views of outpatients with Huntington's disease regarding their future and the way they deal with their poor prognosis: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Huntington's disease (HD) has a poor prognosis. Decision-making capacity and communication ability may become lost as the disease progresses. Therefore, HD patients are encouraged to engage in advance care planning (ACP). To improve ACP for HD patients, there is a need to better understand how these patients face their poor prognosis. AIM: To gain insight into the views of HD patients who receive outpatient care regarding their future and the way they deal with the poor prognosis of their disease. METHODS: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 12 patients with HD (7 outpatient clinic, 3 day care, 2 assisted living facility). Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim. Through reading and re-reading interviews, writing memos and discussions in the research team, strategies were identified. RESULTS: Three strategies emerged for facing a future with HD. Participants saw the future: 1) as a period that you have to prepare for; 2) as a period that you would rather not think about; 3) as a period that you do not have to worry about yet. Participants could adopt more than one strategy at a time. Even though participants realized that they would deteriorate and would need more care in the future, they tried to keep this knowledge 'at a distance', with the motivation of keeping daily life as manageable as possible. CONCLUSIONS: Official ACP guidelines recommend discussing goals and preferences for future treatment and care, but patients tend to want to live in the present. Further research is needed to elucidate the best approach to deal with this discrepancy.

Caregivers' perspectives on good care for nursing home residents with Korsakoff syndrome.

BACKGROUND: In the Netherlands, people with severe cognitive deficits due to Korsakoff syndrome are generally admitted to a specialized nursing home. Professional caregivers experience that these residents are often not aware of their deficits, and consequently, their willingness to accept care is relatively low. However, these residents need permanent support when performing daily tasks due to severe cognitive deficits. The combination of objective care needs and low subjective responsiveness makes caring for people with Korsakoff syndrome a complex undertaking. It is unknown how professional caregivers deal with this complex task and how they manage the associated ethical challenges. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the professional caregivers' perspectives on good care for residents with Korsakoff syndrome. METHODS: A qualitative study design was used. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews. The Framework Method was used for the thematic analyses of the interview data. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: Five specialized nursing homes participated in this study. Twelve professional caregivers, including nurses, nursing assistants, and support workers, were selected based on the ability to provide rich information on the study topics and to capture a variety of demographic and professional characteristics. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The institutional review board of the VU University Medical Center Amsterdam approved the research protocol. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. FINDINGS: Three perspectives on good care emerged: (1) making daily life a joint effort, (2) being steadfast, and (3) treating with respect. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Professional caregivers try to achieve responsiveness in people with Korsakoff syndrome in three different ways. These perspectives reflect fundamentally different views on the care relationship and the autonomy of the resident. By elucidating the three perspectives, we hope to promote the practitioners' reflection on their own ideas about good care for people with Korsakoff syndrome.

Antibiotic prescribing and non-prescribing in nursing home residents with signs and symptoms ascribed to urinary tract infection (ANNA): study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic overprescribing for suspected urinary tract infection (UTI) in nursing homes (NHs) is common. Typical clinical scenarios in which antibiotics are inappropriately prescribed include response to nonspecific signs and symptoms and/or a positive urine test in the absence of symptoms referable to the urinary tract. These and other scenarios for inappropriate antibiotic prescribing were addressed in a recent international Delphi study which resulted in the development of a decision tool for the empiric treatment of UTI in frail older adults. The aim of the current study is to implement this decision tool, by integrating it into the electronic health record (EHR) and providing education on its content and use, and to evaluate its effect on appropriate antibiotic prescribing. An additional aim is to evaluate the quality of the intervention and the implementation process. METHODS: A cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (cRCT) is conducted in sixteen NHs and aims to include 897 residents diagnosed with suspected UTI. NHs in the intervention group use the EHR-integrated decision tool, and receive education for physicians and nursing staff; in the control group care as usual is provided. Data is collected through case report forms within the EHR at the day of diagnosis and at 3, 7, and 21 days thereafter. The primary outcome is appropriate antibiotic prescribing for suspected UTI at the day of diagnosis. Secondary outcomes include the course of symptoms, alternative diagnoses, treatment changes, complications, hospitalization, and mortality. Data on total antibiotic prescribing are additionally collected in the participating NHs 12 months before and during the study. Finally, the process evaluation combines cRCT data with questionnaires and qualitative interviews with NH professionals. DISCUSSION: This is the first cRCT to evaluate the recently developed, international decision tool for empiric treatment of suspected UTI in NH residents. Study findings will elucidate the effect of the intervention on appropriate antibiotic prescribing for suspected UTI, and provide insight into the applicability of the decision tool in NHs in general and in specific subgroups of NH residents. With this study we aim to contribute to antibiotic stewardship efforts in long-term care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The ANNA study was registered at the Netherlands Trial Register on 26 February 2019, with identification number NTR NL7555 .

Using point-of-care C-reactive protein to guide antibiotic prescribing for lower respiratory tract infections in elderly nursing home residents (UPCARE): study design of a cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are over-prescribed for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in nursing home residents due to diagnostic uncertainty. Inappropriate antibiotic use is undesirable both on patient level, considering their exposure to side effects and drug interactions, and on societal level, given the development of antibiotic resistance. C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care testing (POCT) may be a promising diagnostic tool to reduce antibiotic prescribing for LRTI in nursing homes. The UPCARE study will evaluate whether the use of CRP POCT for suspected LRTI is (cost-) effective in reducing antibiotic prescribing in the nursing home setting. METHODS/DESIGN: A cluster randomized controlled trial will be conducted in eleven nursing homes in the Netherlands, with the nursing home as the unit of randomization. Residents with suspected LRTI who reside at a psychogeriatric, somatic, or geriatric rehabilitation ward are eligible for study participation. Nursing homes in the intervention group will provide care as usual with the possibility to use CRP POCT, and the control group will provide care as usual without CRP POCT for residents with (suspected) LRTI. Data will be collected from September 2018 for approximately 1.5 year, using case report forms that are integrated in the electronic patient record system. The primary study outcome is antibiotic prescribing for suspected LRTI at index consultation (yes/no). DISCUSSION: This is the first randomised trial to evaluate the effect of nursing home access to and training in the use of CRP POCT on antibiotic prescribing for LRTI, yielding high-level evidence and contributing to antibiotic stewardship in the nursing home setting. The relatively broad inclusion criteria and the pragmatic study design add to the applicability and generalizability of the study results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register, Trial NL5054. Registered 29 August 2018.

Awareness and its relationships with neuropsychiatric symptoms in people with Korsakoff syndrome or other alcohol-related cognitive disorders living in specialized nursing homes.

OBJECTIVES: Impaired awareness of functional deficits is often observed in people with Korsakoff syndrome (KS) and may result in refusal of care, although this area has been understudied. This study aimed to investigate levels of impaired awareness and their relationships with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in people with KS residing in specialized nursing homes. METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted among 215 residents with KS or other alcohol-related cognitive disorders. Awareness was measured with the Patient Competency Rating Scale (PCRS). NPS and subsyndromes were measured with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q). Adjusted multilevel regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between the level of awareness and NPS. RESULTS: The mean level of impaired awareness was 39.3 (SD = 19.9) indicating moderate impairment. Twenty-nine percent of the residents had no or mildly impaired awareness; 37% were moderately impaired, and 34% were severely impaired. Residents with moderately impaired awareness showed more severe apathy than residents with no or mildly impaired awareness (difference 1.23; 95% CI 1.02-1.48; p = 0.03). No associations were found between the level of awareness and other NPI outcomes. Cognitive functioning seems to have the strongest impact on the association between level of awareness and NPS in KS residents. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired awareness of functional deficits is highly common in KS residents; however, apart from apathy, is not significantly related with NPS. Additional research should further examine, which interventions are effective in dealing with impaired awareness in these people, particularly when apathy is present.

The Development of a Decision Tool for the Empiric Treatment of Suspected Urinary Tract Infection in Frail Older Adults: A Delphi Consensus Procedure.

OBJECTIVES: Nonspecific signs and symptoms combined with positive urinalysis results frequently trigger antibiotic therapy in frail older adults. However, there is limited evidence about which signs and symptoms indicate urinary tract infection (UTI) in this population. We aimed to find consensus among an international expert panel on which signs and symptoms, commonly attributed to UTI, should and should not lead to antibiotic prescribing in frail older adults, and to integrate these findings into a decision tool for the empiric treatment of suspected UTI in this population. DESIGN: A Delphi consensus procedure. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: An international panel of practitioners recognized as experts in the field of UTI in frail older patients. MEASURES: In 4 questionnaire rounds, the panel (1) evaluated the likelihood that individual signs and symptoms are caused by UTI, (2) indicated whether they would prescribe antibiotics empirically for combinations of signs and symptoms, and (3) provided feedback on a draft decision tool. RESULTS: Experts agreed that the majority of nonspecific signs and symptoms should be evaluated for other causes instead of being attributed to UTI and that urinalysis should not influence treatment decisions unless both nitrite and leukocyte esterase are negative. These and other findings were incorporated into a decision tool for the empiric treatment for suspected UTI in frail older adults with and without an indwelling urinary catheter. CONCLUSIONS: A decision tool for suspected UTI in frail older adults was developed based on consensus among an international expert panel. Studies are needed to evaluate whether this decision tool is effective in reaching its aim: the improvement of diagnostic evaluation and treatment for suspected UTI in frail older adults.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in People With Korsakoff Syndrome and Other Alcohol-Related Cognitive Disorders Living in Specialized Long-Term Care Facilities: Prevalence, Severity, and Associated Caregiver Distress.

OBJECTIVES: Caring for people with Korsakoff syndrome (KS) residing in specialized long-term care facilities (LTCFs) can be distressing because of challenging neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS). However, good-quality studies on NPS in this under-researched population are lacking. This study examined the prevalence and severity of NPS in people with KS living in specialized LTCFs and the associated caregiver distress. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study. Data were obtained using structured interviews with care staff, elderly care physicians, and residents. SETTING: Nine specialized LTCFs in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: KS residents admitted for at least 3 months. MEASUREMENTS: The prevalence and severity of NPS were measured with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q). The associated caregiver distress was assessed with the NPI Distress Scale (NPI-D) according to the nurse or nurse assistant. RESULTS: Almost all of the 281 residents (96.4%) showed at least 1 NPS and 45.8% showed 5 or more symptoms. Irritability/lability (68.3%), agitation/aggression (58.7%), and disinhibition (52.7%) were most prevalent. Although the mean level of severity for all NPS was relatively low, half of the residents (49.1%) had at least 1 severe NPS. Care staff experienced low levels of distress associated with NPS. CONCLUSION: NPS are highly prevalent in KS residents. Unexpectedly, these did not have any severe impact on residents and care staff. Acquiring more insight into the persistence and course of NPS, and its associations, among KS residents is important to better understand and reduce these symptoms and, ultimately, improve the quality of care for these residents.

Prevalence and severity of behavioural symptoms in patients with Korsakoff syndrome and other alcohol-related cognitive disorders: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Experiences from clinical practice suggest that behavioural symptoms in patients with Korsakoff syndrome (KS) are a frequent problem. Knowledge about behavioural symptoms is important in understanding and managing these symptoms. The aim of this study is to review the prevalence and severity of behavioural symptoms in KS. METHODS: Relevant articles were identified by searching Medline (PubMed), PsycINFO, Embase and CINAHL up to 4 June 2014. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, extracted their baseline data and assessed methodological quality using a standardized checklist. RESULTS: Fifteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A diversity of diagnoses was used indicating that KS and other alcohol-related cognitive disorders and terms were used interchangeably. None of the studies were primarily designed to estimate the prevalence or severity of behavioural symptoms in patients with KS. Most studies had serious methodological limitations. The reported prevalence estimates of behavioural symptoms in the included studies varied strongly. Most prevalent were depressive symptoms and disorders (2-50%, median 27%) and agitation and aggression (10-54%, median 27%). None of the reported, mean severity estimates met pathological thresholds. The highest severity estimates were found for apathy. CONCLUSIONS: Good quality studies on behavioural symptoms in patients with KS are lacking. Observational research designed to provide reliable estimates of the prevalence and severity of behavioural symptoms in patients with KS is needed. This could improve understanding and managing these symptoms and help care staff to better support the needs of this specific patient group. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of tailored antibiotic stewardship programmes on the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in nursing homes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of tailored interventions on the appropriateness of decisions to prescribe or withhold antibiotics, antibiotic use and guideline-adherent antibiotic selection in nursing homes (NHs). METHODS: We conducted a quasi-experimental study in 10 NHs in the Netherlands. A participatory action research (PAR) approach was applied, with local stakeholders in charge of selecting tailored interventions based on opportunities for improved antibiotic prescribing that they derived from provided baseline data. An algorithm was used to evaluate the appropriateness of prescribing decisions, based on infections recorded by physicians. Effects of the interventions on the appropriateness of prescribing decisions were analysed with a multilevel logistic regression model. Pharmacy data were used to calculate differences in antibiotic use and recorded infections were used to calculate differences in guideline-adherent antibiotic selection. RESULTS: The appropriateness of 1059 prescribing decisions was assessed. Adjusting for pre-test differences in the proportion of appropriate prescribing decisions (intervention, 82%; control, 70%), post-test appropriateness did not differ between groups (crude: P = 0.26; adjusted for covariates: P = 0.35). We observed more appropriate prescribing decisions at the start of data collection and before receiving feedback on prescribing behaviour. No changes in antibiotic use or guideline-adherent antibiotic selection were observed in intervention NHs. CONCLUSIONS: The PAR approach, or the way PAR was applied in the study, was not effective in improving antibiotic prescribing behaviour. The study findings suggest that drawing prescribers' attention to prescribing behaviour and monitoring activities, and increasing use of diagnostic resources may be promising interventions to improve antibiotic prescribing in NHs.

Antibiotic prescribing in Dutch nursing homes: how appropriate is it?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the appropriateness of decisions to prescribe or withhold antibiotics for nursing home (NH) residents with infections of the urinary tract (UTI), respiratory tract (RTI), and skin (SI). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Ten NHs in the central-west region of the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Physicians providing medical care to NH residents. MEASUREMENTS: Physicians completed a registration form for any suspected infection over an 8-month period, including patient characteristics, signs and symptoms, and treatment decisions. An algorithm, developed by an expert panel and based on national and international guidelines, was used to evaluate treatment decisions for appropriateness of initiating or withholding antibiotics. RESULTS: Appropriateness of 598 treatment decisions was assessed. Overall, 76% were appropriate, with cases that were prescribed antibiotics judged less frequently "appropriate" (74%) compared with cases in which antibiotics were withheld (90%) (P = .003). Decisions around UTI were least often appropriate (68%, compared with 87% for RTI and 94% for SI [P < .001]). The most common situations in which antibiotic prescribing was considered inappropriate were those indicative of asymptomatic bacteriuria or viral RTI. CONCLUSION: Although the rate of appropriate antibiotic prescribing in Dutch NHs is relatively high compared with previous studies in other countries, our results suggest that antibiotic consumption can be reduced by improving appropriateness of treatment decisions, especially for UTI. Given the current antibiotic resistance developments in long-term care facilities, interventions reducing antibiotic use for asymptomatic bacteriuria and viral RTI are warranted.

Factors influencing antibiotic prescribing in long-term care facilities: a qualitative in-depth study.

BACKGROUND: Insight into factors that influence antibiotic prescribing is crucial when developing interventions aimed at a more rational use of antibiotics. We examined factors that influence antibiotic prescribing in long-term care facilities, and present a conceptual model that integrates these factors. METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with physicians (n = 13) and nursing staff (n = 13) in five nursing homes and two residential care homes in the central-west region of the Netherlands. An iterative analysis was applied to interviews with physicians to identify and categorize factors that influence antibiotic prescribing, and to integrate these into a conceptual model. This conceptual model was triangulated with the perspectives of nursing staff. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in the identification of six categories of factors that can influence the antibiotic prescribing decision: the clinical situation, advance care plans, utilization of diagnostic resources, physicians' perceived risks, influence of others, and influence of the environment. Each category comprises several factors that may influence the decision to prescribe or not prescribe antibiotics directly (e.g. pressure of patients' family leading to antibiotic prescribing) or indirectly via influence on other factors (e.g. unfamiliarity with patients resulting in a higher physician perceived risk of non-treatment, in turn resulting in a higher tendency to prescribe antibiotics). CONCLUSIONS: Our interview study shows that several non-rational factors may affect antibiotic prescribing decision making in long-term care facilities, suggesting opportunities to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use. We developed a conceptual model that integrates the identified categories of influencing factors and shows the relationships between those categories. This model may be used as a practical tool in long-term care facilities to identify local factors potentially leading to inappropriate prescribing, and to subsequently intervene at the level of those factors to promote appropriate antibiotic prescribing.

Antibiotic use and resistance in long term care facilities.

INTRODUCTION: The common occurrence of infectious diseases in nursing homes and residential care facilities may result in substantial antibiotic use, and consequently antibiotic resistance. Focusing on these settings, this article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature available on antibiotic use, antibiotic resistance, and strategies to reduce antibiotic resistance. METHODS: Relevant literature was identified by conducting a systematic search in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Additional articles were identified by reviewing the reference lists of included articles, by searching Google Scholar, and by searching Web sites of relevant organizations. RESULTS: A total of 156 articles were included in the review. Antibiotic use in long term care facilities is common; reported annual prevalence rates range from 47% to 79%. Part of the prescribed antibiotics is potentially inappropriate. The occurrence of antibiotic resistance is substantial in the long term care setting. Risk factors for the acquisition of resistant pathogens include prior antibiotic use, the presence of invasive devices, such as urinary catheters and feeding tubes, lower functional status, and a variety of other resident- and facility-related factors. Infection with antibiotic-resistant pathogens is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Two general strategies to reduce antibiotic resistance in long term care facilities are the implementation of infection control measures and antibiotic stewardship. CONCLUSION: The findings of this review call for the conduction of research and the development of policies directed at reducing antibiotic resistance and its subsequent burden for long term care facilities and their residents.

Coordinated multidisciplinary care for ambulatory Huntington's disease patients. Evaluation of 18 months of implementation.

BACKGROUND: A multidisciplinary outpatient department was set up in the northern part of the Netherlands because of a local lack of adequate treatment and care for Huntington's disease (HD)patients. Outreaching multidisciplinary care is a novel way to optimise functioning and quality of life of HD patients. The vast majority of patients want to stay home as long as possible. Huntington's disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder leading to complete disability and long term residence in a specialised institution. In this paper we outline this new type of treatment and give the results of 1.5 year, we also present the results of an inquiry on the appreciation of the working method. METHODS: In the first project half (1.5 yr) 28 patients were seen as had been anticipated. The multidisciplinary team consisting of an institutional physician, a psychologist, a speech and language therapist, a social worker, an occupational therapist and a case manager, assesses the stage of the disease and formulates, coordinates and implements the individual care and treatment plan in the home situation. After 1.5 year a questionnaire on the appreciation of the department was sent to patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, the lay organisation and Dutch "experts in the field". RESULTS: For the 28 HD patients a total of 242 problems and actions were verbalised in the care plan, which was accepted by the majority of the patients. Especially informal caregivers, the lay organisation and the Dutch "experts in the field" were enthusiastic on the outreaching and multidisciplinary nature of the department. The verdict over the continuance of the clinic was positive and unanimous. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that coordinating outreaching multidisciplinary care from an outpatient clinic into the dwelling place of the patient is feasible and appreciated.

Coordinated multidisciplinary care for Huntington's disease. An outpatient department.

Huntington's disease is characterised by a complex set of motor, neuropsychologic and psychiatric symptoms which start slowly and progress over many years to a state of complete dependency. The symptomatic treatment during the ambulatory years is divers. In the northern part of the Netherlands coordinated multidisciplinary care is offered to patients diagnosed with Huntington's disease. A team of a neurologist, psychologist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, social worker and nursing home doctor monitors the patient and companion on a half-year basis and provide them with a plan of care. A case manager coordinates the plan of care in the dwelling place of the patient. In this article this type of care is outlined and illustrated with case histories.