Emergency medicine pharmacist review of pending blood cultures after ED discharge
Evaluation of Emergency Medicine Pharmacist Impact on Blood Culture Review Following Emergency Department Discharge
This project will see if having emergency medicine pharmacists review pending blood cultures helps catch positive blood infections sooner for patients discharged from the emergency department.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 126 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Methodist Health System Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Dallas, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT07486362 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a retrospective multicenter review using electronic medical records from Methodist Charlton Medical Center and Methodist Dallas Medical Center for visits between July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2023. The analysis compares outcomes when blood cultures are reviewed, acted on, and documented by emergency medicine pharmacists (at MCMC) versus review by charge nurses and physicians (at MDMC). Data elements include patient demographics, culture timing and results, documentation of review, notification timing, and subsequent antibiotic actions. Only patients discharged from the ED with pending blood cultures who later had a positive result are included, and data collection will begin after IRB approval.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients who were discharged from the ED with pending blood cultures and later had a positive blood culture, excluding those admitted or transferred to another acute care facility.
Not a fit: Patients who were admitted from the ED, transferred to another facility, or who had negative blood cultures are unlikely to benefit from this analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could get positive blood culture results to patients and clinicians faster, enabling earlier treatment and reducing the risk of complications like sepsis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown pharmacist review of late culture results can improve follow-up and antimicrobial management, so this approach builds on existing evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with a positive blood culture result, collected during the initial ED visit and who were discharged from the ED to the outpatient/long-term care setting prior to a critical blood Groups culture result. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients admitted to inpatient and patients transferred from ED to another acute care facility.
Where this trial is running
Dallas, Texas
- Clinical Research Institute Methodist Health System — Dallas, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Andrew Karpisek, MD — Methodist Health System
- Study coordinator: Crystee Cooper, DHEd
- Email: clinicalresearch@mhd.com
- Phone: 214-947-1280
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.