Rationale: Understanding the causes and factors related to readmission for an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) within a nationwide database including all payers and ages can provide valuable input for the development of generalizable readmission reduction strategies. Objectives: To determine the rates, causes, and predictors for early (3-, 7-, and 30-d) readmission in patients hospitalized with AECOPD in the United States using the Nationwide Readmission Database after the initiation of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, but before its expansion to COPD. Methods: We conducted an analysis of the Nationwide Readmission Database from 2013 to 2014. Index admissions and readmissions for an AECOPD were defined consistent with Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program guidelines. We investigated the percentage of 30-day readmissions occurring each day after discharge and the most common readmission diagnoses at different time periods after hospitalization. The relationship between predictors (categorized as patient, clinical, and hospital factors) and early readmission were evaluated using a hierarchical two-level logistic model. To examine covariate effects on early-day readmission, predictors for 3-, 7-, and 30-day readmissions were modeled separately. Results: There were 202,300 30-day readmissions after 1,055,830 index AECOPD admissions, a rate of 19.2%. The highest readmission rates (4.2–5.5%) were within the first 72 hours of discharge, and 58% of readmissions were within the first 15 days. Respiratory-based diseases were the most common reasons for readmission (52.4%), and COPD was the most common diagnosis (28.4%). Readmission diagnoses were similar at different time periods after discharge. Early readmission was associated with patient (Medicaid payer status, lower household income, and higher comorbidity burden) and clinical factors (longer length of stay and discharge to a skilled nursing facility). Predictors did not vary substantially by time of readmission after discharge within the 30-day window. Conclusions: Thirty-day readmissions after an AECOPD remain a major healthcare burden, and are characterized by a similar spectrum of readmission diagnoses. Predictors associated with readmission include both patient and clinical factors. Development of a COPD-specific risk stratification algorithm based on these factors may be necessary to better predict patients with AECOPD at high risk of early readmission.

Antimicrobial resistance is a widely recognized public health threat, and stewardship interventions to combat this problem are well described. Less is known about antifungal stewardship (AFS) initiatives and their influence within the United States. The purpose of this study was to evaluate evidence on the impact of AFS interventions on clinical and performance measures. A systematic review of English language studies identified in the PubMed and EMBASE databases was performed through November 2017. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA. Search terms included antifungal stewardship, antimicrobial stewardship, Candida, candidemia, candiduria, and invasive fungal disease. Eligible studies were those that described an AFS program or intervention occurring in the US and evaluated clinical or performance measures. Fifty-four articles were identified and 13 were included. Five studies evaluated AFS interventions and reported clinical outcomes (mortality and length of stay) and performance measures (appropriate antifungal choice and time to therapy). The remaining eight studies evaluated general stewardship interventions and reported data on antifungal consumption. All studies were single center, quasi-experimental with varying interventions across studies. AFS programs had no impact on mortality (3 of 3 studies), with an overall rate of 27% in the intervention group and 23% in the non-intervention group. Length of stay (5 of 5) was also similar between groups (range, 9–25 vs. 11–22). Time to antifungal therapy improved in 2 of 5 studies, and appropriate choice of antifungal increased in 2 of 2 studies. Antifungal consumption was significantly blunted or reduced following stewardship initiation (8 of 8), although a direct comparison between studies was not possible due to a lack of common units. The available evidence suggests that AFS interventions can improve performance measures and decrease antifungal consumption. Although this review did not detect improvements in clinical outcomes, significant adverse outcomes were not reported.

Tracheobronchial colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) has been shown to negatively impact outcomes in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. There is uncertainty whether the same association is prevalent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially in the outpatient setting. Our objective was to determine (1) whether PA isolation is associated with mortality and (2) changes in exacerbation and hospitalization rates within a longitudinal cohort of COPD outpatients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization was ascertained in monthly sputum cultures in a prospective cohort of COPD patients from 1994 to 2014. All-cause mortality was compared between patients who were colonized during their follow-up period (PA⁺) and those who remained free of colonization (PA⁻); Cox proportional hazards models were used. Exacerbation and hospitalization rates were evaluated by 2-rate χ ² and segmented regression analysis for 12 months before and 24 months after PA isolation. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from sputum in 73 of 181 (40%) patients. Increased mortality was seen with PA isolation: 56 of 73 (77%) PA⁺ patients died compared with 73 of 108 (68%) PA⁻ patients (P = .004). In adjusted models, PA⁺ patients had a 47% higher risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–2.11; P = .04). Exacerbation rates were higher for the PA⁺ group during preisolation (15.4 vs 9.0 per 100 person-months, P < .001) and postisolation periods (15.7 vs 7.5, P < .001). Hospitalization rates were higher during the postisolation period among PA⁺ patients (6.25 vs 2.44, P < .001). Tracheobronchial colonization by PA in COPD outpatients was associated with higher morbidity and mortality. This suggests that PA likely contributes to adverse clinical outcomes rather than just a marker of worsening disease.