Citations

Purpose of review Quality and safety are important themes in acute kidney care (AKC). There have been many recent initiatives highlighting these aspects. However, for these to become part of clinical practice, a rigorous implementation science methodology must be followed. This review will present these practices and will highlight recent initiatives in acute kidney injury (AKI), kidney replacement therapy (KRT) and recovery from AKI. Recent findings The 22nd Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) focused on achieving a framework for improving AKI care. This has led to various quality improvement (QI) initiatives that have been implemented following a robust implementation science methodology. In AKI, QI initiatives have been focused on implementing care bundles and early detection systems for patients at risk or with AKI. KRT initiatives have focused on measuring and reporting key performance indicators (KPIs), and providing targeted feedback and education to improve delivery of KRT. Finally, it has been recognized that post-AKI care is vitally important, and ongoing work has been focused on implementing pathways to ensure continuing kidney-focused care. Summary Quality and safety continue to be important focuses in AKC. Although recent work have focused on initiatives to improve these themes, additional work is necessary to further develop these items as we strive to improve the care to patients with AKI.

Abstract BACKGROUND Uncertainty remains over the relationship between blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV), measured in hospital settings, and clinical outcomes following acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We examined the association between within-person systolic blood pressure (SBP) variability (SBPV) during hospitalization and readmission-free survival, all-cause readmission, or all-cause mortality 1 year after AIS. METHODS In a cohort of 862 consecutive patients (age [mean ± SD] 75 ± 15 years, 55% women) with AIS (2005–2018, follow-up through 2019), we measured SBPV as quartiles of standard deviations (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) from a median of 16 SBP readings obtained throughout hospitalization. RESULTS In the cumulative cohort, the measured SD and CV of SBP in mmHg were 16 ± 6 and 10 ± 5, respectively. The hazard ratios (HR) for readmission-free survival between the highest vs. lowest quartiles were 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.81) for SD and 1.29 (95% CI 0.94–1.78) for CV after adjustment for demographics and comorbidities. Similarly, incident readmission or mortality remained consistent between the highest vs. lowest quartiles of SD and CV (readmission: HR 1.29 [95% CI 0.90–1.78] for SD, HR 1.29 [95% CI 0.94–1.78] for CV; mortality: HR 1.15 [95% CI 0.71–1.87] for SD, HR 0.86 [95% CI 0.55–1.36] for CV). CONCULSIONS In patients with first AIS, SBPV measured as quartiles of SD or CV based on multiple readings throughout hospitalization has no independent prognostic implications for the readmission-free survival, readmission, or mortality. This underscores the importance of overall patient care rather than a specific focus on BP parameters during hospitalization for AIS.

Background: There is limited evidence on the association of serum phosphate with mortality in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Objective: To assess the association of serum phosphate with mortality in critically ill patients requiring CRRT for acute kidney injury (AKI). Design: A cohort study. Setting: A tertiary referral hospital in the United States. Patients: Acute kidney injury patients receiving CRRT from 2006 through 2015 in intensive care units. Measurements: (1) Serum phosphate before CRRT and (2) mean serum phosphate during CRRT were categorized into 3 groups; ≤2.4 (hypophosphatemia), 2.5 to 4.5 (normal serum phosphate group), and ≥4.6 (hyperphosphatemia) mg/dL. Methods: Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between serum phosphate and 90-day mortality. Results: A total of 1108 patients were included in this study. Of these, 55% died within 90 days after CRRT initiation. Before CRRT, 3%, 30%, and 66% had hypophosphatemia, normophosphatemia, and hyperphosphatemia, respectively. Before CRRT, both hypophosphatemia and hyperphosphatemia were significantly associated with higher 90-day mortality with the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.22 (95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.03, 4.78]) and 1.62 (95% CI: [1.21, 2.18]), respectively. During CRRT, 3%, 85%, and 12% had mean serum phosphate in hypophosphatemia, normophosphatemia, and hyperphosphatemia range. During CRRT, hyperphosphatemia was significantly associated with higher 90-day mortality with adjusted OR of 2.22 (95% CI: [1.45, 3.38]). Limitations: Single center, observational design, lack of information regarding causes of serum phosphate derangement. Conclusion: Most CRRT patients had hyperphosphatemia before CRRT initiation but maintain normal serum phosphate during CRRT. Before CRRT, hypo- and hyperphosphatemia, and during CRRT, hyperphosphatemia predicted higher mortality. Trial registration: Not registered.

Abstract Objective Investigate the association of echocardiographic parameters with hemodynamic instability after initiating continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) in a cohort of intensive care unit (ICU) patients requiring CKRT. Methods Historical cohort study of consecutive adults admitted to the ICU at a tertiary care hospital from December 2006 through November 2015 who underwent CKRT and had an echocardiogram done within seven days before CKRT initiation. The primary outcome was hypotension within one hour of CKRT initiation. Results We included 980 patients, 804 (82%) with acute kidney injury (AKI) and 176 (18%) with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Median patient age was 63 (± 14) years, and median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score on the day of CKRT initiation was 12 (IQR 10–14). Multivariable analysis showed that Left (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.04–3.86), and Right (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.04–2.25) moderate and severe ventricular enlargement, Vasoactive-Inotropic Score (VIS) one hour before CKRT initiation (OR 1.18 per 10 units increase, 95% CI 1.09–1.28) and high bicarbonate fluid replacement (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.01–6.2) were associated with hypotension after CKRT initiation. Conclusion Right and left ventricular enlargement are risk factors associated with hypotension after CKRT initiation.

Introduction Acute kidney injury (AKI) affects nearly 20% of all hospitalised patients and is associated with poor outcomes. Long-term complications can be partially attributed to gaps in kidney-focused care and education during transitions. Building capacity across the healthcare spectrum by engaging a broad network of multidisciplinary providers to facilitate optimal follow-up care represents an important mechanism to address this existing care gap. Key participants include nephrologists and primary care providers and in-depth study of each specialty’s approach to post-AKI care is essential to optimise care processes and healthcare delivery for AKI survivors. Methods and analysis This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study uses survey and interview methodology to assess nephrologist and primary care provider recommendations for post-AKI care, including KAMPS (kidney function assessment, awareness and education, medication review, blood pressure monitoring and sick day education) elements of follow-up, the role of multispecialty collaboration, and views on care process-specific and patient-specific factors influencing healthcare delivery. Nephrologists and primary care providers will be surveyed to assess recommendations and clinical decision-making in the context of post-AKI care. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson’s χ 2 or Fisher’s exact test will be used to compare results between groups. This will be followed by semistructured interviews to gather rich, qualitative data that explains and/or connects results from the quantitative survey. Both deductive analysis and inductive analysis will occur to identify and compare themes. Ethics and dissemination This study has been reviewed and deemed exempt by the Institutional Review Board at Mayo Clinic (IRB 20–0 08 793). The study was deemed exempt due to the sole use of survey and interview methodology. Results will be disseminated in presentations and manuscript form through peer-reviewed publication.

Abstract BackgroundMany studies have evaluated bundled interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance (HHC). However, the compliance rates remain low. We aimed to use Kotter's change model (KCM) to improve HHC and conduct a complete process evaluation for HHC among medical staff in the intensive care unit (ICU). MethodsKCM was administrated in the ICU of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from March 2018 to August 2021, and 41-month longitudinal monitoring of HHC was carried out. The primary outcome was the absolute change in monthly HHC. The secondary outcomes included the characteristics of HHC in different phases, the different change trends of HHC for different HH opportunities and occupations, the quarterly incidence of the central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), and the catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI).Results. 20,222 HH actions and 24,195 HH opportunities were included in this study. The overall HHC was 83.58% (95%CI, 83.11%-84.04%). After implementing the KCM project, the HHC increased from 35.71% (95%CI, 22.99%-50.83%) to 87.75% (95%CI, 85.53%-89.67%), with an increased rate of 145.73%. The fastest-growing rate of HHC was after contact patients, which increased from 35.29% to 89.8%. Quarterly trends of the CLABSI rate (0‰-3.53‰) and CAUTI rate (0.96‰-4.26‰) remained stable at a low level under the background of the number of cases and the treatment complexities of the patients increasing year by year.ConclusionsUsing KCM can systematically change the cognition of HH in healthcare providers and create an atmosphere to promote HH to improve and maintain the stability of the HHC of healthcare providers in ICU.