Acceptance Rate Of Interventions Research Articles

Development of an innovative clinical pharmacy service in a urology surgical unit: a new initiative from Qatar

Development of an innovative clinical pharmacy service in a urology surgical unit: a new initiative from Qatar

Individual supported work placements (ReISE) for improving sustained return to work in unemployed people with persistent pain: an internal pilot study of a cohort randomised controlled approach

BackgroundPersistent pain is a frequent cause of sick leave and work disability in Norway. A return-to-work intervention featuring supported work placements, developed in the UK, demonstrated feasibility, and a return-to-work rate of 20% within 6 months was observed in the sample. We sought to adapt the intervention for delivery in Norway and to confirm feasibility prior to a full-scale trial.MethodsIn this internal pilot, we used a pragmatic cohort randomised controlled approach with national recruitment in Norway. We recruited people who were unemployed (for at least 1 month), having persistent pain (for at least 3 months), aged between 18 and 64, and wanting to return to work. We initially recruited people to an observational cohort study of the impact of being unemployed with persistent pain. After baseline measurement, we randomly sub-sampled participants to whom we offered the intervention, which featured individual case management and support, work-familiarisation sessions, and the offer of a 6-week part-time unpaid work placement. We assessed recruitment rates (aiming to recruit 66, and sub-sample 17 within 6 months); optimal recruitment pathways; intervention acceptance rates; the feasibility of data collection; using video links for work-familiarisation sessions and remote case manager support.ResultsThe pilot ran from June to November 2022. Of 168 people expressing interest, 94 consented. Recruitment posts on Facebook yielded the most ‘expressions of interest’ (66%, n = 111). After screening for eligibility, we included 55 participants. Of these, 19 were randomised to be offered the intervention. Of these, less than half (n = 8) consented to intervention participation. Remote case manager and work-familiarisation sessions appeared feasible. Following a delay in identifying placements, three participants received offers of work placements, with one starting and completing during the pilot period. Data collection methods were feasible, and no adverse events were reported.ConclusionsRecruitment and logistical processes, such as remote management by video link, are feasible. However, delivery of the intervention is challenging. In particular, sourcing placements and the time required for identifying appropriate placements was more challenging than anticipated. A full-scale trial is feasible but will require improvements to the placement identification processes.Trial registrationISRCTN85437524 (Referring to the ReISE trial, of which this internal pilot was a part), Registered 31 of May 2022 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN85437524Trial fundingNorwegian Research Council.

Pharmacists' Medication Reconciliation Interventions During Admission and Transfer from an Emergency Department at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Randomized Pilot Study and Evaluation of Physician and Patient Perceptions.

The study aimed to assess the impact of pharmacist interventions during the transition of care. Medication discrepancies can occur at various levels of transition, such as during admission, the transition from emergency to special wards or from special to general wards, and during discharge. Discrepancies can be detected through the process of medication reconciliation. The objective of the study was to compare discrepancies among patients exposed to pharmacist intervention groups and those who were not and assess the perception of healthcare professionals and patients towards integrating pharmacists in the transition care process. A pharmacist-led interventional study was conducted for six months on patients above 18 years of age and either sex who were admitted to the emergency department, had chronic diseases, and subsequently transferred to another department (any). The patients were randomized into intervention and control groups. The pharmacist performed a medication reconciliation and medication review to identify discrepancies in every transition in both the groups, and then reported to the treating physician to resolve in the intervention group. Among the 73 patients recruited in the study, 152 discrepancies were identified. The total discrepancies observed in the control and intervention groups were 78 (51.3%) and 74 (48.6%), respectively. The majority, 35.53%, were found during the transition from emergency to special wards. The physician, upon pharmacist recommendations, accepted and resolved 48 discrepancies in the intervention group. The healthcare professional acceptance rate of pharmacist interventions was 64.86%. The transitions of care are at risk for errors due to medication discrepancies, and pharmacists could potentially identify and resolve discrepancies. Healthcare professionals and patients reported to be satisfied by the involvement of clinical pharmacists in the healthcare team.

Ambulatory care hematology/oncology pharmacy services: A comprehensive review by the Saudi Oncology Pharmacy Assembly

AbstractSaudi Vision 2030 has driven significant changes in ambulatory care pharmacy services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), transitioning pharmaceutical care from inpatient to outpatient settings. With a growing need to address non‐communicable diseases, particularly cancer, ambulatory care oncology pharmacy services are of paramount importance. This study aims to evaluate the potential benefits and challenges of establishing such services in the KSA and offers recommendations for clinical pharmacists. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar, encompassing research from inception to September 2023. The search focused on English language studies related to ambulatory care oncology/hematology pharmacy services. Among the 1351 studies found, those assessing the impact of clinical pharmacists on patient outcomes in outpatient oncology clinics were included. The review of the literature highlights the substantial impact of clinical pharmacists in outpatient hematology/oncology settings. A selection of several studies revealed their role in improving patient care, reducing health care costs, and enhancing treatment outcomes. Notable findings include a high acceptance rate of pharmacist interventions with significant cost savings, increased pharmacist involvement in patient encounters, and reduced emergency department visits and inpatient admissions due to pharmacist interventions. These results showed the valuable contributions of clinical pharmacists in the international outpatient oncology setting. Establishing ambulatory care hematology/oncology pharmacy services in Saudi Arabia is critical, considering the rising cancer burden. The value of specialized oncology clinical pharmacists in the outpatient setting is emphasized by various studies conducted in the United States. This review proposes a framework for patient‐centered oncology practices, serving as a valuable resource for the strategic development of ambulatory care oncology pharmacy services in Saudi Arabia. These efforts align with Saudi Vision 2030's broader goals of enhancing health care quality and patient care.

Pharmaceutical Interventions in Benzodiazepine users during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Pharmaceutical Intervention aims to optimize and rationalize the use, effectiveness, and safety of dispensed medications resolving drug-related problems (DRPs) and negative medicine outcomes (NMOs). To evaluate Pharmaceutical Interventions in Benzodiazepines users during the COVID-19 pandemic from a Community Pharmacy. Prospective observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study (AEMPS code: DAA-CLO-2020-01) of Pharmaceutical Interventions offered by the community pharmacy between August 2020 and February 2021. A total of 306 Pharmaceutical Interventions were conducted involving 127 patients. Health education and personalized medication information were the most common Pharmaceutical Interventions after detecting a high level of unfamiliarity with the Benzodiazepines among patients. Pharmaceutical Interventions leading to medical referrals accounted for 37.8% of the total, triggered by the detection of DRPs and/or NMOs or after identifying the patient as candidate for deprescription. These referrals included patients with a very high level of depression according to the Euroqol 5D-3L test. Pharmaceutical Interventions resulting in Medication Review with Follow-up Service were performed in 3.1% of patients. The patient acceptance rate of Pharmaceutical Interventions reached 98.4%. The high acceptance rate of Pharmaceutical Interventions reinforces the value of Community Pharmacy in optimizing and rationalizing Benzodiazepines usage, while strengthening the pharmacist-patient relationship. The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to pharmacist-physician collaboration despite of the availability of telecommunication protocols among healthcare professionals.

Health-system specialty pharmacist intervention types, acceptance, and associated actions for patients with multiple sclerosis.

Health-system specialty pharmacy (HSSP) pharmacists play an integral role in the care of patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) by facilitating medication access, providing counseling, improving adherence, and decreasing provider workload. However, current literature detailing pharmacist interventions and their acceptance rates in this population is limited. The purpose of this study was to identify the types and acceptance rate of clinical interventions completed by pharmacists for PwMS. To evaluate the acceptance rate of HSSP pharmacist interventions, we conducted a retrospective, multicenter, observational, descriptive study for the period from October 2019 to August 2022. Intervention types were categorized into reasons for intervention, recommendations from the pharmacists, and their acceptance rates. For 225 patients enrolled in HSSP services, 449 interventions were completed, with an average of 2.0 interventions per patient. Most interventions identified were associated with medication adherence (28.7%), medication regimen (27.6%), adverse drug reaction (ADR) (20.7%), and laboratory values (15.1%). The average adherence, defined by the proportion of days covered, was 94%. The most common recommendations were to continue therapy (14.9%), schedule laboratory tests (12.7%), and follow up with providers (11.8%). Recommendations had an acceptance rate of 85.3%, with 3.8% of recommendations declined and 10.9% requiring follow-up with providers. Pharmacists impact patient outcomes through the completion of clinical interventions that improve adherence, identify medication regimen problems, manage ADRs, and coordinate proper laboratory testing. Pharmacist recommendations were most often accepted for interventions related to medication regimen and ADRs. Proper identification and management of medication regimen concerns, as well as tolerability of medications, can positively impact adherence and improve overall patient outcomes.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of pharmaceutical care in adult critically ill patients: based on a prospective cohort study.

The medication regimen for critically ill patients is complex and dynamic, leading to a high incidence of drug-related problems. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and economic efficiency of pharmaceutical care for these patients. In this prospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary hospital, adult patients were assigned either to a clinical pharmaceutical care group or a control group based on existing clinical grouping rules. Health outcomes and economic indicators were collected, followed by a cost-effectiveness analysis. The acceptance rate for clinical pharmacist interventions was 89.31%. The pharmaceutical care group exhibited significant reductions in the rate of medication errors (40.65% vs. 61.69%, P < 0.001) and adverse drug events (44.52% vs. 56.45%, P = 0.020). The usage rates for special-grade antibiotics (85.16% vs. 91.13%, P = 0.009) and proton pump inhibitors (77.42% vs. 88.71%, P = 0.002) were also lower in the pharmaceutical care group. Secondary outcomes did not show significant differences in total hospital stay (21days vs. 22days, P = 0.092). However, ICU stay was significantly shorter (9days vs. 11days, P = 0.003) in the pharmaceutical care group. Cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated that each 1% reduction in adverse drug events associated with ICU pharmaceutical care saved $226.75 in ICU hospitalization costs and $203.42 in total ICU drug costs. A 1% reduction in the medication error rate saved $128.57 in ICU hospitalization costs and $115.34 in total ICU drug costs. Pharmaceutical care significantly reduces adverse drug events and medication errors, promotes rational use of medications, decreases the length of ICU stay, and lowers treatment costs in critically ill patients, establishing a definitive advantage in terms of cost-effectiveness.

Evaluation of Drug-Related Problems of Intensive Care Unit Patients by Clinical Pharmacists: A Retrospective Study.

The study aimed to identify drug-related problems (DRPs) and risk factors associated with the emergence of DRPs in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. This retrospective study included patients in the anesthesiology and reanimation ICU of a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital. DRPs identified by clinical pharmacists were classified using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe Classification for DRPs version 9.1. The association between various patient-related factors, and having DRPs were evaluated. In total, 222 patients were included in the study, 128 of which were male (57.7%). The number of DRPs was 388 in 135 patients (1.75 ± 2.47 DRPs per patient). The group in which at least 1 DRP was identified, the duration of hospitalization was longer than in the group in which no DRP was identified (p < 0.001). In the groups in which there was the presence of mechanical ventilation support at admission or mortality, the mean DRP count was significantly higher than that in the other group (p < 0.05). Age, duration of hospitalization, and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score at admission had positive relationships with the DRP count, but the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) showed a negative relationship (p < 0.05). According to the binary logistic regression analysis (p < 0.001), in which the age of the patient, GCS score, APACHE II score at admission, duration of hospitalization, and presence of mechanical ventilation support at admission were included, only the APACHE II score at admission and duration of hospitalization significantly affected the emergence of DRPs. The major problem was related to treatment effectiveness (47.9%), followed by treatment safety problems (29.9%). The major causes of these problems were dose selection (44.0%) and drug selection (36.8). Interventions were made at the drug (97.2%) and prescriber level (2.3%). The acceptance rate of interventions and resolution rate of the DRPs were 93.6% and 85.1%, respectively. The top three medications that caused DRPs the most were as follows: meropenem, colistin, and piperacillin/tazobactam. Clinical pharmacists can detect and treat DRPs quickly. Our analysis shows that clinical pharmacy services are needed in high-DRP wards like ICU.

Implementing a nurse-led screening clinic for symptom distress with community-based referral for cancer survivors: A feasibility study.

This prospective, single-arm, pragmatic implementation study evaluated the feasibility of a nurse-led symptom-screening program embedded in routine oncology post-treatment outpatient clinics by assessing (1) the acceptance rate for symptom distress screening (SDS), (2) the prevalence of SDS cases, (3) the acceptance rate for community-based psychosocial support services, and (4) the effect of referred psychosocial support services on reducing symptom distress. Using the modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r), we screened patients who recently completed cancer treatment. Patients screening positive for moderate-to-severe symptom distress were referred to a nurse-led community-based symptom-management program involving stepped-care symptom/psychosocial management interventions using a pre-defined triage system. Reassessments were conducted at 3-months and 9-months thereafter. The primary outcomes included SDS acceptance rate, SDS case prevalence, intervention acceptance rate, and ESAS-r score change over time. Overall, 2988/3742(80%) eligible patients consented to SDS, with 970(32%) reporting ≥1 ESAS-r symptom as moderate-to-severe (caseness). All cases received psychoeducational material, 673/970(69%) accepted psychosocial support service referrals. Among 328 patients completing both reassessments, ESAS-r scores improved significantly over time (p<0.0001); 101(30.8%) of patients remained ESAS cases throughout the study, 112(34.1%) recovered at 3-month post-baseline, an additional 72(22%) recovered at 9-month post-baseline, while 43(12.2%) had resumed ESAS caseness at 9-month post-baseline. Nurse-led SDS programs with well-structured referral pathways to community-based services and continued monitoring are feasible and acceptable in cancer patients and may help in reducing symptom distress. We intend next to develop optimal strategies for SDS implementation and referral within routine cancer care services.

1257. The Impact of Communication Type on Acceptance Rates of Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions

Abstract Background While face-to-face communication (ie. “handshake stewardship” (HS)) has been shown to improve antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) intervention acceptance rates, this strategy is resource intensive. Therefore, systems unable to conduct HS must identify the optimal mode of communication for ASP recommendations. This study evaluated the effects of communication type on ASP intervention acceptance. Methods An infectious disease physician and ASP pharmacist met Monday through Friday to assess appropriateness of select antimicrobials. ASP recommendations were delivered through direct communication via telephone conversations or passive communication via text-page. A text page consisted of a message limited to 240 characters sent directly to the primary team. We performed a retrospective review of all interventions and associated acceptance rates, antimicrobials and antimicrobial indications between January 1st, 2023 to March 31st, 2023. The primary outcome evaluated was ASP intervention acceptance rate. Results Recommendations were delivered through telephone conversations in 267/454 (58.8%) cases compared to 187/454 (41.2%) cases in which recommendations were provided via text-page. We found that direct communication delivered telephonically resulted in a significant increase in ASP intervention acceptance rate compared to passive communication via text page (82.8% vs 73.8%, respectively; p=0.02). This resulted in 884 and 552 days of antimicrobial therapy saved in the telephonic and text-page group, respectively (p=0.64). Significant differences in baseline characteristics included: antimicrobial indications of intraabdominal, respiratory, sepsis and febrile neutropenia; having a broad differential; and an intervention category of de-escalation. Conclusion Direct communication with clinicians (eg. telephonically) improves ASP intervention acceptance rates compared to passive communication styles (eg. text-page). Direct communication with the prescriber encourages shared decision making, increases visibility of ASP, and allows for education to modify prescribing behavior. The success of an ASP relies heavily on provider relationships, which direct communication can further promote. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

1235. A Retrospective Review of Antimicrobial Stewardship Audit and Feedback: Assessing Acceptance of Stewardship Recommendations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Background Antimicrobial stewardship is an underutilized strategy to mitigate the impact of antimicrobial resistance. It is well documented that many Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) were tasked with assisting healthcare teams in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving less time/fewer resources for day-to-day ASP activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptance of stewardship recommendations during a season when the ASP had less time to perform regular educational activities and handshake stewardship. Methods A retrospective study of patients receiving antimicrobial therapy at Saint Francis Hospital during 12/30/2020-10/01/2022, for which audit and feedback by the ASP was conducted. A well-established ASP existed prior to the pandemic. Independent variables included the reason for intervention, type of infection by organ system, and type of intervention. Interventions included recommendations to stop antibiotics, de-escalation, duration of therapy, ID consultation, or change the route of administration. The primary outcome was the audit and feedback acceptance rate, and the secondary outcome was whether the intervention resulted in infectious disease consultation. Results 297 patients underwent audit and feedback. Interventions most accepted by providers included changing the route of administration (100%) and consulting ID formally (92%). Adjusting the duration of therapy was the least accepted intervention at 78%. Regardless of intervention, 33% of providers requested a formal ID consult. The number of interventions varied sporadically, coinciding with periods of decreased availability by the ASP team and during peak waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion Our ASP team, despite decreased resources while battling an ongoing pandemic, were still able to perform audit and feedback to providers with a good acceptance rate of recommendations, consistent with current literature. Having not only an existing but robust ASP prior to the pandemic, allowed continued success with ASP intervention acceptance rates, despite less dedicated time for typical ASP activities during the pandemic. Fostering good relationships between providers and ASP teams, as well as continued support and funding from hospital leadership, are vital to ongoing success. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

INTERVENTIONS IN INTERNAL MEDICINE WARDS WITH SCOPE OF CLINICAL PHARMACY RESIDENCY PROGRAM: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Objective: Drug-related problems are a common health problem in hospitalized patients, affecting optimal patient outcomes. The aim of the study is to classify the drug-related problems detected by clinical pharmacy resident in hospitalized patients during their rotations and evaluate their interventions to the healthcare team. Material and Method: This is a retrospective study in which the drug-related problems of the patients hospitalized in the internal medicine wards between April and November 2018 were examined during the rotations of the clinical pharmacy resident. Patients’ demographics, prescribed medicine, laboratory findings were recorded. Drug-related problems are classified with the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe Version 9.1 system. Result and Discussion: Ninety-two patients were included in the study. The median age of patients was 60.5 years and 59.8% of them were female. Most of the patients (63%) had three or more comorbidities. The most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (21.70%) and diabetes mellitus (10.64%). One hundred forty-seven drug-related problems were detected in 57 patients (62%). Potential drug-drug interactions (55.78%), errors in dosing timing instructions (9.52%), and inappropriate drug use according to guidelines (8.16%) were the most common causes of drug-related problems. The acceptance rate of interventions for resolving drug-related problems was 65%. The most common drug-related problems in this study were due to drug selection. The acceptance rate of recommendations for drug-related problems was lower than in the literature. However, this initial acceptance rate can be considered successful in a center where clinical pharmacy services have not been established.

CLinician and patient characteristics effect on Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions (CLASI) study.

To determine whether the gender of clinicians making antimicrobial stewardship recommendations has an impact on intervention acceptance rate. A retrospective, multivariable analysis of antimicrobial stewardship prospective audit and feedback outcomes. A multisite healthcare system including Mayo Clinic Rochester (MN), Mayo Clinic Arizona, Mayo Clinic Florida and 17 health-system hospital sites, where prospective audit and feedback is performed and documented within an electronic tool embedded in the medical record. The study included 143 Mayo Clinic clinicians (84 cisfemales and 59 cismales). Outcomes were analyzed from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2022, for intervention rates, communication methods, and intervention acceptance by clinician gender, profession, patient age, and intensive care unit (ICU) status of patient. Of 81,927 rules, 71,729 rules met study inclusion. There were 18,175 (25%) rules associated with an intervention. Most of the rules were reviewed by pharmacists (86.2%) and stewardship staff (85.5%). Of 10,363 interventions with an outcome documented, 8,829 (85.2%) were accepted and 1,534 (14.8%) were rejected. Female clinicians had 6,782 (86.5%) of 7,843 interventions accepted, and male clinicians had 2,047 (81.2%) of 2,520 interventions accepted (P = .19). Female patients had more interventions than male patients (female vs male: 25.9% vs 24.9%; OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08; P = .001). Patients in the ICU had a significantly lower intervention acceptance rate (ICU vs non-ICU: 78.2% vs 86.7%; OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.45-0.7; P < .001). Female and male clinicians were equally effective at prospective audit and feedback in a multisite antimicrobial stewardship program. Patients in the ICU were less likely to have stewardship interventions accepted.

Characterization of drug‐related problems and evaluation of pharmacist interventions in the cardiovascular intensive care settings in Thailand

AbstractIntroductionData regarding drug‐related problems (DRPs) and pharmacist's role in the cardiovascular intensive care units (CICU) from low‐ to middle‐income countries (LMIC) are limited.ObjectiveThe study aimed to characterize the DRP and interventions provided by clinical pharmacists in the CICU settings.MethodA retrospective, cross‐sectional study was conducted in patients admitted to CICU of a tertiary‐care hospital in Thailand during January 2021 to March 2022 was performed. Data were collected from patient's medical records and pharmacy service records. DRPs were categorized according to the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe classification. Two board‐certified pharmacotherapy specialists, pharmacy residents, and trained clinical pharmacists staffed the units 5 days a week. The pharmacist team conducted a medication review and provided interventions to the cardiology team either verbally during the ward round or in writing, as appropriate. Pharmacist interventions were categorized into two groups including retrospective intervention (interventions made to resolve DRPs after an order was made) and prospective interventions (interventions made prior to ordering process). Outcome measures were (1) number of DRPs identified; (2) category of DRPs; (3) number interventions; and (4) acceptance rate of interventions by the medical team.ResultsAmong 576 patients admitted to the CICU, 345 DRPs were identified in 203 patients. The pharmacist team provided a total of 790 interventions including 345 retrospective interventions to resolve DRPs and 445 prospective interventions to guide medication use prior to the ordering process. The most frequent intervention was related to dosage adjustment, drug administration, adding drugs for existing conditions, and suggesting laboratory monitoring. The acceptance rate of the pharmacist intervention was 97.4%, most of which led to changes in drug therapy.ConclusionDRPs in CICU settings are common. Trained clinical pharmacists can effectively resolve DRPs and provide recommendations to improve quality of care through both clinical and distribution functions.

Role of healthcare professionals in drug-drug interactions and clinical interventions

Introduction and aim. Healthcare professionals including prescribers, pharmacists and nurses must have adequate knowledge of drug-drug interactions because they can cause toxicity, loss of efficacy, and side effects. This study was aimed to assess the respective roles of healthcare professionals in preventing drug-drug interactions by clinical interventions. Material and methods. This study was conducted at a Secondary Care Hospital of Pakistan in which total 1000 prescriptions were assessed for drug-drug interactions. Questionnaires and descriptive statistics were tools to assess the satisfaction of prescribers with pharmacists and their own prescribed medications before and after the clinical interventions. Modifications in medication therapies were done accordingly after the evaluation and acceptance of interventions. Results. The p-value was highly significant (p&lt;0.05) which showed that the collaboration between healthcare professionals is necessary to avoid drug-drug interaction by clinical interventions. Acceptance rate of interventions was 77%. Clinical interventions are a useful tool in minimizing and preventing drug-drug interactions. The compliance of prescribers with their own prescribed medication regimens increased after clinical interventions. Conclusion. Prescribers, pharmacists and nurses have their respective roles in preventing drug-drug interactions and they must review the appropriateness of every medication order for clinical interventions.

Mixed methods evaluation of handshake antimicrobial stewardship on adult inpatient medicine floors.

To evaluate the effects of handshake antimicrobial stewardship on medicine floors at a large tertiary care hospital. Retrospective observational study. 1,278-bed academic hospital. Adults admitted to non-ICU medicine services. A handshake stewardship team consisting of an infectious diseases (ID) physician and pharmacist reviewed charts of patients receiving antimicrobials on medicine floors without a formal ID consult. Recommendations were communicated in-person to providers and acceptance rates were examined with descriptive statistics. Additional data regarding program perception among providers were obtained via surveys. Antibiotic usage trends were extracted from National Healthcare Safety Network Antimicrobial Use option data and evaluated using an interrupted time-series analysis pre- and post-intervention. The overall acceptance rate of interventions was 80%, the majority being recommendations either to discontinue (37%) or de-escalate therapy (28%). Medical residents and hospitalists rated the intervention favorably with 90% reporting recommendations were helpful all or most of the time. There was a statistically significant decrease in vancomycin (78 vs 70 DOT/1,000 d present (DP), p = 0.002) and meropenem (24 vs 17 DOT/1,000 DP, p = 0.007) usage and a statistically significant increase in amoxicillin-clavulanate usage (11 vs 15 DOT/1,000 DP, p < 0.001). Overall antibiotic usage remained unchanged by the intervention, though pre-intervention there was a nonsignificant overall increasing trend while post-intervention there was a nonsignificant decreasing trend in overall usage. There was no change in in-hospital mortality. The addition of handshake stewardship with adult medicine services was favorably viewed by participants and led to shifts in antibiotic usage.

179. Impact of a Nurse-Pharmacist Driven Antimicrobial Stewardship: Redefining the Team

Abstract Background The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recognized the worldwide emergence of antimicrobial resistance. The Joint Commission mandated acute care hospitals to implement antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs. Core elements were developed to help hospitals achieve this goal. Core elements were updated incorporating nursing-based actions such as optimizing microbiology cultures. Methods The aim is ≥20% of ICU C. difficile, respiratory, and urine culture interventions made by the Nurse-Infectious Diseases (ID) Pharmacist AMS team will be accepted by March 4th, 2022. The ID Pharmacist engaged front line nurses in the AMS program by creating algorithms to guide nursing to appropriate culturing practices. Nurses utilized the algorithms to assess appropriateness of the cultures ordered. If deemed inappropriate, nurses contacted the ID Pharmacist and/or ordering physician to intervene. The outcome measure assessed was the percentage of interventions accepted for inappropriate C. difficile, respiratory, and/or urine cultures weekly. Process measures included time (in hours) to discontinue inappropriate cultures and the type of culture addressed. The balancing measure was the average time the Nurse/ID Pharmacist spent to assess appropriateness of ordered cultures. Results A total of 69 interventions were made by the Nurse/ID Pharmacist AMS team. Due to a high intervention acceptance rate, the target was changed from 20% to 60% at week 8. Out of the 69 interventions, 91% (n=63) were accepted and resulted in the discontinuation of the culture. The majority of accepted interventions were among urine cultures. The average time to discontinue inappropriate cultures was 2 hours and the average time the Nurse/ID Pharmacist spent to assess appropriateness of cultures was 15 minutes. Percentage of Interventions Accepted Data shown reflects the weekly percentage of accepted interventions recommended by the nurse/ID Pharmacist AMS team. Due to the high intervention acceptance rate, target was changed from 20% to 60% in week eight. Intervention Type This data reflects the number of accepted interventions for each culture type made by Nurse/ID Pharmacist AMS team resulting in the discontinuation of the inappropriate culture. Conclusion The implementation of a Nurse/ID Pharmacist AMS collaboration resulted in a high acceptance of culture interventions leading to discontinuation of inappropriate cultures. AMS nurse champions expanded SEMC’s AMS team and led to improved microbial culture practices in the ICU. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Implementation of antimicrobial stewardship weekend coverage within a community hospital with a PGY-2 infectious diseases pharmacy resident

ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to describe the impact of expanding inpatient ASP weekend coverage with a newly established infectious diseases postgraduate second-year (ID-PGY-2) pharmacy residency program through quantification of inpatient ASP interventions. Secondary end points included comparing weekend stewardship activities before and after an ID-PGY-2 incorporated staffing model shift based on intervention quantity, type, and impact to weekends. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted evaluating weekend Antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) interventions documented within the electronic health record between July 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022. Groups included a single clinical pharmacist, 2 new postgraduate first-year (PGY-1) pharmacy residents, 2 experienced PGY-1 pharmacy residents, and an ID-PGY-2 responsible only for ASP coverage. ResultsEight weekends of interventions were collected per group. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) number of ASP interventions per weekend increased during ID-PGY-2 resident weekends (34 [28.75-35]) compared to a clinical pharmacist alone (5 [4-10], P < 0.001), and both new (2.5 [1.25-4], P < 0.001) and experienced (6 [3.5-10.5], P < 0.001) PGY-1 resident groups. The ID-PGY-2 resident initiated statistically significantly more interventions per protocol and interventions requiring communication with providers. The acceptance rate for interventions made via communication was similar between groups (ID-PGY-2 86.3% vs. clinical pharmacist 87.7% vs. new PGY-1 100% vs. experienced PGY-1 90.5%, P = 0.541). ConclusionExpansion of ASP services to include weekend clinical coverage with an ID-PGY-2 pharmacy resident significantly increased weekend ASP interventions in a community teaching hospital.

The Role of an Infectious Diseases Faculty Pharmacist and Pharmacy Students on an Antimicrobial Stewardship Team at a Community Non-teaching Hospital

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship program implementation at non-teaching community hospitals differs due to staffing and resource disparities. Objective: Demonstrate that an infectious disease (ID) pharmacist faculty with advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) students can expand antimicrobial stewardship services at non-teaching community hospitals. Methods: A single-center, retrospective chart review was conducted comparing prospective audit and feedback antimicrobial stewardship interventions by an ID pharmacist faculty with and without APPE students between January 16, 2020 to January 16, 2021. The primary endpoints were intervention rate and the intervention acceptance rate. Secondary endpoints included: the difference in the time from antimicrobial order to intervention and length of stay, as well as comparison of acceptance rates stratified by intervention type or the antimicrobial intervened upon. Results: A total of 739 antimicrobial stewardship interventions were made with an overall acceptance rate of 55.2%. The ID pharmacist faculty with APPE students had a higher number of interventions and intervention rate per working day compared to without students (428 vs 311 and 4.46 vs 2.99, respectively). Conversely, the intervention acceptance rate was lower for the ID pharmacist faculty with APPE students vs without (48.8% vs 64%, P < .001). Both the median time from antimicrobial order to the intervention and length of stay was lower for the ID pharmacist faculty with students vs without (2.50 days [interquartile range (IQR) 1.24 - 4.01] vs 2.99 days [IQR 1.64 - 4.95], P = .003, and 9.20 days [IQR 5.57 - 14.93] vs 11.69 days [IQR 6.89 - 22.31], P < .001, respectively). The acceptance rates by intervention type and the antimicrobial intervened upon were similar between groups. Conclusion: An ID pharmacist faculty with APPE students at a non-teaching community hospital increased the number of stewardship interventions, and was associated with decreased time from antimicrobial order to intervention and length of stay.

Improving Antibiotic Use in Surgical Care: Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Interventions on Optimizing Patient Therapy

Objectives: To assess the nature of drug-related problems (DRPs) associated with antibiotic use and to evaluate the level of significance of clinical pharmacist interventions in surgical care. Methods: This prospective interventional study was carried out for 1 year in the wards of General Surgery. The in-patients were followed daily and reviewed for DRPs. The identified DRPs were categorized according to the Hepler and Strand classification. Drug-related problems other than those in Hepler and Strand classification were categorized separately based on medical literature and clinical practice evidence. The identified DRPs were conveyed and discussed by the clinical pharmacist with the surgeon, and ideal suggestions for further action. A bivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of the DRPs associated with antibiotic use. Findings: Of the 614 patients, 64.49% were males. 414 DRPs were identified, wherein improper duration of drug use (20.86%) was the most common DRP. The significance level of pharmacist intervention was found to be ‘major’ in 49% of cases. The incidence of DRPs associated with antibiotic use was 67.42%. The rate of acceptance of pharmacist interventions was 99%. A strong association between the occurrence of DRPs and age, the presence of two co-morbid conditions, the intake of two and three antibiotics, and length of stay (LOS) of 6–10 and 16–20 days (P < 0.05) was noted. Conclusion: Even though antibiotics are necessary for surgical management, their vigilant use is warranted. The clinical pharmacist plays an enormous role in optimizing antibiotic therapy in surgical patient care. Novelty: To the best of our knowledge, such an interventional study of its kind that exclusively focused on the surgery ward was not conducted in India previously, and not many studies of a similar kind have been carried out in other parts of the world that have assessed the prevalence and frequency of DRPs related to antibiotic use, the predictors associated with the DRPs, the role of clinical pharmacists in the surgery ward, and the acceptance rate of pharmacist interventions by the surgeons. Here, an attempt to identify the predictors of drug-related problems associated with antibiotic use was made to help prevent and resolve drug-related problems earlier, therebypromising optimized therapy. Also, it highlights the importance of a clinical pharmacist’s role in surgical care regarding patient safety. Keywords: Antibiotics; Surgery; Clinical Pharmacist; Predictors; Interventions; Drug Related Problems