Azar, Marwan M.

Abstract Objective: To better understand clinicians’ rationale for ordering testing for C. difficile infection (CDI) for patients receiving laxatives and the impact of the implementation of a clinical decision support (CDS) intervention. Design: A mixed-methods, case series was performed from March 2, 2017 to December 31, 2018. Setting: Yale New Haven Hospital, a 1,541 bed tertiary academic medical center. Participants: Hospitalized patients ≥ 18 years old, and clinicians who were alerted by the CDS. Intervention: CDS was triggered in real-time when a clinician sought to order testing for CDI for a patient who received one or more doses of laxatives within the preceding 24 hours. Results: A total of 3,376 CDS alerts were triggered during the 21-month study period from 2,567 unique clinician interactions. Clinicians bypassed the CDS alert 74.5% of the time, more frequent among residents (48.3% bypass vs. 39.9% accept) and advanced practice providers (APPs) (34.9% bypass vs. 30.6% accept) than attendings (11.3% bypass vs. 22.5% accept). Ordering clinicians noted increased stool frequency/output (48%), current antibiotic exposure (34%), and instructions by an attending physician to test (28%) were among the most common reasons for overriding the alert and proceeding with testing for CDI. Conclusions: Testing for CDI despite patient laxative use was associated with an increased clinician concern for CDI, patient risk for CDI, and attending physician instruction for testing. Attendings frequently accepted CDS guidance while residents and APPs often reinstated CDI test orders, suggesting a need for greater empowerment and discretion when ordering tests.

Abstract The Infectious Diseases Society of America Training Program Directors Committee met in October 2022 and discussed an observed increase in clinical volume and acuity on infectious diseases (ID) services, and its impact on fellow education. Committee members sought to develop specific goals and strategies related to improving training program culture, preserving quality education on inpatient consult services and in the clinic, and negotiating change at the annual IDWeek Training Program Director meeting. This paper outlines a presentation of ideas brought forth at the meeting and is meant to serve as a reference document for infectious diseases training program directors seeking guidance in this area.

Abstract The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has set clear priorities in recent years to promote inclusion, diversity, access, and equity (IDA&E) in infectious disease (ID) clinical practice, medical education, and research. The IDSA IDA&E Task Force was launched in 2018 to ensure implementation of these principles. The IDSA Training Program Directors Committee met in 2021 and discussed IDA&E best practices as they pertain to the education of ID fellows. Committee members sought to develop specific goals and strategies related to recruitment, clinical training, didactics, and faculty development. This article represents a presentation of ideas brought forth at the meeting in those spheres and is meant to serve as a reference document for ID training program directors seeking guidance in this area.

Abstract The field of transplant infectious diseases is rapidly evolving, presenting a challenge for clinical practice and trainee education. Here we describe the construction of transplantid.net, a free online library, crowdsourced and continuously updated for the dual purpose of point-of-care evidence-based management and teaching.