Lior Nesher1, Gal Tsaban1, Jacob Dreiher2, Kenneth V I Rolston3, Gal Ifergane2, Yonat Shemer2, Abraham Borer1, Klaris Riesenberg1. 1. Internal Medicine Division,Infectious Disease Institute, Soroka Medical Center,Beer Sheba,Israel. 2. Faculty of Health Sciences,Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,Beer Sheba,Israel. 3. Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Employee Health,University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,Houston Texas,United States.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of incorporating early rapid influenza diagnosis on antimicrobial usage, nosocomial influenza transmission, length of stay, and occupancy rates among hospitalized patients. SETTING: A 1,100 bed tertiary-care hospital in southern Israel. METHODS: We implemented early rapid detection of influenza with immediate communication of results. Using Orion methods, we compared the 2017-2018 influenza season to the prior season in our hospital and to the 2017-2018 occupancy rates at other Israeli hospitals. RESULTS: During the intervention season, 5,006 patients were admitted; 1,824 were tested for influenza, of whom 437 (23.9%) were positive. In the previous season, 4,825 patients were admitted; 1,225 were tested and 288 (23.5%) were positive. Time from admission to test report decreased from 35.5 to 18.4 hours (P < .001). Early discharge rates significantly increased, from 21.5% to 41.6% at 36 hours, from 37.2% to 54.5% at 48 hours, and from 66% to 73.2% at 72 hours. No increase in repeat ER visits, readmission, or mortality rates was observed. Hospital occupancy decreased by 10% compared to the previous year and was 26% lower than the national rate. Hospital-acquired influenza cases were reduced from 37 (11.4%) to 12 (2.7%) (P < .001). Antibiotic usage was reduced both before and after notification of test results by 16% and 12%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing this intervention led to earlier discharge of patients, lower occupancy in medical wards, reduced antibiotic administration, and fewer hospital-acquired influenza events. This strategy is useful for optimizing hospital resources, and its implementation should be considered for upcoming influenza seasons.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of incorporating early rapid influenza diagnosis on antimicrobial usage, nosocomial influenza transmission, length of stay, and occupancy rates among hospitalized patients. SETTING: A 1,100 bed tertiary-care hospital in southern Israel. METHODS: We implemented early rapid detection of influenza with immediate communication of results. Using Orion methods, we compared the 2017-2018 influenza season to the prior season in our hospital and to the 2017-2018 occupancy rates at other Israeli hospitals. RESULTS: During the intervention season, 5,006 patients were admitted; 1,824 were tested for influenza, of whom 437 (23.9%) were positive. In the previous season, 4,825 patients were admitted; 1,225 were tested and 288 (23.5%) were positive. Time from admission to test report decreased from 35.5 to 18.4 hours (P < .001). Early discharge rates significantly increased, from 21.5% to 41.6% at 36 hours, from 37.2% to 54.5% at 48 hours, and from 66% to 73.2% at 72 hours. No increase in repeat ER visits, readmission, or mortality rates was observed. Hospital occupancy decreased by 10% compared to the previous year and was 26% lower than the national rate. Hospital-acquired influenza cases were reduced from 37 (11.4%) to 12 (2.7%) (P < .001). Antibiotic usage was reduced both before and after notification of test results by 16% and 12%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing this intervention led to earlier discharge of patients, lower occupancy in medical wards, reduced antibiotic administration, and fewer hospital-acquired influenza events. This strategy is useful for optimizing hospital resources, and its implementation should be considered for upcoming influenza seasons.
Authors: Victor Au Yeung; Kiran Thapa; William Rawlinson; Andrew Georgiou; Jeffrey J Post; Kristen Overton Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2021-04-07 Impact factor: 3.090