Decreasing Bilirubin Serum Tests in Healthy Newborns During Birth Hospitalization.

OBJECTIVES: Substantial variability exists in hyperbilirubinemia screening and monitoring leading to unnecessary total serum bilirubin (TSB) testing in healthy newborns. We aimed to assess the impact of value-care interventions to decrease the monthly TSB testing rate per 100 patient-days among healthy newborns in our Mother-Baby Unit by 30% by June 2022. METHODS: We formed a multidisciplinary team to review the current practice for ordering TSB among housestaff in our Mother-Baby Unit. We identified several themes: variation in clinical practice, fear of hyperbilirubinemia, and desire to act for high-intermediate risk bilirubin levels. The interventions consisted of obtaining faculty buy-in, redesigning the hyperbilirubinemia pathway, educating staff on high value-care, producing an instructional video, and prompting staff to incorporate a bilirubin risk assessment via smart phrases in our electronic health record. The primary outcome was the monthly TSB testing rate per 100 patient-days. Universal predischarge bilirubin screening, length of stay, phototherapy rates, and readmission rates were chosen as balancing measures. RESULTS: The monthly rate of TSB testing was reduced from 51 to 26.3 TSB per 100 patient-days, representing a 48% reduction. This improvement was sustained for 12 months. The percentage of infants with at least 1 TSB measurement during birth hospitalization decreased from 48% to 30%. Predischarge bilirubin screening, length of stay, and readmission rates were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Our quality improvement initiative led to a significant reduction in the monthly TSB testing per 100 patient-days in healthy newborns without evidence of harm.

Physician and Parent Perceptions on Plant-Based Beverages as Substitutes for Cow's Milk: A Single City Survey.

This study assessed physician and parent perceptions regarding plant-based beverage consumption in children. We surveyed 128 physicians and 215 parents of patients at University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital. Among physicians, 52% recommended plant-based beverages, typically soy (33%), for cow's milk allergy (32%). Only 40% of physicians knew the typical protein content of plant-based beverages compared to cow's milk. Most physicians (54%) did not discuss potential health risks of plant-based beverages with patients. Among parents, 48% had children <2 years old, and 22% purchased a plant-based beverage, most commonly almond beverage (39%), due to perceived health benefits (54%). In total, 85% of parents believed that plant-based beverages are nutritionally superior or equivalent to cow's milk. Most parents (52%) depended on physicians for information on plant-based beverages. Overall, less than one third of physicians and parents believed that plant-based beverages should be called milk. There is a lack of knowledge among physicians and parents regarding plant-based beverage use as a dairy substitute in children. Despite parents relying on physicians for health information, physicians are not routinely counseling parents. Removing the label "milk" from plant-based beverages may improve consumer awareness of their nutritional differences and circumvent potential associated health risks in children.

Prevalence of Bloodstream Infections in Children With Short-Bowel Syndrome With a Central Line Presenting to Emergency Department With Fever.

BACKGROUND: Children with short-bowel syndrome (SBS) have significant morbidity and mortality from bloodstream infections (BSIs). We studied the prevalence of BSI in children with SBS and identified possible predictors of BSI. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with SBS who presented to Holtz Children's Hospital from April 1, 2009, to June 30, 2014, with fever or reported fever. Data including vital signs, white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and blood and urine cultures were reviewed. We calculated the prevalence of BSI and its confidence level. We also assessed the odds of BSI with increases in WBC and CRP values. RESULTS: A total of 246 encounters were evaluated. The adjusted calculated prevalence rate for BSI in children with SBS and fever was 55% (95% CI, 42.3%-65.4%). There were 114 gram-negative infections (72.6%), 46 gram-positive infections (29.3%), and 17 fungal infections (10.8%). Using the regression model, each additional 10 units above 20 mg/L CRP increased the odds of BSI by 26%. There was no association between WBC count and the presence of BSI. CONCLUSION: Children with fever and SBS are at high risk for BSI with gram-positive and gram-negative organisms as well as fungus. WBC count at presentation is a poor predictor of BSI. Though elevated CRP increased the odds of BSI, its low negative predictive value made it a poor predictor of BSI in these patients. Children with SBS and fever should be treated urgently with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Inflammation and elevated levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 are independent risk factors for death in chronic kidney disease.

Inflammation is a consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with adverse outcomes in many clinical settings. Inflammation stimulates production of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), high levels of which are independently associated with mortality in CKD. Few large-scale prospective studies have examined inflammation and mortality in patients with CKD, and none tested the interrelationships among inflammation, FGF23, and risk of death. Therefore, we conducted a prospective investigation of 3875 participants in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study with CKD stages 2 to 4 to test the associations of baseline plasma interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and FGF23 levels with all-cause mortality, censoring at the onset of end-stage renal disease. During a median follow-up of 6.9 years, 550 participants died (20.5/1000 person-years) prior to end-stage renal disease. In separate multivariable-adjusted analyses, higher levels of interleukin-6 (hazard ratio per one standard deviation increase of natural log-transformed levels) 1.35 (95% confidence interval, 1.25-1.46), C-reactive protein 1.28 (1.16-1.40), and FGF23 1.45 (1.32-1.60) were each independently associated with increased risk of death. With further adjustment for FGF23, the risks of death associated with interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein were minimally attenuated. Compared to participants in the lowest quartiles of inflammation and FGF23, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio of death among those in the highest quartiles of both biomarkers was 4.38 (2.65-7.23) for interleukin-6 and FGF23, and 5.54 (3.04-10.09) for C-reactive protein and FGF23. Thus, elevated levels of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and FGF23 are independent risk factors for mortality in CKD.

Diuretics, Limited Ultrafiltration, and Residual Renal Function in Incident Hemodialysis Patients: A Case Series.

The effect of diuretics on residual renal function expressed as residual GFR (rGFR) and urine volume (rUV) using 24-hour urine collections has not been well examined in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We present a small (seven patient) but provocative case series describing a strikingly low rate of decline in rUV and rGFR (average of creatinine and urea clearances, 24-hour urine collections) in patients treated with increasing doses of furosemide (up to 360 mg/day) during the first 2 years after initiation of HD. Between 6 and 12 months, the mean rUV fell by 1 ml/month, whereas rGFR declined by 0.03 ml/min/1.73 m(2) /month. The mean rate of decline from 12 to 24 months for rUV (33 ml/month) and rGFR (0.02 ml/min/1.73 m(2) /month) were also low. While data are clearly limited and the observation retrospective, they are consistent with the better documented benefit of diuretics observed in end-stage renal disease patients treated with peritoneal dialysis.

CRIT-LINE: a noninvasive tool to monitor hemoglobin levels in pediatric hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: The national average for achieving the KDOQI-recommended hemoglobin (Hgb) target level of 11-12 g/dL is low with the current anemia management protocol of measuring Hgb levels every 2-4 weeks to guide intervention. The objective of this study was to correlate initial Hgb readings from the CRIT-LINE monitor with actual serum Hgb levels in pediatric patients on hemodialysis (HD). METHODS: Data were collected from pediatric HD patients who had Hgb tests ordered for routine and/or clinical reasons. Hgb concentrations were read with the CRIT-LINE after 0.5 or 1 L of blood had been processed by HD in patients with a body weight of ≤20 or >20 kg, respectively. Ultrafiltration was kept at a minimum until the CRIT-LINE Hgb was read. RESULTS: In total, 217 Hgb readings from 23 HD patients were analyzed. Results showed a statistically significant correlation between CRIT-LINE readings and laboratory Hgb measurements (r = 0.94, p < 0.0001) using Pearson correlation coefficients for well-distributed data. The mean Hgb levels measured by CRIT-LINE and the laboratory were 11.12 ± 1.63 and 11.31 ± 1.69 g/dL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CRIT-LINE monitor is an accurate instrument for monitoring Hgb levels in HD patients. Further studies will be needed to evaluate whether using CRIT-LINE Hgb levels to guide anemia management will improve the percentage of children with Hgb levels within target.

Effect of lowering dialysate sodium concentration on interdialytic weight gain and blood pressure in patients undergoing thrice-weekly in-center nocturnal hemodialysis: a quality improvement study.

BACKGROUND: Patients on in-center nocturnal hemodialysis therapy typically experience higher interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) than patients on conventional hemodialysis therapy. We determined the safety and effects of decreasing dialysate sodium concentration on IDWG and blood pressure in patients on thrice-weekly in-center nocturnal hemodialysis therapy. STUDY DESIGN: Quality improvement, pre-post intervention. SETTINGS & PARTICIPANTS: 15 participants in a single facility. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN: Participants underwent three 12-week treatment phases, each with different dialysate sodium concentrations, as follows: phase A, 140 mEq/L; phase B, 136 or 134 mEq/L; and phase A(+), 140 mEq/L. Participants were blinded to the exact timing of the intervention. OUTCOMES: IDWG, IDWG/dry weight (IDWG%), and blood pressure. MEASUREMENTS: Outcome data were obtained during the last 2 weeks of each phase and compared with mixed models. The fraction of sessions with adverse events (eg, cramping and hypotension) also was reported. RESULTS: IDWG, IDWG%, and predialysis systolic blood pressure decreased significantly by 0.6 ± 0.6 kg, 0.6% ± 0.8%, and 8.3 ± 14.9 mm Hg, respectively, in phase B compared with phase A (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). No differences in predialysis diastolic and mean arterial or postdialysis blood pressures were found (P > 0.05 for all comparisons). The proportion of treatments with intradialytic hypotension was low and similar in each phase (P = 0.9). In phase B compared with phase A, predialysis plasma sodium concentration was unchanged (P > 0.05), whereas postdialysis plasma sodium concentration decreased by 3.7 ± 1.9 mEq/L (P < 0.05). LIMITATIONS: Modest sample size. CONCLUSION: Decreasing dialysate sodium concentrations in patients undergoing thrice-weekly in-center nocturnal hemodialysis resulted in a clinical and statistically significant decrease in IDWG, IDWG%, postdialysis plasma sodium concentration, and predialysis systolic blood pressure without increasing adverse events. Prolonged exposure to higher than required dialysate sodium concentrations may drive IDWG and counteract some of the purported benefits of "go-slow" (longer session length) hemodialysis.