Pharmacist-Led MRSA Nasal Testing Protocol
Author Information
Author(s): Thayer Blain, Edwards Jonathan D., Belk Madeline G., Durham Spencer H.
Primary Institution: Huntsville Hospital
Hypothesis
Can a protocol allowing pharmacists to order MRSA nasal PCR screenings improve patient outcomes in hospitalized pneumonia patients?
Conclusion
Pharmacists ordering MRSA nasal PCR tests significantly reduced vancomycin days of therapy, average length of stay, and 30-day readmission rates.
Supporting Evidence
- Pharmacists ordered MRSA nasal PCRs in 95 patients, while physicians ordered them in 319 patients.
- 82% of the PCR tests were negative, allowing for the discontinuation of vancomycin.
- The average length of stay was significantly lower in the post-protocol group.
Takeaway
This study shows that when pharmacists can order MRSA tests, patients stay in the hospital for less time and go home sooner.
Methodology
A retrospective chart review compared patients who received vancomycin before and after implementing a protocol allowing pharmacists to order MRSA nasal PCR tests.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the study design and the fact that the pre-protocol group was a random sample of only 100 patients.
Limitations
The study is a single-center, retrospective analysis and did not assess patients on linezolid.
Participant Demographics
Most patients were in their mid-60s, male, and white.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 0.46–2.24
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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