LAUSR

Critical access hospitals (CAHs) in the United States service nearly one fifth of the US population, predominantly in rural areas. CAHs are required to provide antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) services, however, access to infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship expertise is limited. We assessed the feasibility of implementing a tele-AMS intervention in CAHs. We piloted a one-year, biphasic, intensive quality improvement collaborative of self-selected CAHs to address asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB). In phase 1, we engaged multidisciplinary teams from participating hospitals, facilitated goal-setting, and implemented a monthly curriculum to train local stewards regarding appropriate diagnosis and management of urinary tract infections (UTIs). In phase 2, we focused on quality improvement education and data collection. We discussed stewardship strategies and addressed barriers identified on a one-on-one basis. Nineteen CAHs in five states across the Western region participated in this pilot. Nine of 19 attended all 8 monthly didactic sessions. The median number of one-on-one sessions attended per site was 3 (range, 1-4). Eighteen of 19 hospitals set a goal and documented it in a Plan-Do-Study-Act framework. Six CAHs set a goal related to staff and/or patient education, 10 CAHs focused on workflow and processes surrounding identification of UTI including reflex of urine analyses to urine culture, and 2 CAHs set goals to prospectively review cases of ASB treated with antibiotics and provide feedback to prescribers. Commonly encountered barriers included turnaround time for urine culture data, difficulty obtaining data from the electronic medical record, resistance to change among personnel, high staff turnover, limited time and availability to perform stewardship, and short duration of the collaborative. We successfully launched a tele-stewardship training program to mentor CAH antimicrobial stewards to identify and manage ASB and use quality improvement tools. A standardized approach to address asymptomatic bacteriuria or other AMS goals are unlikely to be successful in CAHs without significant tailoring to fit specific site and process needs. Chloe Bryson-Cahn, MD, Alaska Airlines: Advisor/Consultant.