A 30-day readmissions prediction model for patients prescribed outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy identified older age, aminoglycoside use, infection by resistant organisms and prior hospital discharges without intravenous antibiotics as factors elevating risk for readmission, according to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Using a database of OPAT patients' clinical histories, researchers found aminoglycoside use was most strongly tied to higher odds of readmission, followed by infection from resistant organisms, prior hospital discharges and, lastly, older age. Twenty-six percent of OPAT-prescribed patients were readmitted.
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Researchers suggest certain clinical characteristics can flag patients at risk for readmission at discharge, and interventions for OPAT patients should be developed to help curb readmission numbers.
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