Abstract:
Objectives: Access to patient information may affect how home-infusion surveillance staff identify central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). We characterized information hazards in home-infusion CLABSI surveillance and identified possible strategies to mitigate information hazards.
Design: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.
Setting and participants: The study included 21 clinical staff members involved in CLABSI surveillance at 5 large home-infusion agencies covering 13 states and the District of Columbia.
Methods: Interviews were conducted by 1 researcher. Transcripts were coded by 2 researchers; consensus was reached by discussion.
Results: Data revealed the following barriers: information overload, information underload, information scatter, information conflict, and erroneous information. Respondents identified 5 strategies to mitigate information chaos: (1) engage information technology in developing reports; (2) develop streamlined processes for acquiring and sharing data among staff; (3) enable staff access to hospital electronic health records; (4) use a single, validated, home-infusion CLABSI surveillance definition; and (5) develop relationships between home-infusion surveillance staff and inpatient healthcare workers.
Conclusions: Information chaos occurs in home-infusion CLABSI surveillance and may affect the development of accurate CLABSI rates in home-infusion therapy. Implementing strategies to minimize information chaos will enhance intra- and interteam collaborations in addition to improving patient-related outcomes.
Reference:Hannum SM, Oladapo-Shittu O, Salinas AB, Weems K, Marsteller J, Gurses AP, Shpitser I, Klein E, Cosgrove SE, Keller SC. Controlling the chaos: Information management in home-infusion central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) surveillance. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2023 Apr 11;3(1):e69. doi: 10.1017/ash.2023.134. PMID: 37113198; PMCID: PMC10127240.