Academic literature on the topic 'Urinary tract infections – Computer network resources'

Sensorial analysis based on the utilisation of human senses, is one of the most important and straightforward investigation methods in food and chemical analysis. An electronic nose has been used to detect in vivo Urinary Tract Infections from 45 suspected cases that were sent for analysis in a UK Health Laboratory environment. These samples were analysed by incubation in a volatile generation test tube system for 4–5 h. The volatile production patterns were then analysed using an electronic nose system with 14 conducting polymer sensors. An intelligent model consisting of an odour generation mechanism, rapid volatile delivery and recovery system, and a classifier system based on learning techniques has been considered. The implementation of an Extended Normalised Radial Basis Function network with advanced features for determining its size and parameters and the concept of fusion of multiple classifiers dedicated to specific feature parameters has been also adopted in this study. The proposed scheme achieved a very high classification rate of the testing dataset, demonstrating in this way the efficiency of the proposed scheme compared with other approaches. This study has shown the potential for early detection of microbial contaminants in urine samples using electronic nose technology.

Abstract Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infectious indications for antibiotic prescribing in the outpatient setting. With the exponential growth of virtual visits over the past decade, virtual visits represent an important ambulatory care target for antimicrobial stewardship programs outside of traditional office visits. This study aimed to compare the appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy between virtual visits and office visits for adult females diagnosed with uncomplicated UTIs within a primary care network. Methods This retrospective cohort study evaluated adult female patients diagnosed with a UTI within a primary care network comprised of 44 outpatient sites. The primary objective was to compare guideline-concordant antibiotic prescribing between virtual visits and office visits. Guideline-concordance was determined based on local antibiogram-based treatment recommendations. Secondary objectives included comparing appropriate treatment duration and use of diagnostic testing resources between groups. Additionally, patient outcomes were compared between groups including 48-hour, 7-day, and 30-day re-visits, or development of Clostridioides difficile infection within 30 days. Results A total of 350 patients were included in this study, with 175 patients in each group. Patients treated for a UTI via a virtual visit were more likely to be prescribed a first-line antibiotic (74.9% vs 59.4%; P = 0.002). Additionally, virtual visits were more likely to prescribe an appropriate duration (100% vs 53.1%; P= < 0.0001). Patients treated via office visits were more likely to have a urinalysis (0% vs 97.1%; P < 0.001) and urine culture (0% vs 73.1%; P < 0.0001) ordered. There was no difference between groups in 48-hour or 30-day revisits, however, patients completing office visits were more likely to have a revisit within 7 days (18.9% vs 5.1%; P < 0.0001). In multivariate logistic regression, UTI care via office visit was the only independent risk factor for 7-day revisit (OR 3.74, 95% CI 1.31 -10.67). Conclusion In adult female patients presenting with uncomplicated UTIs, care at a virtual visit was associated with significantly improved antimicrobial prescribing compared to office visits and decreased utilization of diagnostic and follow-up resources. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost-effectiveness of sequential intravenous-to-oral ofloxacin versus intravenous-to-oral standard switch therapy for the treatment of patients with sepsis who are hospitalized with bacterial infections. DESIGN: Cost-effectiveness analysis from a provider perspective, including resources important to an integrated healthcare network, of a randomized, open-label, controlled, clinical trial. SETTING: Millard Fillmore Health System, Buffalo, NY. PATIENTS: Hospitalized adults requiring parenteral antibiotics for a complicated urinary tract infection, lower respiratory tract infection, or skin and soft tissue infection. INTERVENTIONS: Sequential intravenous-to-oral ofloxacin or standard intravenous-to-oral switch antibiotics. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical outcomes and direct costs associated with hospitalization, primary physician services, specialist physician services, and outpatient care. RESULTS: Eighty-two of 89 patients randomized into the two treatment groups were evaluable. Standard switch therapy failed with 12 patients versus 10 patients receiving ofloxacin. Complete economic data were available for 74 patients. Sequential ofloxacin therapy resulted in a 1-day-shorter antibiotic-related hospitalization without evidence of recurrent infection during the posttherapy follow-up evaluations. An average cost savings of $399 per patient was achieved in the sequential ofloxacin group. Although this difference did not attain statistical significance (probably due to the large variance), it is an economically significant finding. The cost-effectiveness ratios were $5735 per successful outcome for the standard switch therapy group versus $5126 per successful outcome in the sequential ofloxacin group. CONCLUSIONS: Sequential ofloxacin was as effective as and consistently less expensive than standard switch antibiotics in the initial evaluation and in the sensitivity analysis of room cost and drug acquisition cost. Standard switch therapy would have to be greater than 25% more effective than sequential ofloxacin therapy to change the economic decision.

Abstract Objectives: Telemedicine visits are an increasingly popular method of care for mild infectious complaints, including uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), and they are an important target for antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) to evaluate quality of prescribing. In this study, we compared antimicrobial prescribing in a primary care network for uncomplicated UTIs treated through virtual visits and at in-office visits. Design: Retrospective cohort study comparing guideline-concordant antibiotic prescribing for uncomplicated UTI between virtual visits and office visits. Setting: Primary care network composed of 44 outpatient sites and a single virtual visit platform. Patients: Adult female patients diagnosed with a UTI between January 1 and December 31, 2018. Methods: Virtual visit prescribing was compared to office visit prescribing, including agent, duration, and patient outcomes. The health system ASP provides annual education to all outpatient providers regarding local antibiogram trends and prescribing guidelines. Guideline-concordant therapy was assessed based on the network’s ASP guidelines. Results: In total, 350 patients were included, with 175 per group. Patients treated for a UTI through a virtual visit were more likely to receive a first-line antibiotic agent (74.9% vs 59.4%; P = .002) and guideline-concordant duration (100% vs 53.1%; P < .001). Patients treated through virtual visits were also less likely to have a urinalysis (0% vs 97.1%; P < .001) or urine culture (0% vs 73.1%; P < .001) ordered and were less likely to revisit within 7 days (5.1% vs 18.9%; P < .001). Conclusions: UTI care through a virtual visit was associated with more appropriate antimicrobial prescribing compared to office visits and decreased utilization of diagnostic and follow-up resources.