Patient-Centered Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Study of Home-based Interventions to Prevent...
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus AureusRecurrence2 moreThe overall goal of the project is to develop and evaluate a home-based intervention to prevent re-infection and transmission of Community-Acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in patients presenting to primary care with skin or soft tissue infections (SSTIs). Centers for Disease Control (CDC) CA-MRSA guidelines include incision and drainage, antibiotic sensitivity testing and antibiogram-directed prescribing. Re-infections are common, ranging from 16% to 43%, and present significant challenges to clinicians, patients and their families. Several decolonization and decontamination interventions have been shown to reduce Hospital-Acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) re-infection and transmission in intensive care units. Few studies examine the feasibility and effectiveness of these infection prevention interventions into primary care settings, and none employ Community Health Workers (CHWs) or "promotoras" to provide home visits for education and interventions about decolonization and decontamination. This comparative effectiveness research/patient centered outcomes research builds upon a highly stakeholder-engaged community-academic research and learning collaborative, including practicing clinicians, patients, clinical and laboratory researchers, and barbers/beauticians. Clinical Directors Network (CDN), an established, NIH-recognized best practice Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Practice-based Research Network (PBRN), and The Rockefeller University propose to address this question through the completion of four aims: (1) To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of a CHW/Promotora-delivered home intervention (Experimental Group) as compared to Usual Care (Control Group) on the primary patient-centered and clinical outcome (SSTI recurrence rates) and secondary patient-centered and clinical outcomes (pain, depression, quality of life, care satisfaction) using a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT). (2) To understand the patient-level factors (CA-MRSA infection prevention knowledge, self-efficacy, decision-making autonomy, prevention behaviors/adherence) and environmental-level factors (household surface contamination, household member colonization, transmission to household members) that are associated with differences in SSTI recurrence rates. (3) To understand interactions of the intervention with bacterial genotypic and phenotypic variables on decontamination, decolonization, SSTI recurrence, and household transmission. (4) To explore the evolution of stakeholder engagement and interactions among patients and other community stakeholders with practicing community-based clinicians and academic laboratory and clinical investigators over the duration of the study period.
Soft Tissue Ultrasound of Infections
Soft Tissue InfectionsCellulitis1 moreObjectives: This study aims to characterize severe skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in the emergency department through the acquisition of ultrasound images. A wide range of SSTIs will be imaged and recorded, leading to a registry of these infections. The registry will show whether ED (emergency department) sonographers can accurately characterize these infections, as compared to the final hospital diagnosis. The registry will also provide data for a case-control study comparing ultrasonographic characteristics of necrotizing skin and soft tissue infections (NSTIs) to those of non-necrotizing SSTIs. Research procedures: In this study, the investigators will approach patients who present to the Emergency Department with a possible skin and/or tissue infection. Study subjects must be ED patients requiring admission to the hospital for the primary problem of an SSTI due to the need for follow-up. If the patient consents to participating in the study, the investigator will obtain and record an ultrasound image of the infected area. An ultrasound image of an uninfected area of skin will also be recorded for comparison. Patient information regarding personal history, physical examination, blood tests and x-rays will also be gathered from participants.
Evaluation of Antibacterial Soap for Treatment of Lymphedema in a Filariasis-Endemic Area
LymphedemaCellulitisIntroduction. Lymphatic filariasis is a devastating mosquito-transmitted parasitic disease that causes lymphedema or elephantiasis of the leg in 15 million persons, the majority of whom are women. In these persons, frequent bacterial infections ("acute attacks") of the legs adversely affect physical health, economic well-being, and quality of life. Prevention of bacterial infections through hygiene and skin care can result in significant improvements in lymphedema and patient well-being. Methods. To determine the extent to which antibacterial soap can help reduce the incidence of acute bacterial infections of the lower limbs in persons with filarial lymphedema, 200 patients of the Ste. Croix Hospital lymphedema treatment clinic in Leogane, Haiti randomly assigned to receive either antibacterial (Safeguard) or placebo (Camay) soap and acute attacks monitored monthly for 12 months. Both groups received specific instructions on washing and skin care.
An Attempt to Reduce Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infection...
Community-Acquired MRSA InfectionsAbscesses2 moreThe main purpose of this study is to determine if applying mupirocin into soldiers noses who are colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) will reduce infections in them and their cohort of fellow soldiers.
The Use of Medical Grade Honey in the Prevention of Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Associated Skin Breakdown...
Skin InfectionPostoperative medicinal grade honey in post-operative care may prevent bone anchored hearing aid associated skin breakdown better than standard care of bacitracin ointment alone in adult patients.
Effectiveness of Alcohol Swabs for Preventing Infections During Vaccination
Skin InfectionAlcohol is used to disinfect the skin prior to injections in order to prevent infections caused by bacteria on the skin being injected within tissue. At present, however, clinical trials do not demonstrate a clinical impact of using or not using alcohol swabs on infections and infection symptoms calling into question the practice of using it prior to all injections. These studies are methodologically flawed, and do not specifically examine vaccine injections. The present study is being undertaken to provide some preliminary data for the risk of infection and infection symptoms when alcohol swabs are not used to perform vaccine injections.
Continuous Temperature Telemonitoring of Patients With COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases in...
COVID-19Infectious Disease5 moreThe aim of this cohort study is to validate Viture®, a continuous temperature telemonitoring system, evaluating the level of agreement with a standard commercially available digital axillary thermometer. The study also aims to evaluate the safety and comfort of the system and to evaluate the impact that the introduction of Viture has on the health care practice of a HaH unit. Furthermore, the advantages of Viture compared to the standard method will be evaluated.
Predictors of Failure of Empiric Outpatient Antibiotic Therapy in Emergency Department Patients...
Uncomplicated Outpatient CellulitisIntroduction: Despite several expert panel recommendations and cellulitis treatment guidelines, there are currently no clinical decision rules to assist clinicians in deciding which emergency department (ED) patients should be treated with oral antibiotics and which patients require intravenous therapy at first presentation of uncomplicated cellulitis. The objective of this prospective study is to determine potential patient risk factors associated with adult patients (>17years) presenting to the ED with a concern about a skin or soft tissue infection who fail initial antibiotic therapy for the treatment of standard cellulitis and require a change of antibiotics or admission to hospital. Methods: This study will be a prospective study conducted in two tertiary care EDs. Patients will be excluded if they have been treated with antibiotics for the current bout of cellulitis prior to presenting to the ED, patients admitted to hospital and those patients with abscesses only. Hired research assistants (RAs) will administer a questionnaire at the initial ED visit with telephone follow-up 2 weeks later. Treatment failure will be defined as patients requiring subsequent hospitalization, initiation of intravenous antibiotics (if oral antibiotics were prescribed initially), or a change of oral antibiotics for the original cellulitis. Results: This study will provide a detailed profile of patient risk factors associated with treatment failure of cellulitis. The results will be analyzed and used in formulating a clinical decision rule for effective treatment of cellulitis presenting to the ED. Each of the predictor variables associated (p ≤ 0.1) with failed treatment in the univariate analysis will be considered in a multivariate logistic regression model. Additionally, treatment variability among clinicians in regard to cellulitis will be evaluated and compared to treatment failures, thus providing data on successful treatment regimens. Conclusions: Results from this research may be used to generate a clinical prediction rule to assist clinicians in effectively treating patients presenting to emergency departments with cellulitis. Understanding which patient risk factors for treatment failure will assist clinicians in determining which patients will benefit from intravenous versus oral antibiotics.
Human Immunity Against Staphylococcus Aureus Skin Infection
Staphylococcus Aureus Skin InfectionBackground: - Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, is commonly found on the skin and in the respiratory system. Sometimes people who get sick with staph infection do not get better with standard treatment. These staph infections can be serious and even deadly. Researchers want to find out why some people are more likely to get the infection. Objectives: - To look at the immune response of the skin when it is exposed to bacteria. Eligibility: People age 2 65 with hyper IgE syndrome (HIES) and those with recurrent staph infections. Healthy volunteers. Design: Participants will be screened with medical history, physical exam, and blood tests. Over 1 5 days, participants may have blood tests and a skin and nasal swab. They may have additional tests if needed. If they had a recent biopsy, researchers may ask for a sample from it. Some participants will spend the night at the clinic. Their vital signs will be taken and they will have blood drawn. Some participants will take aspirin or ibuprofen starting 2 days before their stay. Some participants will have blisters created on the inside of their forearm. Suction will pull a layer of skin from their arm. Skin will be removed. Different solutions will be applied to the blisters. Up to 3 biopsies may be taken. Children will not have blood tests or biopsies. Participants will be called every day for 10 days, then at 30 days after the procedure. Participants will have a follow-up visit 10 days after the procedure. Participants who did not get blisters or biopsies will not have any follow-up appointments.
Evaluation of Implementation of a National Point-of-Care Ultrasound Training Program
Other Acute Illnesses Presenting to the HospitalHeart Failure9 moreThis VA QUERI Partnered Evaluation Initiative will evaluate the impact of an immersive Point-of-care Ultrasound (POCUS) Training Course on provider skill acquisition and retention; the frequency of POCUS use by trained providers; and the barriers/facilitators to POCUS in the VHA. Data sources include pre- and post-course assessment tools, medical coding data, and course evaluations. Providers that participate in the POCUS Training Course will be compared to control providers from wait-listed facilities. Additionally, participating facilities vs. wait-listed facilities for the POCUS Training Course will be compared. Findings from this project will guide ongoing efforts of the investigators' operating partners, VA Specialty Care Centers of Innovation (SCCI) and the VA Simulation Learning and Research Network (SimLEARN), to develop a national POCUS training program and facilitate implementation of POCUS use system-wide in the VA healthcare system.