Probabilistic Antibiotic Therapy in the Infectious Diseases Department of the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital (CHU-YO) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Introduction: In Burkina Faso, as in most developing countries, limited access to biological tests forces practitioners to resort very often to probabilistic antibiotic therapy. The objective of this study is to determine the extent of this prescription. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection of patients hospitalized in the infectious diseases department in the period from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2020. The records of patients who received probabilistic antibiotic therapy were included. Results: During the study period, 330 patients had received probabilistic antibiotic therapy. The majority of patients were male (53%), with a sex ratio of 1.12. The mean age of the patients was 33 years ± 14. The age range of 20 to 40 years was the most represented (42%). Fifteen percent (15%) of patients were living with HIV. The majority of patients were from urban areas (56.4%). Forty-nine percent (49%) of the patients worked in the informal sector. Clinically, the reasons for consultation were dominated by fever, alteration of general condition, neurological disorders, digestive disorders, respiratory signs, urinary signs and diffuse pain. The physical examination showed that 48.1% of the patients had meningeal irritation syndrome, 10% had convulsions and 10% had focal signs, trismus was present in 4% of the patients and facial paralysis in 3%. In the digestive system, hepatomegaly was present in 29% of patients and digestive candidiasis in 31%. Respiratory examination showed crepitus and fluid effusion syndrome in 26.83% and 20.62% of patients respectively. The presumptive diagnosis was dominated by bacterial meningitis, salmonellosis and bronchopneumonia with banal germs. In terms of treatment, the beta-lactam family of drugs was the most prescribed. They were followed by aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. The evolution was marked by the death of 50 patients (15%). Conclusion: The most prescribed molecules belong to the family of Beta-lactam. And this prescription improved the outcome of patients. Bacterial susceptibility studies will allow better orientation of probabilistic antibiotic therapy in order to limit the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria.

Developing Additional Hospital Capacity at the Community Level

Hospitals in the United States are being challenged to provide the capacity for adult medicine and surgery care. The study suggested that the hospitals of Syracuse, New York have generated additional inpatient capacity through a number of efforts. One program involved moving some low severity of illness inpatient procedures to ambulatory care. A different approach has also avoided inpatient utilization by diverting incoming ambulances to different providers. The third program evaluated in the study, length of stay reduction, was a different type of initiative. It has generated additional inpatient capacity by reducing the amount of inpatient care provided. In effect, it has increased inpatient capacity by addressing the efficiency of care. These programs illustrate the potential for improving hospital capacity at the community level. Each of them was developed by acute care providers using local services.

Developing an evidence-based and theory informed intervention to involve families in patients care after surgery: A quality improvement project

Objectives: In the post-surgical setting,active involvement of family caregivers has the potential to improve patient outcomes by prevention of surgical complications that are sensitive to fundamental care.This paper describes the development of a theoretically grounded program to enhance the active involvement of family caregivers in fundamental care for post-surgical patients.Methods: We used a quality improvement project following a multi-phase design.In Phase 1,an iterative method was used to combine evidence from a narrative review and professionals' preferences.In Phase 2,the logic model underlying the program was developed guided by four steps: (1) confirm situation,intervention aim,and target population;(2) documented expected outcomes,and outputs of the intervention;(3) identify and describe assumptions,external factors and inputs;and (4) confirm intervention components.Results: Phase 1 identified a minimum set of family involvement activities that were both supported by staff and the narrative review.In Phase 2,the logic model was developed and includes (1) the inputs (e.g.educational-and environmental support),(2) the ultimate outcomes (e.g.reduction of postoperative complications),(3) the intermediate outcomes (e.g.behavioural changes),and (4) immediate outcomes (e.g.improved knowledge,skills and attitude).Conclusions: We demonstrated how we aimed to change our practice to an environment in which family caregivers were stimulated to be actively involved in postoperative care on surgical wards,and how we took different factors into account.The description of this program may provide a solid basis for professionals to implement the family involvement program in their own setting.