Citations

Abstract We describe early experience with beta-lactam therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in a high-volume outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy program. In selected patients, TDM informed dose optimization and toxicity mitigation. Illustrative cases highlight feasibility and emerging lessons supporting beta-lactam TDM in outpatient care.

ABSTRACT Hospital‐at‐Home (HaH) programs provide acute care in patients' homes, reducing hospitalization and improving patient experience. While crucial in traditional settings, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in HaH programs remains understudied. This manuscript explores the potential benefits of AMS in HaH and the role of infectious diseases (ID) pharmacists in optimizing antimicrobial therapy. Key challenges in implementing AMS in HaH include medication delivery logistics, treatment regimen adjustments, and unique administration techniques. ID pharmacists can address these challenges by providing expertise in antimicrobial selection, dosing, and duration, as well as identifying opportunities for de‐escalation and intravenous (IV) to oral conversions. By integrating AMS into HaH programs, health care systems can improve patient outcomes, reduce antimicrobial resistance, and optimize resource utilization. Further research and training programs are needed to fully realize the potential of AMS in this emerging model of care.

Abstract Objective: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is a mainstay of clinical infectious diseases practice, and OPAT-related publications continue to be prominent in journals. The objective of this article is to summarize ten clinically important OPAT-related publications from 2024. Design: Narrative review. Methods: Eighty-one articles were found in a literature search, and 56 met inclusion criteria. A survey containing 25 articles was sent to an email listserv of clinicians with OPAT experience. Results: This article summarizes the top 10 OPAT articles published in 2024, based on those survey results. Conclusions: Common themes from the top 10 OPAT articles published in 2024 included OPAT clinician workload, patient perspectives of OPAT, tools for OPAT work, and dalbavancin use.

Abstract Background Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) has been shown to have numerous benefits including lower costs, increased patient satisfaction, and decreased healthcare associated infections. Patient education is a crucial part of the OPAT process, as lack of understanding may lead to adverse drug events, emergency department visits, or hospital re-admission. A baseline survey of OPAT clinicians at a large multi-state health system revealed low awareness of existing OPAT education resources and consensus that the materials needed improvement. We hypothesized that an OPAT education video would improve OPAT staff satisfaction with the educational offerings.Figure 1.OPAT Video Link Engagement (2024)Figure 2.Patient Electronic Chart Message Methods Adult patients ( > 18 years of age) enrolled in OPAT programs at 4 sites within Mayo Clinic throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin from 5/1/23 - 8/1/24 were included. A standardized OPAT patient education video was developed using voice over PowerPoint slides. Video content included lab monitoring requirements, signs and symptoms of adverse effects including alarm symptoms, and intravenous catheter care. The video was available as a link for delivery via patient electronic chart message, to be played on clinic and hospital room computers, and accessed by patients via QR code on rack cards. We implemented inclusion rules built within our electronic health record which automated the delivery of these patient chart messages. The primary outcome was staff satisfaction with OPAT education materials. Secondary metrics included number of video patient accesses in hospital and clinic rooms, number of message deliveries, and frequency of message opening. Staff satisfaction with OPAT education was compared pre- and post-intervention using the Pearson chi-square test. Results The patient education video was accessed 73 times in hospital and clinic rooms and was delivered by automated patient chart message 157 times during the study period. Patient chart messages were opened 91.5% of the time. The percentage of staff who felt OPAT education materials needed improvement decreased from 90% pre-intervention to 38.1% post-intervention (p=0.05). Conclusion A standardized OPAT patient education video allowed for efficient electronic delivery of educational information to patients and improved OPAT staff satisfaction. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Abstract Purpose Data regarding the incidence, onset, and management of complex outpatient antimicrobial therapy–induced neutropenia (COIN) are limited, and pharmacist involvement in COIN management has not been reported. This report describes the incidence, onset, and management of COIN at a large academic medical center. Methods This multisite retrospective cohort study examined adult patients undergoing serum laboratory monitoring for antimicrobials over a 4-year period. Patients receiving chemotherapy or immunosuppressants were excluded. Data collected included the antimicrobial regimen, complete blood count, duration of antimicrobial therapy until outcome occurrence, infectious syndrome, type of intervention, outcome, and pharmacist involvement. Logistic regression was used to assess risk factors for COIN incidence. The primary outcome was the incidence of COIN by antimicrobial drug. Results From 4,261 treatment episodes, 161 cases of COIN were identified (3.8% COIN incidence). The most common antimicrobials associated with COIN were intravenous piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime, and meropenem. The majority of COIN events were attributed to a combination of at least 2 antimicrobials. Piperacillin/tazobactam was significantly associated with higher odds of developing COIN (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-3.34; P = 0.038), whereas ertapenem was associated with significantly lower odds of COIN (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24-0.77; P = 0.005). The median time to neutropenia diagnosis was 22 days (interquartile range, 14-29 days) from the time of inpatient antimicrobial start. Intervention for COIN occurred in 66.5% of cases, with neutrophil count recovering in 96.9% of these patients. Clinical pharmacists initiated 74.8% of interventions. Conclusion COIN can be effectively identified and managed by a multidisciplinary team reviewing routine laboratory monitoring, enabling most patients to safely complete antimicrobial treatment.

Abstract Background Post-discharge culture and susceptibility review has been described in emergency department and urgent care settings, but there is a lack of published literature describing culture review after acute care hospitalizations. Awaiting microbiology results can impede timely patient discharge. However, discharging patients while microbiology results are pending may result in suboptimal therapy or lost opportunity for additional testing/follow up. We implemented an antimicrobial stewardship effort to identify microbiology tests that result post-discharge utilizing a custom report in the electronic medical record (EMR). Methods. This retrospective descriptive study included adult patients ( >18 years of age) at 4 sites within Mayo Clinic from 1/1/2019 to 2/28/2023. Eligible patients had a hospitalization with an ID consult and an abnormal culture that was reviewed by an antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist after discharge. Urine cultures were excluded. The details of pharmacist-initiated antimicrobial stewardship interventions based on the culture review were identified by an EMR based research report. Results A total of 6803 patient encounters with at least 1 microbiology result reviewed post-discharge were identified. Patients were 40% female with a median age of 62 years. Patient race was 89.8% white, 4% black/African American, 1.5% Asian, and < 1% other. Of these patients, 1983 (29%) had at least one pharmacist intervention. A total of 169 (2.5%) of these patients had multiple interventions. Interventions included modification of antimicrobial therapy, addition of susceptibility testing, or additional follow up (labs, imaging, or patient visits). Median time from culture update to pharmacist review was 27.2 hours. Median length of hospital stay was 5 days and discharge disposition was home with self care (65%), home with home health or hospice (22.7%), or discharge to another acute care or skilled nursing facility (12.3%). Conclusion Outpatient review of post-discharge culture updates utilizing EMR reporting led to substantial interventions impacting antimicrobial treatments. Disclosures Christina G. Rivera (O'Connor), Pharm.D, Gilead Sciences: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead Sciences: Board Member|Gilead Sciences: Grant/Research Support|Gilead Sciences: Honoraria

Antimicrobial therapy is an essential practice within medicine. Over the last 4 years, complex outpatient antimicrobial therapy (COpAT) with oral antimicrobials has become a rapidly developing area of practice and is non-inferior to outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) in certain infectious syndromes. Currently, the available literature does not describe the implementation of oral antimicrobials within the current outpatient antimicrobial therapy process. Throughout this article, the authors present a review of current literature, a proposed definition of COpAT and offer methods readers can utilize to implement an integrated COpAT/OPAT program with oral antimicrobial-specific monitoring within their current practice.