Researchers examined the impact of quick identification of pathogens using blood cultures and antibiotic stewardship on rates of S. aureus bacteremia at a community hospital. The research results were presented at the ASM Microbe 2017 meeting, which took place in New Orleans, from June 1 to June 5.
Researchers performed a retrospective comparison study of outcomes at a medium-sized hospital serving a rural population. They studied the implementation of a program involving a rapid blood culture identification panel along with antibiotic stewardship. They examined patients with S. aureus bacteremia before and after implementation of the program. There were 33 patients each in the before and after groups.
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The researchers found the after implementation group experienced:
● A three-day reduction in the average length of hospital stay
● A 50 percent reduction in the 30 day readmission rate
● A 17 percent reduction in 30 day all-cause mortality
Additionally, researchers found the reduced length of hospital stay resulted in cost savings of approximately $4,290 per patient.