Association of Treatment With Medications for Opioid Use Disorder With Mortality After Hospitalization for Injection Drug Use-Associated Infective Endocarditis

Infective Endocarditis in People Who Inject Drugs-A 5-Year Follow-up: "I've Seen the Needle and the Damage Done"

Background

Infective endocarditis (IE) among people who inject drugs (PWID) has been associated with better short-term outcome. Long-term outcome of PWID with IE is poorly known.

Methods

This retrospective population-based study included PWID with IE and non-PWID adults with community-acquired IE who were diagnosed and treated in Southern Finland between 2013 and 2017 and survived the initial IE episode. All patients were followed for 5 years. Data were collected on drug use, receipt of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), survival, and subsequent IE episode during follow-up.

Results

Seventy-five PWID with IE and 98 patients with community-acquired IE were included. Buprenorphine and amphetamine or other stimulant were the most used substances among PWID. Sixteen PWID received MOUD before onset of IE, and 33 received MOUD at the time of discharge. Most PWID (86%) received addiction specialist consultation during the hospitalization. Fifteen patients in the PWID IE group experienced a new IE episode within 5-year follow-up as compared with 5 patients in the non-PWID IE group (odds ratio [OR], 4.65; P = .003). One-year all-cause mortality was 4.0% (3/75) in PWID IE and 4.1% (4/98) in non-PWID IE. Five-year all-cause mortality was 18.7% (14/75) in PWID IE and 13.3% (13/98) in non-PWID IE (P = .399). In multivariate analysis of the whole group, injection drug use (OR, 12.2), female gender (OR, 2.62), and higher age-adjusted comorbidity index were independent factors associated with death during 5-year follow-up.

Conclusions

Long-term survival of PWID with IE is poor, and they are at increased risk of a new IE episode as compared with non-PWID with community-acquired IE. More efforts in the treatment of addiction are needed.

Risk Factors for Infective Endocarditis and Serious Injection Related Infections Among People Who Inject Drugs in Los Angeles, CA and Denver, CO

BACKGROUND

Injection drug use-related infective endocarditis (IDU-IE) and bacterial infections have grown in the United States, but little is known about risk factors for these infections in community samples of people who inject drugs (PWID).

METHODS

During 2021-22, PWID were recruited from community settings and surveyed for history of IDU-IE, serious injection related symptoms (SIRI) and untreated infection symptoms in the last 3 months. We used bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression to examine factors associated with these outcomes.

RESULTS

Among participants (n = 472), 7 % reported ever having IDU-IE, 14 % reported having SIRI symptoms and 20 % reported untreated infection symptoms in the last 3 months. Ever having IDU-IE was associated with HCV (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=8.37; 95 % confidence interval [CI]=2.46, 28.49), prior MRSA infection (AOR=5.37; 95 % CI=2.44, 11.80), identifying as female and/or gender minority person (AOR=3.14; 95 % CI=1.42, 6.95). SIRI symptoms were associated with greater material hardship (compared to low; AOR=2.47; 95 % CI=1.17, 5.22), fentanyl use (AOR=2.15; 95 % CI=1.01, 4.61), sharing filter/cotton (AOR=1.93; 95 % CI=1.10, 3.39), and licking needle prior to injection (AOR=1.85; 95 % CI=1.02, 3.36). Untreated infection symptoms were associated with poor quality sleep (AOR=2.04; 95 % CI=1.21, 3.43), any mental health diagnoses (AOR=2.01; 95 % CI=3.56), any chronic pain (AOR=1.89; 95 % CI=1.14, 3.11), sharing filters (AOR=1.81; 95 % CI=1.10, 2.98), and prior MRSA infection (AOR=1.75; 95 % CI=1.04, 2.97).

CONCLUSION

Risk factors identified include treatable co-morbidities (i.e., HCV & MRSA history, mental health, pain, opioid use), modifiable health behaviors (i.e., equipment sharing, needle-licking), and addressable structural conditions (material hardship, housing).

Linkage to Care Outcomes Following Treatment in A Low-Threshold Substance Use Disorder Bridge Clinic

BACKGROUND

Treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) remains low in the United States. To better meet needs of people who use alcohol and other drugs, low threshold bridge clinics which offer treatment without barrier and harm reduction services have gained prevalence. Bridge clinics work to surmount barriers to care by providing same day medication and treatment for SUD and eventually transitioning patients to community-based treatment providers. In this study, we examine SUD treatment outcomes among patients who transitioned out of a bridge clinic.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of posttreatment outcomes of patients seen at an urban medical center's bridge clinic between 2017 and 2022. The primary outcome was being in care anywhere at time of follow-up. We also examined the proportion of patients who completed each step of the cascade of care following transfer: connection to transfer clinic, completion of a clinic visit, retention in care, and medication use among those remaining in care at the transfer clinic. We examined the association of different bridge clinic services with still being in care anywhere and the association between successful transfer with being in care and taking medication at follow-up.

RESULTS

Of 209 eligible participants, 63 were surveyed. Sixty-five percent of participants identified as male, 74% as white, 12% as Hispanic, 6% as Black, and 16% were unhoused. Most participants (78%) reported being connected to SUD treatment from the Bridge Clinic, and 37% remained in care at the same facility at the time of survey. Eighty-four percent reported being in treatment anywhere and 68% reported taking medication for SUD at follow-up, with most participants reporting taking buprenorphine (46%).

CONCLUSION

Of those participants who transitioned out of a bridge clinic into community-based SUD care, 78% were successfully connected to ongoing care and 84% were still in care at follow-up.

Infective Endocarditis Among Women Who Inject Drugs

Importance

In the US and Canada, women comprise approximately one-third of people who inject drugs (PWID); however, clinical characteristics and outcomes of injection drug use complications in women are poorly described.

Objective

To identify clinical characteristics and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) among women who inject drugs (WWID).

Design, Setting, and Participants

This is a retrospective cohort study of PWID with definite IE (per 2023 Duke-International Society for Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases criteria) admitted from April 5, 2007, to March 15, 2018, at 5 tertiary-care hospitals in London, Ontario, and Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Data were analyzed from June 1, 2023, to August 2, 2024. Descriptive analyses were conducted for baseline characteristics at index hospitalization and stratified by sex.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the difference in 5-year survival between female and male PWID with IE. The secondary outcome was 1-year survival. Multivariable time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted for variables of clinical importance to evaluate 5-year mortality.

Results

Of 430 PWID with IE, 220 (51.2%) were women; of 332 non-PWID with IE, 101 (30.4%) were women. WWID with IE were younger than men (median [IQR] age, 31.5 [27.0-38.5] vs 38.5 [31.0-49.0] years), and 11 of 220 (5.0%) were pregnant at index hospitalization, although only 12 of 220 (5.5%) had contraceptive use documented. Women had a larger proportion of right-sided IE than men (158 of 220 women [71.8%] vs 113 of 210 men [53.8%]). WWID living in urban areas had higher mortality than WWID in rural areas (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.70; 95% CI, 1.15-6.34; P = .02). Overall mortality was lower among PWID referred for substance use disorder counseling in centers with inpatient services compared with centers with only outpatient referrals (aHR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.17-0.51; P < .001). Overall mortality was lower with right-sided heart disease for both women (aHR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.27-0.71; P < .001) and men (aHR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.10-0.50; P < .001) and was higher with congestive heart failure for both women (aHR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.29-4.18; P = .005) and men (aHR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.07-2.79; P = .02).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort of PWID with IE, women were overrepresented. Reasons for women's disproportionately high IE incidence need further study. Inpatient substance use disorder services, contraception counseling, and enhanced social support for WWID living in urban areas need to be prioritized.

Addiction Consultation Services for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Initiation and Engagement: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are highly effective, but only 22% of individuals in the US with opioid use disorder receive them. Hospitalization potentially provides an opportunity to initiate MOUD and link patients to ongoing treatment.

Objective

To study the effectiveness of interprofessional hospital addiction consultation services in increasing MOUD treatment initiation and engagement.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster randomized implementation and effectiveness (hybrid type 1) trial was conducted in 6 public hospitals in New York, New York, and included 2315 adults with hospitalizations identified in Medicaid claims data between October 2017 and January 2021. Data analysis was conducted in December 2023. Hospitals were randomized to an intervention start date, and outcomes were compared during treatment as usual (TAU) and intervention conditions. Bayesian analysis accounted for the clustering of patients within hospitals and open cohort nature of the study. The addiction consultation service intervention was compared with TAU using posterior probabilities of model parameters from hierarchical logistic regression models that were adjusted for age, sex, and study period. Eligible participants had an admission or discharge diagnosis of opioid use disorder or opioid poisoning/adverse effects, were hospitalized at least 1 night in a medical/surgical inpatient unit, and were not receiving MOUD before hospitalization.

Interventions

Hospitals implemented an addiction consultation service that provided inpatient specialty care for substance use disorders. Consultation teams comprised a medical clinician, social worker or addiction counselor, and peer counselor.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The dual primary outcomes were (1) MOUD treatment initiation during the first 14 days after hospital discharge and (2) MOUD engagement for the 30 days following initiation.

Results

Of 2315 adults, 628 (27.1%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 47.0 (12.4) years. Initiation of MOUD was 11.0% in the Consult for Addiction Treatment and Care in Hospitals (CATCH) program vs 6.7% in TAU, engagement was 7.4% vs 5.3%, respectively, and continuation for 6 months was 3.2% vs 2.4%. Patients hospitalized during CATCH had 7.96 times higher odds of initiating MOUD (log-odds ratio, 2.07; 95% credible interval, 0.51-4.00) and 6.90 times higher odds of MOUD engagement (log-odds ratio, 1.93; 95% credible interval, 0.09-4.18).

Conclusions

This randomized clinical trial found that interprofessional addiction consultation services significantly increased postdischarge MOUD initiation and engagement among patients with opioid use disorder. However, the observed rates of MOUD initiation and engagement were still low; further efforts are still needed to improve hospital-based and community-based services for MOUD treatment.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03611335.

Navigating Care Refusal and Noncompliance in Patients with Opioid Use Disorder

BACKGROUND

For many emergency physicians (EPs), deciding whether or not to allow a patient suffering the ill effects of opioid use to refuse care is the most frequent and fraught situation in which they encounter issues of decision-making capacity, informed refusal, and autonomy. Despite the frequency of this issue and the well-known impacts of opioid use disorder on decision-making, the medical ethics community has offered little targeted analysis or guidance regarding these situations.

DISCUSSION

As a result, EPs demonstrate significant variability in how they evaluate and respond to them, with highly divergent understandings and application of concepts such as decision-making capacity, informed consent, autonomy, legal repercussions, and strategies to resolve the clinical dilemma. In this paper, we seek to provide more clarity to this issue for the EPs.

CONCLUSIONS

Successfully navigating this issue requires that EPs understand the specific effects that opioid use disorder has on decision-making, and how that in turn bears on the ethical concepts of autonomy, capacity, and informed refusal. Understanding these concepts can lead to helpful strategies to resolve these commonly-encountered dilemmas.

Improving Linkage for Patients With Injection-Drug-Use-Related Endocarditis and Osteomyelitis to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Through a Telephone Intervention

ABSTRACT

The opioid overdose crisis has continued to worsen, with a concomitant increase in serious injection-related infections, such as endocarditis and osteomyelitis. Usual care of these infections involves long-term intravenous antibiotics, typically administered via a peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) at home. In patients with a history of opioid use disorder who inject drugs, a PICC has long been viewed as a high-risk intervention that may contribute to illicit substance use due to ease of venous access; thus, providers are often uncomfortable discharging these patients home to complete their antibiotics. As a result, many patients remain hospitalized or are discharge to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in order to complete their antibiotics. Challenges to this model include difficulty finding SNFs that will accept these patients, inability for these SNFs to continue their medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and inability to coordinate care with outpatient MOUD providers at SNF discharge. This quality improvement project sought to increase linkage to outpatient MOUD on SNF discharge via a telephone intervention. A total of 11 patients qualified for this intervention. Although patients were still in an SNF, 4/7 (57.1%) of patients were successfully contacted. Once they were discharged from the SNF, only 3/10 (30.0%) of patients were successfully reached. Of those 30.0% who were contacted, all of them had attended their outpatient MOUD appointment. We suggest that future linkage interventions in this population may benefit from utilizing existing care team members to facilitate linkage, to maximize the rapport built during an inpatient stay.

Medication for Opioid Use Disorder After Serious Injection-Related Infections in Massachusetts

Importance

Serious injection-related infections (SIRIs) cause significant morbidity and mortality. Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) improves outcomes but is underused. Understanding MOUD treatment after SIRIs could inform interventions to close this gap.

Objectives

To examine rehospitalization, death rates, and MOUD receipt for individuals with SIRIs and to assess characteristics associated with MOUD receipt.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study used the Massachusetts Public Health Data Warehouse, which included all individuals with a claim in the All-Payer Claims Database and is linked to individual-level data from multiple government agencies, to assess individuals aged 18 to 64 years with opioid use disorder and hospitalization for endocarditis, osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, septic arthritis, or bloodstream infection (ie, SIRI) between July 1, 2014, and December 31, 2019. Data analysis was performed from November 2021 to May 2023.

Exposure

Demographic and clinical factors potentially associated with posthospitalization MOUD receipt.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was MOUD receipt measured weekly in the 12 months after hospitalization. We used zero-inflated negative binomial regression to examine characteristics associated with any MOUD receipt and rates of treatment in the 12 months after hospitalization. Secondary outcomes were receipt of any buprenorphine formulation, methadone, and extended-release naltrexone examined individually.

Results

Among 8769 individuals (mean [SD] age, 43.2 [12.0] years; 5066 [57.8%] male) who survived a SIRI hospitalization, 4305 (49.1%) received MOUD, 5919 (67.5%) were rehospitalized, and 973 (11.1%) died within 12 months. Of those treated with MOUD in the 12 months after hospitalization, the mean (SD) number of MOUD initiations during follow-up was 3.0 (1.7), with 956 of 4305 individuals (22.2%) receiving treatment at least 80% of the time. MOUD treatment after SIRI hospitalization was significantly associated with MOUD in the prior 6 months (buprenorphine: adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 16.51; 95% CI, 13.81-19.74; methadone: AOR, 28.46; 95% CI, 22.41-36.14; or naltrexone: AOR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.56-2.69). Prior buprenorphine (incident rate ratio [IRR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11-1.24) or methadone (IRR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.79-2.01) use was associated with higher treatment rates after hospitalization, and prior naltrexone use (IRR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.95) was associated with lower rates.

Conclusions and Relevance

This study found that in the year after a SIRI hospitalization in Massachusetts, mortality and rehospitalization were common, and only half of patients received MOUD. Treatment with MOUD before a SIRI was associated with posthospitalization MOUD initiation and time receiving MOUD. Efforts are needed to initiate MOUD treatment during SIRI hospitalizations and subsequently retain patients in treatment.

Revive and Refuse: Capacity, Autonomy, and Refusal of Care After Opioid Overdose

Physicians generally recommend that patients resuscitated with naloxone after opioid overdose stay in the emergency department for a period of observation in order to prevent harm from delayed sequelae of opioid toxicity. Patients frequently refuse this period of observation despiteenefit to risk. Healthcare providers are thus confronted with the challenge of how best to protect the patient's interests while also respecting autonomy, including assessing whether the patient is making an autonomous choice to refuse care. Previous studies have shown that physicians have widely divergent approaches to navigating these conflicts. This paper reviews what is known about the effects of opioid use disorder on decision-making, and argues that some subset of these refusals are non-autonomous choices, even when patients appear to have decision making capacity. This conclusion has several implications for how physicians assess and respond to patients refusing medical recommendations after naloxone resuscitation.

The Intersection of Substance Use Disorders and Infectious Diseases in the Emergency Department

Substance use disorders (SUDs) intersect clinically with many infectious diseases, leading to significant morbidity and mortality if either condition is inadequately treated. In this article, we will describe commonly seen SUDs in the emergency department (ED) as well as their associated infectious diseases, discuss social drivers of patient outcomes, and introduce novel ED-based interventions for co-occurring conditions. Clinicians should come away from this article with prescriptions for both antimicrobial medications and pharmacotherapy for SUDs, as well as an appreciation for social barriers, to care for these patients.

Strategies to Improve Patient-Centered Care for Drug Use-Associated Infective Endocarditis: JACC Focus Seminar 2/4

Drug use-associated infective endocarditis (DUA-IE) is a major cause of illness and death for people with substance use disorder (SUD). Investigations to date have largely focused on advancing the care of patients with DUA-IE and included drug use disorder treatment, decisions about surgery, and choice of antibiotics during the period of hospitalization. Transitions from hospital to outpatient care are relatively unstudied and frequently a key factor of uncontrolled infection, continued substance use, and death. In this paper, we review the evidence supporting cross-disciplinary care for people with DUA-IE and highlight domains that need further clinician, institutional, and research investment in clinicians and institutions. We highlight best practices for treating people with DUA-IE, with a focus on addressing health disparities, meeting health-related social needs, and policy changes that can support care for people with DUA-IE in the hospital and when transitioning to the community.

The Impact of Addictions Management Following Cardiac Surgery on People Who Inject Drugs and Have Infective Endocarditis

Background

Managing reinfection in patients who inject drugs and have undergone cardiac surgery could reduce mortality. A significant gap exists in the management of addiction in this population and it is rarely addressed during index hospitalization for surgical intervention. This study sought to determine if management of addiction changed rates of readmission for reinfection.

Methods

This study was a retrospective chart review and analysis. Patients who underwent cardiac surgery for infective endocarditis due to injection drug use underwent a full chart review to determine if they received management of their addiction (addictions medicine consultation, social work consultation, medication- and/or opioid-assisted treatment, and community follow-up) following their surgical intervention.

Results

A total of 41 patients were identified who met the inclusion criteria. For addictions management, 43.2% of patients received an addictions medicine consultation, 67.6% received a social work consultation, 40.5% received medication- and/or opioid-assisted treatment, and 56.8% received community follow-up. Overall mortality of these patients was 21.6%, and 56.8% of patients were readmitted with reinfection. Multivariate logistic regression showed that patients who received intervention were 1.6 times more likely to be readmitted with reinfection (odds ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 0.29-9.41, P = 0.5736). Female patients had a significantly higher odds of reinfection, when adjusted for gender (odds ratio 9.95, 95% confidence interval 1.42-69.72, P = 0.021).

Conclusions

We demonstrated a nonstandardized approach to consultation and varying approaches to management of addiction. Patients who received intervention for addiction were more likely to be readmitted for reinfection, but this difference was not significant. Future efforts can include promotion of formalized addictions consultation services for high-risk patients.

Infective Endocarditis in Patients Addicted to Injected Opioid Drugs

BACKGROUND

Persons who inject drugs and require surgery for infective endocarditis have 2 potentially lethal diseases. Current postoperative rehabilitation efforts seem ineffective in preventing loss to follow-up, injection drug use relapse (relapse), and death.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to characterize drug use, psychosocial issues, surgical outcome, and postoperative addiction management, as well as loss to follow-up, relapse, and mortality and their risk factors.

METHODS

From January 2010 to June 2020, 227 persons who inject drugs, age 36 ± 9.9 years, underwent surgery for infective endocarditis at a quaternary hospital having special interest in developing addiction management programs. Postsurgery loss to follow-up, relapse, and death were assessed as competing risks and risk factors identified parametrically and by machine learning. CIs are 68% (±1 SE).

RESULTS

Heroin was the most self-reported drug injected (n = 183 [81%]). Psychosocial issues included homelessness (n = 56 [25%]), justice system involvement (n = 150 [66%]), depression (n = 118 [52%]), anxiety (n = 104 [46%]), and post-traumatic stress disorder (n = 33 [15%]). Four (1.8%) died in-hospital. Medication for opioid use disorder prescribed at discharge increased from 0% in 2010 to 100% in 2020. At 1 and 5 years, conditional probabilities of loss to follow-up were 16% (68% CI: 13%-22%) and 59% (68% CI: 44%-65%), relapse 32% (68% CI: 28%-34%) and 79% (68% CI: 74%-83%), and mortality 21% (68% CI: 18%-23%) and 68% (68% CI: 62%-72%). Younger age, heroin use, and lower education level were predictors of relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Infective endocarditis surgery can be performed with low mortality in persons who inject drugs, but addiction is far more lethal. Risk of loss to follow-up and relapse require more effective addiction strategies without which this major loss to society will continue.

Impact of Potential Case Misclassification by Administrative Diagnostic Codes on Outcome Assessment of Observational Study for People Who Inject Drugs

Introduction

Initiation of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) within the hospital setting may improve outcomes for people who inject drugs (PWID) hospitalized because of an infection. Many studies used International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes to identify PWID, although these may be misclassified and thus, inaccurate. We hypothesized that bias from misclassification of PWID using ICD codes may impact analyses of MOUD outcomes.

Methods

We analyzed a cohort of 36 868 cases of patients diagnosed with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia at 124 US Veterans Health Administration hospitals between 2003 and 2014. To identify PWID, we implemented an ICD code-based algorithm and a natural language processing (NLP) algorithm for classification of admission notes. We analyzed outcomes of prescribing MOUD as an inpatient using both approaches. Our primary outcome was 365-day all-cause mortality. We fit mixed-effects Cox regression models with receipt or not of MOUD during the index hospitalization as the primary predictor and 365-day mortality as the outcome.

Results

NLP identified 2389 cases as PWID, whereas ICD codes identified 6804 cases as PWID. In the cohort identified by NLP, receipt of inpatient MOUD was associated with a protective effect on 365-day survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, .29-.81; P < .01) compared with those not receiving MOUD. There was no significant effect of MOUD receipt in the cohort identified by ICD codes (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, .77-1.30; P = .99).

Conclusions

MOUD was protective of all-cause mortality when NLP was used to identify PWID, but not significant when ICD codes were used to identify the analytic subjects.

Barriers to initiate buprenorphine and methadone for opioid use disorder treatment with postdischarge treatment linkage

BACKGROUND

Hospitals are an essential site of care for people with opioid use disorder (OUD). Buprenorphine and methadone are underutilized in the hospital.

OBJECTIVES

Characterize barriers to in-hospital buprenorphine or methadone initiation to inform implementation strategies to increase OUD treatment provision.

DESIGN, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS

Survey of hospital-based clinicians' perceptions of OUD treatment from 12 hospitals conducted between June 2022 and August 2022.

MEASURES

Survey questions were grouped into six domains: (1) evidence to treat OUD, (2) hospital processes to treat OUD, (3) buprenorphine or methadone initiation, (4) clinical practices to treat OUD, (5) leadership prioritization of OUD treatment, and (6) job satisfaction. Likert responses were dichotomized and associations between "readiness" to initiate buprenorphine or methadone and each domain were assessed.

RESULTS

Of 160 respondents (60% response rate), 72 (45%) reported higher readiness to initiate buprenorphine compared to methadone, 55 (34%). Respondents with higher readiness to initiate medications for OUD were more likely to perceive that evidence supports the use of buprenorphine and methadone to treat OUD (p < .001), to perceive fewer barriers to treat OUD (p < .001), to incorporate OUD treatment into their clinical practice (p < .001), to perceive leadership support for OUD treatment (p < .007), and to have great job satisfaction (p < .04). Clinicians reported that OUD treatment protocols with treatment linkage, increased education, and addiction specialist support would facilitate OUD treatment provision.

CONCLUSION

Interventions that incorporate protocols to initiate medications for OUD, include addiction specialist support and education, and ensure postdischarge OUD treatment linkage could facilitate hospital-based OUD treatment provision.

Critical care for patients with substance use disorders

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To examine the impact of substance use disorders (SUDs) on critical illness and the role of critical care providers in treating SUDs. We discuss emerging evidence supporting hospital-based addiction treatment and highlight the clinical and research innovations needed to elevate the standards of care for patients with SUDs in the intensive care unit (ICU) amidst staggering individual and public health consequences.

RECENT FINDINGS

Despite the rapid increase of SUDs in recent years, with growing implications for critical care, dedicated studies focused on ICU patients with SUDs remain scant. Available data demonstrate SUDs are major risk factors for the development and severity of critical illness and are associated with poor outcomes. ICU patients with SUDs experience mutually reinforcing effects of substance withdrawal and pain, which amplify risks and consequences of delirium, and complicate management of comorbid conditions. Hospital-based addiction treatment can dramatically improve the health outcomes of hospitalized patients with SUDs and should begin in the ICU.

SUMMARY

SUDs have a significant impact on critical illness and post-ICU outcomes. High-quality cohort and treatment studies designed specifically for ICU patients with SUDs are needed to define best practices and improve health outcomes in this vulnerable population.

A Peer Recovery Coach Intervention for Hospitalized Patients with Opioid Use Disorder: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) are increasingly being hospitalized for acute medical illnesses. Despite initiation of medications for OUD (MOUDs), many discontinue treatment after discharge. To evaluate whether a psychosocial intervention can improve MOUD retention after hospitalization, we conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial of a peer recovery coach intervention.

METHODS

An existing peer recovery coach intervention was adapted for this trial. Hospitalized adults with OUD receiving MOUD treatment were randomized to receive either a recovery coach intervention or treatment-as-usual. For those in the intervention arm, the coach guided the participant to complete a relapse prevention plan, maintained contact throughout the 6-month follow-up period, encouraged MOUD continuation, and helped to identify community resources. Those receiving treatment-as-usual were discharged with a referral to outpatient treatment. Primary outcome was retention in MOUD treatment at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of participants readmitted to the hospital and the number of days until treatment discontinuation and to hospital readmission.

RESULTS

Twenty-five individuals who provided consent and randomized to the recovery coach intervention (n = 13) or treatment-as-usual (n = 12) were included in the analysis. No significant differences were found in the proportion of participants retained in MOUD treatment at 6 months (38.5% vs 41.7%, P = 0.87), proportion of participants readmitted at 6 months (46.2% vs 41.2%, P = 0.82), or the time to treatment discontinuation (log-rank P = 0.92) or readmission (log-rank P = 0.85).

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot trial failed to demonstrate that a recovery coach intervention improved MOUD treatment retention compared with treatment-as-usual among hospitalized individuals with OUD.

Substance Use Disorder Program Availability in Safety-Net and Non-Safety-Net Hospitals in the US

Importance

Safety-net hospitals (SNHs) are ideal sites to deliver addiction treatment to patients with substance use disorders (SUDs), but the availability of these services within SNHs nationwide remains unknown.

Objective

To examine differences in the delivery of different SUD programs in SNHs vs non-SNHs across the US and to determine whether these differences are increased in certain types of SNHs depending on ownership.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional analysis used data from the 2021 American Hospital Association Annual Survey of Hospitals to examine the associations of safety-net status and ownership with the availability of SUD services at acute care hospitals in the US. Data analysis was performed from January to March 2022.

Main Outcomes and Measures

This study used 2 survey questions from the American Hospital Association survey to determine the delivery of 5 hospital-based SUD services: screening, consultation, inpatient treatment services, outpatient treatment services, and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).

Results

A total of 2846 hospitals were included: 409 were SNHs and 2437 were non-SNHs. The lowest proportion of hospitals reported offering inpatient treatment services (791 hospitals [27%]), followed by MOUD (1055 hospitals [37%]), and outpatient treatment services (1087 hospitals [38%]). The majority of hospitals reported offering consultation (1704 hospitals [60%]) and screening (2240 hospitals [79%]). In multivariable models, SNHs were significantly less likely to offer SUD services across all 5 categories of services (screening odds ratio [OR], 0.62 [95% CI, 0.48-0.76]; consultation OR, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.47-0.83]; inpatient services OR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.55-0.97]; outpatient services OR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.59-0.99]; MOUD OR, 0.6 [95% CI, 0.46-0.78]). With the exception of MOUD, public or for-profit SNHs did not differ significantly from their non-SNH counterparts. However, nonprofit SNHs were significantly less likely to offer all 5 SUD services compared with their non-SNH counterparts (screening OR, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.41-0.66]; consultation OR, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.44-0.73]; inpatient services OR, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.33-0.61]; outpatient services OR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.44-0.76]; MOUD OR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.46-0.79]).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study of SNHs and non-SNHs, SNHs had significantly lower odds of offering the full range of SUD services. These findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that SNHs may face additional barriers to offering SUD programs. Further research is needed to understand these barriers and to identify strategies that support the adoption of evidence-based SUD programs in SNH settings.

Non-overdose acute care hospitalizations for opioid use disorder among commercially-insured adults: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Acute care inpatient admissions outside of psychiatric facilities have been increasingly identified as a critical touchpoint for opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. We sought to describe non-opioid overdose hospitalizations with documented OUD and examine receipt of post-discharge outpatient buprenorphine.

METHODS

We examined acute care hospitalizations with an OUD diagnosis in any position within US commercially-insured adults age 18-64 years (IBM MarketScan claims, 2013-2017), excluding opioid overdose diagnoses. We included individuals with ≥ 6 months of continuous enrollment prior to the index hospitalization and ≥ 10 days following discharge. We described demographic and hospitalization characteristics, including outpatient buprenorphine receipt within 10 days of discharge.

RESULTS

Most (87%) hospitalizations with documented OUD did not include opioid overdose. Of 56,717 hospitalizations (49,959 individuals), 56.8% had a primary diagnosis other than OUD, 37.0% had documentation of an alcohol-related diagnosis code, and 5.8% end in a self-directed discharge. Where opioid use disorder was not the primary diagnosis, 36.5% were due to other substance use disorders, and 23.1% were due to psychiatric disorders. Of all non-overdose hospitalizations who had prescription medication insurance coverage and who were discharged to an outpatient setting (n = 49, 237), 8.8% filled an outpatient buprenorphine prescription within 10 days of discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-overdose OUD hospitalizations often occur with substance use disorders and psychiatric disorders, and very few are followed by timely outpatient buprenorphine. Addressing the OUD treatment gap during hospitalization may include implementing medication for OUD for inpatients with a broad range of diagnoses.

Pilot randomized controlled trial of a hospital-based substance use treatment and recovery team (START) to improve initiation of medication for alcohol or opioid use disorder and linkage to follow-up care

OBJECTIVES

We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to explore whether a hospital inpatient addiction consult team (Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Team [START]) based on collaborative care was feasible, acceptable to patients, and whether it could improve uptake of medication in the hospital and linkage to care after discharge, as well as reduce substance use and hospital readmission. The START consisted of an addiction medicine specialist and care manager who implemented a motivational and discharge planning intervention.

METHODS

We randomized inpatients age ≥ 18 with a probable alcohol or opioid use disorder to receive START or usual care. We assessed feasibility and acceptability of START and the RCT, and we conducted an intent-to-treat analysis on data from the electronic medical record and patient interviews at baseline and 1-month postdischarge. The study compared RCT outcomes (medication for alcohol or opioid use disorder, linkage to follow-up care after discharge, substance use, hospital readmission) between arms by fitting logistic and linear regression models.

FINDINGS

Of 38 START patients, 97 % met with the addiction medicine specialist and care manager; 89 % received ≥8 of 10 intervention components. All patients receiving START found it to be somewhat or very acceptable. START patients had higher odds of initiating medication during the inpatient stay (OR 6.26, 95 % CI = 2.38-16.48, p < .001) and being linked to follow-up care (OR 5.76, 95 % CI = 1.86-17.86, p < .01) compared to usual care patients (N = 50). The study found no significant differences between groups in drinking or opioid use; patients in both groups reported using fewer substances at the 1-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Pilot data suggest START and RCT implementation are feasible and acceptable and that START may facilitate medication initiation and linkage to follow-up for inpatients with an alcohol or opioid use disorder. A larger trial should assess effectiveness, covariates, and moderators of intervention effects.

Medical Complications of Injection Drug Use - Part II

Medical Complications of Injection Drug Use - Part IIDuring the past 2 decades, the risk of death, as well as the prevalence of hospitalizations in the United States, has increased substantially among people who inject drugs, mainly because of the opioid epidemic. In Part Two of this two-part review, the authors review complications observed in people who inject drugs and strategies to reduce harm.

The United States must improve its data infrastructure to ensure high-quality mental health care

Use of and spending on mental health services in the United States more than doubled over the past two decades. In 2019, 19.2% of adults received mental health treatment (medications and/or counseling) at a cost of $135 billion. Yet, the United States has no data collection system to determine what proportion of the population benefited from treatment. Experts have for decades called for a learning behavioral health care system: a system that collects data on treatment services and outcomes to generate knowledge to improve practice. As the rates of suicide, depression, and drug overdoses in the United States continue to rise, the need for a learning health care system becomes even more pressing. In this paper, I suggest steps to move toward such a system. First, I describe the availability of data on mental health service use, mortality, symptoms, functioning, and quality of life. In the United States, the best sources of longitudinal information on mental health services received are Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance claims and enrollment data. Federal and state agencies are starting to link these data to mortality information; however, these efforts need to be substantially expanded and include information on mental health symptoms, functioning, and quality of life. Finally, there must be greater efforts to make the data easier to access such as through standard data use agreements, online analytic tools, and data portals. Federal and state mental health policy leaders should be at the forefront of efforts to create a learning mental health care system.

Multidisciplinary Management of Opioid Use-Related Infective Endocarditis: Treatment, QTc Values, and Cardiac Arrests due to Ventricular Fibrillation

(1) Background: The opioid epidemic has led to an increase in cardiac surgery for infective endocarditis (IE-CS) related to injection use of opioids (OUD) and other substances and a call for a coordinated approach to initiate substance use disorder treatment, including medication for OUD (MOUD), during IE-CS hospitalizations. We sought to determine the effects of the initiation of a multi-disciplinary endocarditis evaluation team (MEET) on MOUD use, electrocardiographic QTc measurements and cardiac arrests due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients with OUD. (2) Methods and Results: A historical group undergoing IE-CS at Yale-New Haven Hospital prior to MEET initiation, Group I (43 episodes of IE-CS, 38 patients) was compared to 24 patients undergoing IE-CS after MEET involvement (Group II). Compared to Group l, Group II patients were more likely to receive MOUD (41.9 vs. 95.8%, p < 0.0001), predominantly methadone (41.9 vs. 79.2%, p = 0.0035) at discharge. Both groups had similar QTcs: approximately 30% of reviewed electrocardiograms had QTcs ≥ 470 ms and 17%, QTcs ≥ 500 ms. Cardiac arrests due to VF were not uncommon: Group I: 9.3% vs. Group II: 8.3%, p = 0.8914. Half occurred in the 1-2 months after surgery and were contributed to by pacemaker malfunction/ management and half were related to opioid use. (3) Conclusions: MEET was associated with increased MOUD (predominantly methadone) use during IE-CS hospitalizations without an increase in QTc prolongation or cardiac arrest due to VF compared to Group I, but events occurred in both groups. These arrests were associated with pacemaker issues or a return to opioid use. Robust follow-up of IE-CS patients is essential, as is further research to clarify the longer-term effects of MEET on outcomes.

HIV and Addiction Services for People Who Inject Drugs: Healthcare Provider Perceptions on Integrated Care in the U.S. South

This qualitative study evaluates physician training and experience with treatment and prevention services for people who inject drugs (PWID) including medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The Behavioral Model of Healthcare Utilization for Vulnerable Populations was applied as a framework for data analysis and interpretation. Two focus groups were conducted, one with early career physicians (n = 6) and one with mid- to late career physicians (n = 3). Focus group transcripts were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify factors affecting implementation of treatment and prevention services for PWID. Respondents identified that increasing the availability of providers prescribing MOUD was a critical enabling factor for PWID seeking and receiving care. Integrated, interdisciplinary services were identified as an additional resource although these remain fragmented in the current healthcare system. Barriers to care included provider awareness, stigma associated with substance use, and access limitations. Providers identified the interwoven risk factors associated with injection drug use that must be addressed, including the risk of HIV acquisition, notably more at the forefront in the minds of early career physicians. Additional research is needed addressing the medical education curriculum, health system, and healthcare policy to address the addiction and HIV crises in the U.S. South.

Integrated Infectious Disease and Substance Use Disorder Care for the Treatment of Injection Drug Use-Associated Infections: A Prospective Cohort Study With Historical Control

Background

To address the infectious disease (ID) and substance use disorder (SUD) syndemic, we developed an integrated ID/SUD clinical team rooted in harm reduction at a county hospital in Miami, Florida. The Severe Injection-Related Infection (SIRI) team treats people who inject drugs (PWID) and provides medical care, SUD treatment, and patient navigation during hospitalization and after hospital discharge. We assessed the impact of the SIRI team on ID and SUD treatment and healthcare utilization outcomes.

Methods

We prospectively collected data on patients seen by the SIRI team. A diagnostic code algorithm confirmed by chart review was used to identify a historical control group of patients with SIRI hospitalizations in the year preceding implementation of the SIRI team. The primary outcome was death or readmission within 90 days post-hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included initiation of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and antibiotic course completion.

Results

There were 129 patients included in the study: 59 in the SIRI team intervention and 70 in the pre-SIRI team control group. SIRI team patients had a 45% risk reduction (aRR, 0.55 [95% confidence interval CI, .32-.95]; 24% vs 44%) of being readmitted in 90 days or dying compared to pre-SIRI historical controls. SIRI team patients were more likely to initiate MOUD in the hospital (93% vs 33%, P < .01), complete antibiotic treatment (90% vs 60%, P < .01), and less likely to have patient-directed discharge (17% vs 37%, P = .02).

Conclusions

An integrated ID/SUD team was associated with improvements in healthcare utilization, MOUD initiation, and antibiotic completion for PWID with infections.

Grayken lessons: the role of an interdisciplinary endocarditis working group in evaluating and optimizing care for a woman with opioid use disorder requiring a second tricuspid valve replacement

BACKGROUND

Injection drug use-related endocarditis is increasingly common among hospitalized patients in the United States, and associated morbidity and mortality are rising.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here we present the case of a 34-year-old woman with severe opioid use disorder and multiple episodes of infective endocarditis requiring prosthetic tricuspid valve replacement, who developed worsening dyspnea on exertion. Her echocardiogram demonstrated severe tricuspid regurgitation with a flail prosthetic valve leaflet, without concurrent endocarditis, necessitating a repeat valve replacement. Her care was overseen by our institution's Endocarditis Working Group, a multidisciplinary team that includes providers from addiction medicine, cardiology, infectious disease, cardiothoracic surgery, and neurocritical care. The team worked together to evaluate her, develop a treatment plan for her substance use disorder in tandem with her other medical conditions, and advocate for her candidacy for valve replacement.

CONCLUSIONS

Multidisciplinary endocarditis teams such as these are important emerging innovations, which have demonstrated improvements in outcomes for patients with infective endocarditis and substance use disorders, and have the potential to reduce bias by promoting standard-of-care treatment.

Management of Infective Endocarditis in People Who Inject Drugs: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association has sponsored both guidelines and scientific statements that address the diagnosis, management, and prevention of infective endocarditis. As a result of the unprecedented and increasing incidence of infective endocarditis cases among people who inject drugs, the American Heart Association sponsored this original scientific statement. It provides a more in-depth focus on the management of infective endocarditis among this unique population than what has been provided in prior American Heart Association infective endocarditis-related documents.

METHODS

A writing group was named and consisted of recognized experts in the fields of infectious diseases, cardiology, addiction medicine, and cardiovascular surgery in October 2021. A literature search was conducted in Embase on November 19, 2021, and multiple terms were used, with 1345 English-language articles identified after removal of duplicates.

CONCLUSIONS

Management of infective endocarditis in people who inject drugs is complex and requires a unique approach in all aspects of care. Clinicians must appreciate that it requires involvement of a variety of specialists and that consultation by addiction-trained clinicians is as important as that of more traditional members of the endocarditis team to improve infective endocarditis outcomes. Preventive measures are critical in people who inject drugs and are cured of an initial bout of infective endocarditis because they remain at extremely high risk for subsequent bouts of infective endocarditis, regardless of whether injection drug use is continued.

Management of opioid use disorder and associated conditions among hospitalized adults: A Consensus Statement from the Society of Hospital Medicine

Hospital-based clinicians frequently care for patients with opioid withdrawal or opioid use disorder (OUD) and are well-positioned to identify and initiate treatment for these patients. With rising numbers of hospitalizations related to opioid use and opioid-related overdose, the Society of Hospital Medicine convened a working group to develop a Consensus Statement on the management of OUD and associated conditions among hospitalized adults. The guidance statement is intended for clinicians practicing medicine in the inpatient setting (e.g., hospitalists, primary care physicians, family physicians, advanced practice nurses, and physician assistants) and is intended to apply to hospitalized adults at risk for, or diagnosed with, OUD. To develop the Consensus Statement, the working group conducted a systematic review of relevant guidelines and composed a draft statement based on extracted recommendations. Next, the working group obtained feedback on the draft statement from external experts in addiction medicine, SHM members, professional societies, harm reduction organizations and advocacy groups, and peer reviewers. The iterative development process resulted in a final Consensus Statement consisting of 18 recommendations covering the following topics: (1) identification and treatment of OUD and opioid withdrawal, (2) perioperative and acute pain management in patients with OUD, and (3) methods to optimize care transitions at hospital discharge for patients with OUD. Most recommendations in the Consensus Statement were derived from guidelines based on observational studies and expert consensus. Due to the lack of rigorous evidence supporting key aspects of OUD-related care, the working group identified important issues necessitating future research and exploration.

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Line Misuse Among People Who Inject Drugs While on Therapy for Infective Endocarditis

BACKGROUND

People who inject drugs and have infective endocarditis have a high risk of recurrent infective endocarditis and death. We aimed to characterize clinical factors associated with mortality and assess the probability of infective endocarditis recurrence in the presence of death as a competing risk.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of people who inject drugs, identified between April 5, 2007 and March 15, 2018 with the Modified Duke Criteria for definite infective endocarditis. Fine-Gray sub-distribution and Cox proportional hazards modeling were conducted to determine variables associated with the rate of infective endocarditis recurrence and mortality, respectively.

RESULTS

Of the 310 patients with infective endocarditis who inject drugs, 236 experienced a single episode and 74 experienced recurrent episodes. Peripherally inserted central catheter misuse was associated with an increased rate of infective endocarditis recurrence (sub-distribution hazard ratio 2.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-4.98; P = .02) and mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 2.44; 95% CI, 1.15-5.17; P = .02). Non-right-sided infection, peripheral intravenous therapy, and intensive care unit admission were also associated with increased mortality. Oral therapy (HR 0.38; 95% CI, 0.16-0.91; P = .03), outpatient treatment (HR 0.39; 95% CI, 0.19-0.82; P = .01), and inpatient referral to addiction services (HR 0.39; 95% CI, 0.22-0.70; P = .002) were associated with a decrease in mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who misuse their peripherally inserted central catheter are at higher risk of recurrent infective endocarditis and death. Avoidance of peripherally inserted central catheter lines and use of intravenous peripheral therapy did not reduce mortality, but oral therapy was associated with reduced risk. Inpatient addiction services referral is important.

Expanding Inpatient Addiction Consult Services Through Accountable Care Organizations for Medicaid Enrollees: A Modeling Study

INTRODUCTION

Addiction consult services (ACS) care for hospitalized patients with substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder (OUD). Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) could enhance access to ACS. This study extends data from Oregon's only ACS to Oregon's 15 regional Medicaid Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) to illustrate the potential value of enhanced in- and out-patient care for hospitalized patients with OUD. The study objectives were to estimate the effects of (1) expanding ACS care through CCOs in Oregon, and (2) increasing community treatment access within CCOs, on post-discharge OUD treatment engagement.

METHODS

We used a validated Markov model, populated with Oregon Medicaid data from April 2015 to December 2017, to estimate study objectives.

RESULTS

Oregon Medicaid patients hospitalized with OUD with care billed to a CCO (n = 5878) included 1298 (22.1%) patients engaged in post-discharge OUD treatment. Simulation of referral to an ACS increased post-discharge OUD treatment engagement to 47.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 45.7%, 48.3%), or 2684 patients (95% CI 2610, 2758). Ten of fifteen (66.7%) CCOs had fewer than 20% of patients engage in post-discharge OUD care. Without ACS, increasing outpatient treatment such that 20% of patients engage increased the patients engaging in post-discharge OUD care from 12.9% or 296 patients in care at baseline to 20% (95% CI 18.1%, 21.4%) or 453 (95% CI 416, 491).

DISCUSSION

ACOs can improve care for patients hospitalized with OUD. Implementing ACS in ACO networks can potentially improve post-discharge OUD treatment engagement, but community treatment systems must be prepared to accept more patients as inpatient addiction care improves.

A Taxonomy of Hospital-Based Addiction Care Models: a Scoping Review and Key Informant Interviews

BACKGROUND

There is pressing need to improve hospital-based addiction care. Various models for integrating substance use disorder care into hospital settings exist, but there is no framework for describing, selecting, or comparing models. We sought to fill that gap by constructing a taxonomy of hospital-based addiction care models based on scoping literature review and key informant interviews.

METHODS

Methods included a scoping review of the literature on US hospital-based addiction care models and interventions for adults, published between January 2000 and July 2021. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 key informants experienced in leading, implementing, evaluating, andpracticing hospital-based addiction care to explore model characteristics, including their perceived strengths, limitations, and implementation considerations. We synthesized findings from the literature review and interviews to construct a taxonomy of model types.

RESULTS

Searches identified 2,849 unique abstracts. Of these, we reviewed 280 full text articles, of which 76 were included in the final review. We added 8 references from reference lists and informant interviews, and 4 gray literature sources. We identified six distinct hospital-based addiction care models. Those classified as addiction consult models include (1) interprofessional addiction consult services, (2) psychiatry consult liaison services, and (3) individual consultant models. Those classified as practice-based models, wherein general hospital staff integrate addiction care into usual practice, include (4) hospital-based opioid treatment and (5) hospital-based alcohol treatment. The final type was (6) community-based in-reach, wherein community providers deliver care. Models vary in their target patient population, staffing, and core clinical and systems change activities. Limitations include that some models have overlapping characteristics and variable ways of delivering core components.

DISCUSSION

A taxonomy provides hospital clinicians and administrators, researchers, and policy-makers with a framework to describe, compare, and select models for implementing hospital-based addiction care and measure outcomes.

Opioid agonist treatment and risk of death or rehospitalization following injection drug use-associated bacterial and fungal infections: A cohort study in New South Wales, Australia

BACKGROUND

Injecting-related bacterial and fungal infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality among people who inject drugs (PWID), and they are increasing in incidence. Following hospitalization with an injecting-related infection, use of opioid agonist treatment (OAT; methadone or buprenorphine) may be associated with reduced risk of death or rehospitalization with an injecting-related infection.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Data came from the Opioid Agonist Treatment Safety (OATS) study, an administrative linkage cohort including all people in New South Wales, Australia, who accessed OAT between July 1, 2001 and June 28, 2018. Included participants survived a hospitalization with injecting-related infections (i.e., skin and soft-tissue infection, sepsis/bacteremia, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, or epidural/brain abscess). Outcomes were all-cause death and rehospitalization for injecting-related infections. OAT exposure was classified as time varying by days on or off treatment, following hospital discharge. We used separate Cox proportional hazards models to assess associations between each outcome and OAT exposure. The study included 8,943 participants (mean age 39 years, standard deviation [SD] 11 years; 34% women). The most common infections during participants' index hospitalizations were skin and soft tissue (7,021; 79%), sepsis/bacteremia (1,207; 14%), and endocarditis (431; 5%). During median 6.56 years follow-up, 1,481 (17%) participants died; use of OAT was associated with lower hazard of death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57 to 0.70). During median 3.41 years follow-up, 3,653 (41%) were rehospitalized for injecting-related infections; use of OAT was associated with lower hazard of these rehospitalizations (aHR 0.89, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.96). Study limitations include the use of routinely collected administrative data, which lacks information on other risk factors for injecting-related infections including injecting practices, injection stimulant use, housing status, and access to harm reduction services (e.g., needle exchange and supervised injecting sites); we also lacked information on OAT medication dosages.

CONCLUSIONS

Following hospitalizations with injection drug use-associated bacterial and fungal infections, use of OAT is associated with lower risks of death and recurrent injecting-related infections among people with opioid use disorder.

Experiences Using a Multidisciplinary Model for Treating Injection Drug Use Associated Infections: A Qualitative Study

Background

Over the past two decades, the United States has experienced a dramatic increase in the rate of injection drug use, injection associated infections, and overdose mortality. A hospital-based program for treating opioid use disorder in people who inject drugs presenting with invasive infections was initiated at an academic tertiary care center in 2020. The goal of this program was to improve care outcomes, enhance patient experiences, and facilitate transition from the hospital to longer term addiction care. The purpose of this study was to interview two cohorts of patients, those admitted before vs. after initiation of this program, to understand the program's impact on care from the patient's perspective and explore ways in which the program could be improved.

Methods

Thirty patients admitted to the hospital with infectious complications of injection drug use were interviewed using a semi-structured format. Interviews were transcribed and coded. Emergent themes were reported. Limited descriptive statistics were reported based on chart review.

Results

Thirty interviews were completed; 16 participants were part of the program (admitted after program implementation) while 14 were not participants (admitted prior to implementation). Common themes associated with hospitalization included inadequate pain control, access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), loss of freedom, stigma from healthcare personnel, and benefits of having an interprofessional team. Participants in the program were more likely to report adequate pain control and access to MOUD and many cited benefits from receiving care from an interprofessional team.

Conclusions

Patients with opioid use disorder admitted with injection related infections reported improved experiences when receiving care from an interprofessional team focused on their addiction. However, perceived stigma from healthcare personnel and loss of freedom related to hospitalization were continued barriers to care before and after implementation of this program.

Dealing with the epidemic of endocarditis in people who inject drugs

North America is facing an opioid epidemic and growing illicit drug supply, contributing to growing numbers of injection drug use-related infective endocarditis (IDU-IE). Patients with IDU-IE have high early and late mortality. Patients with IDU-IE more commonly present with right-sided IE compared to those with non-IDU-IE and a majority are a result of S. aureus. While most patients can be successfully managed with intravenous antibiotic treatment, surgery is often required in part related to high relapse rates, potential treatment biases, and more aggressive pathophysiology in some. Multidisciplinary management as endocarditis teams, including not only cardiologists and cardiac surgeons but also infectious disease specialists, drug addiction experts, social workers, neurologists and/or neurosurgeons, is essential to best manage substance use disorder and facilitate safe discharge to home and society. Structural and population-level interventions, such as harm reduction programs, are necessary to reduce IDU-IE relapse rates in the community and other IDU-related health concerns such as overdoses. In this review, we describe the pathophysiological, clinical, surgical, social, and ethical characteristics of IDU-IE and the management thereof. We present the most recent clinical guidelines for this condition and discuss existing gaps in knowledge to guide future research, practice changes, and policy interventions.

Health care workers' perspectives on care for patients with injection drug use associated infective endocarditis (IDU-IE)

Background

Despite high morbidity and mortality, patients with injection drug use associated infective endocarditis (IDU-IE) lack standardized care, and experience prolonged hospitalization and variable substance use disorder (SUD) management.

Our study’s objective was to elicit perspectives of health care workers (HCWs) who deliver care to this population by understanding their perceived patient, provider, and system-level resources and barriers.

Methods

This qualitative study included interviews of HCWs providing care to patients with IDU-IE from January 2017 to December 2019 at a single Midwest academic center. Based on electronic medical record queries to determine high and low rates of referral to SUD treatment, HCWs were selected using stratified random sampling followed by convenience sampling of non-physician HCWs and a patient. Study participants were recruited via email and verbal consent was obtained. The final sample included 11 hospitalists, 3 specialists (including 2 cardiovascular surgery providers), 3 case managers, 2 social workers, 1 nurse, and 1 patient. Qualitative semi-structured interviews explored challenges and resources related to caring for this population. Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) Minor Lite was used for thematic data using an inductive approach.

Results

Three major thematic categories emerged relative to patient-level barriers (e.g., pain control, difficult patient interactions, social determinants of health), provider-level barriers (e.g., inequity, expectations for recovery, varying levels of hope, communication style, prescribing medication for SUD), and system-level barriers (e.g., repeat surgery, placement, resources for SUD and mental health). The need to address underlying SUD was a prominent theme.

Conclusion

Practical steps we can take to improve treatment for this population include training and coaching HCWs on a more person-centered approach to communication and transparent decision-making around pain management, surgery decisions, and expectations for SUD treatment.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-08121-z.

Diagnosis and Management of Infective Endocarditis in People Who Inject Drugs: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

The incidence of injection drug use-associated infective endocarditis has been increasing rapidly over the last decade. Patients with drug use-associated infective endocarditis present an increasingly common clinical challenge with poor long-term outcomes and high reinfection and readmission rates. Their care raises issues unique to this population, including antibiotic selection and administration, indications for and ethical issues surrounding surgical intervention, and importantly management of the underlying substance use disorder to minimize the risk of reinfection. Successful treatment of these patients requires a broad understanding of these concerns. A multidisciplinary, collaborative approach providing a holistic approach to treating both the acute infection along with effectively addressing substance use disorder is needed to improve short-term and longer-term outcomes.

Health Care Utilization Patterns for Patients With a History of Substance Use Requiring OPAT

Background

Uninsured people who use drugs (PWUD) require extended parenteral antibiotic therapy when diagnosed with complex infections such as osteomyelitis. They are ineligible to enroll in our self-administered outpatient antimicrobial therapy (S-OPAT) program and instead sent to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). We aim to retrospectively assess clinical outcomes of PWUD discharged from our safety net hospital to complete OPAT in an SNF.

Methods

Using our hospital electronic medical record, PWUD discharged to an SNF for extended antibiotic therapy were identified for the study period, 1/1/17–4/30/18. Demographics, drug use, discharge diagnosis, antibiotic therapy, discharge disposition from SNF (AMA, early non-AMA, completed), 30-day emergency department (ED) utilization, and 30-day readmission were collected for the study cohort. ED utilization and 30-day readmission rates were analyzed by disposition group.

Results

While the majority of patients completed treatment (83), a sizeable number left AMA (26) or early non-AMA (20). Patients who left early, AMA or non-AMA, had increased rates of 30-day readmission or ED utilization (P=.01) and increased rates of 30-day readmission alone (P=.01), but not ED utilization alone (P=.43), compared with patients who completed treatment.

Conclusions

In our cohort, many PWUD discharged to an SNF to receive parenteral antibiotics did not complete treatment. These patients were observed to have increased health care utilization compared with patients completing therapy.

Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2020

This paper is the forty-third consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2020 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (1), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (2) and humans (3), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (4), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (5), stress and social status (6), learning and memory (7), eating and drinking (8), drug abuse and alcohol (9), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (10), mental illness and mood (11), seizures and neurologic disorders (12), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (13), general activity and locomotion (14), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (15), cardiovascular responses (16), respiration and thermoregulation (17), and immunological responses (18).

Brief report: Cause of death among people discharged from infective endocarditis related hospitalization-West Virginia, 2016-2019

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Compare proportion of all-cause and cause-specific mortality among West Virginia Medicaid enrollees who were discharged from infective endocarditis (IE) hospitalization with and without opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnosis.

METHODS

The proportions of cause-specific deaths among those who were discharged from IE-related hospitalizations were compared by OUD diagnosis.

RESULTS

The top three underlying causes of death discharged from IE hospitalization were accidental drug poisoning, mental and behavioral disorders due to polysubstance use, and cardiovascular diseases. Of the total deaths occurring among patients discharged after IE-related hospitalization, the proportion has increased seven times from 2016 to 2019 among the OUD deaths while it doubled among the non-OUD deaths.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Of the total deaths occurring among patients discharged after IE-related hospitalization, the increase is higher in those with OUD diagnosis. OUD is becoming a significantly negative impactor on the survival outcome among IE patients. It is of growing importance to deliver medication for OUD treatment and harm reduction efforts to IE patients in a timely manner, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic persists.

The Development and Implementation of a Hospitalist-Directed Addiction Medicine Consultation Service to Address a Treatment Gap

INTRODUCTION

Hospitalizations related to the consequences of substance use are rising yet most hospitalized patients with substance use disorder do not receive evidence-based addiction treatment. Opportunities to leverage the hospitalist workforce could close this treatment gap.

AIM

To describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a hospitalist-directed addiction consultation service (ACS) to provide in-hospital addiction treatment.

SETTING

Six hundred fifty-bed university hospital in Aurora, Colorado.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Hospitalists completed buprenorphine waiver training, participated in a 13-part addiction lecture series, and completed a minimum of 40 hours of online addiction training. Hospitalists participated in shadow shifts with an addiction-trained physician. Dedicated addiction social workers developed relationships with local addiction treatment services.

PROGRAM EVALUATION METRICS

Physician-related metrics included education, training, and clinical time spent in addiction practice. Patient and encounter-related metrics included a description of ACS care provision.

RESULTS

Eleven hospitalists completed an average of 95 hours of addiction-related didactics. Once addiction training was complete, hospitalists spent an average of 30 days over 12 months staffing a weekday ACS. Between October 2019 and November 2020, the ACS completed 1620 consultations on 1350 unique patients. Alcohol was the most common substance (n = 1279; 79%), followed by tobacco (979; 60.4%), methamphetamines/amphetamines (n = 494; 30.5%), and opioids (n = 400; 24.7%). Naltrexone was the most frequently prescribed medication (n = 350; 21.6%), followed by acamprosate (n = 93; 5.7%), and buprenorphine (n = 77, 4.8%). Trauma was a frequent discharge diagnoses (n = 1564; 96.5%). Leaving prior to treatment completion was commonly noted (n = 120, 7.4%). The ACS completed 47 in-hospital methadone enrollments.

DISCUSSION

The hospitalist-directed ACS is a promising clinical initiative that could be implemented to expand hospital-based addiction treatment. Future research is needed to understand challenges to disseminating this model into other hospital settings, and to evaluate intended and unintended effects of broad implementation.

Expanding the Team: Optimizing the Multidisciplinary Management of Drug Use-Associated Infective Endocarditis

Amidst a substance use epidemic, hospitalizations and valve surgeries related to drug use-associated infective endocarditis (DU-IE) rose substantially in the last decade. Rates of reoperation and mortality remain high, yet in many hospitals patients are not offered valve surgery or evidence-based addiction treatment. A multidisciplinary team approach can improve outcomes in patients with infective endocarditis; however, the breadth of expertise that should be incorporated into this team is inadequately conceptualized. It is our opinion that incorporating addiction medicine services into the team may improve outcomes in DU-IE. Here, we describe our experience incorporating addiction medicine services into the multidisciplinary management of DU-IE and share implications for other hospitals and health systems looking to improve care for people with DU-IE.

Anesthesia Considerations in Infective Endocarditis

The management of infective endocarditis is complex and inherently requires multidisciplinary cooperation. About half of all patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis will meet the criteria to undergo cardiac surgery, which regularly takes place in urgent or emergency settings. The pathophysiology and clinical presentation of infective endocarditis make it a unique disorder within cardiac surgery that warrants a thorough understanding of specific characteristics in the perioperative period. This includes, among others, echocardiography, coagulation, bleeding management, or treatment of organ dysfunction. In this narrative review article, the authors summarize the current knowledge on infective endocarditis relevant for the clinical anesthesiologist in perioperative management of respective patients. Furthermore, the authors advocate for the anesthesiologist to become a structural member of the endocarditis team.

Can I Safely Discharge a Patient with a Substance Use Disorder Home with a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter?

Discharging Patients Who Use Drugs Home with PICCAmid the U.S. overdose crisis, serious injection-related infections are rising. Determining where a patient goes after hospitalization can be a challenge due to the need for prolonged parenteral antibiotics, prompting a common clinical question: Can I safely discharge a patient with a substance use disorder home with a peripherally inserted central catheter?

Data needs and models for the opioid epidemic

The evolving nature of the opioid epidemic and continued increases in overdose deaths highlight a need for fundamental change in the collection and use of surveillance data to link them to implementation of effective service, treatment, and prevention approaches. Yet at present, the quality and timeliness of US surveillance data often limits data-driven approaches. We review current information needs, summarize limitations of existing data, propose complementary surveillance resources, and provide examples of promising approaches designed to meet the needs of data end-users. We conclude that there is a need for an approach that focuses on the needs of data end-users, such as public health systems leaders, policy makers, public, nonprofit and prepaid healthcare systems, and other systems, such as the justice system. Such an approach, which may require investments in new infrastructure, should prioritize improvements in data timeliness, sample representativeness, database linkage, and increased flexibility to adapt to shifts in the environment, while preserving the privacy of survey participants. Use of simulations, distributed research and data networks, alternative data sources, such as wastewater or digital data collection and use of blockchain technology, are some of promising avenues toward an improved and more user-centered surveillance system.

Uptake of slow-release oral morphine as opioid agonist treatment among hospitalised patients with opioid use disorder

INTRODUCTION

Buprenorphine and methadone are highly effective first-line medications for opioid agonist treatment (OAT) but are not acceptable to all patients. We aimed to assess the uptake of slow-release oral morphine (SROM) as second-line OAT among medically ill, hospitalised patients with opioid use disorder who declined buprenorphine and methadone.

METHODS

This study included consecutive hospitalised patients with untreated moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder referred to an inpatient addiction medicine consultation service, between June 2018 and September 2019, in Nova Scotia, Canada. We assessed the proportion of patients initiating first-line OAT (buprenorphine or methadone) in-hospital, and the proportion initiating SROM after declining first-line OAT. We compared rates of outpatient OAT continuation (i.e., filling outpatient OAT prescription or attending first outpatient OAT clinic visit) by medication type, and compared OAT selection between patients with and without chronic pain, using χ² tests.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were offered OAT initiation in-hospital; six patients (18%) also had chronic pain. Twenty-one patients (62%) initiated first-line OAT with buprenorphine or methadone. Of the 13 patients who declined first-line OAT, seven (54%) initiated second-line OAT with SROM in-hospital. Rates of outpatient OAT continuation after hospital discharge were high (>80%) and did not differ between medications (P = 0.4). Patients with co-existing chronic pain were more likely to choose SROM over buprenorphine or methadone (P = 0.005).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The ability to offer SROM (in addition to buprenorphine or methadone) increased rates of OAT initiation among hospitalised patients. Increasing access to SROM would help narrow the opioid use disorder treatment gap of unmet need.

Simulated Cost-effectiveness and Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Addiction Care and Antibiotic Therapy Strategies for Patients With Injection Drug Use-Associated Infective Endocarditis

IMPORTANCE

Emerging evidence supports the use of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) and, in many cases, partial oral antibiotic therapy for the treatment of injection drug use-associated infective endocarditis (IDU-IE); however, long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the added value of inpatient addiction care services and the cost-effectiveness and clinical outcomes of alternative antibiotic treatment strategies for patients with IDU-IE.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This decision analytical modeling study used a validated microsimulation model to compare antibiotic treatment strategies for patients with IDU-IE. Model inputs were derived from clinical trials and observational cohort studies. The model included all patients with injection opioid drug use (N = 5 million) in the US who were eligible to receive OPAT either in the home or at a postacute care facility. Costs were annually discounted at 3%. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated from a health care sector perspective over a lifetime starting in 2020. Probabilistic sensitivity, scenario, and threshold analyses were performed to address uncertainty.

INTERVENTIONS

The model simulated 4 treatment strategies: (1) 4 to 6 weeks of inpatient intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy along with opioid detoxification (usual care strategy), (2) 4 to 6 weeks of inpatient IV antibiotic therapy along with inpatient addiction care services that offered medication for opioid use disorder (usual care/addiction care strategy), (3) 3 weeks of inpatient IV antibiotic therapy along with addiction care services followed by OPAT (OPAT strategy), and (4) 3 weeks of inpatient IV antibiotic therapy along with addiction care services followed by partial oral antibiotic therapy (partial oral antibiotic strategy).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Mean percentage of patients completing treatment for IDU-IE, deaths associated with IDU-IE, life expectancy (measured in life-years [LYs]), mean cost per person, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).

RESULTS

All modeled scenarios were initialized with 5 million individuals (mean age, 42 years; range, 18-64 years; 70% male) who had a history of injection opioid drug use. The usual care strategy resulted in 18.63 LYs at a cost of $416 570 per person, with 77.6% of hospitalized patients completing treatment. Life expectancy was extended by each alternative strategy. The partial oral antibiotic strategy yielded the highest treatment completion rate (80.3%) compared with the OPAT strategy (78.8%) and the usual care/addiction care strategy (77.6%). The OPAT strategy was the least expensive at $412 150 per person. Compared with the OPAT strategy, the partial oral antibiotic strategy had an ICER of $163 370 per LY. Increasing IDU-IE treatment uptake and decreasing treatment discontinuation made the partial oral antibiotic strategy more cost-effective compared with the OPAT strategy. When assuming that all patients with IDU-IE were eligible to receive partial oral antibiotic therapy, the strategy was cost-saving and resulted in 0.0247 additional discounted LYs. When treatment discontinuation was decreased from 3.30% to 2.65% per week, the partial oral antibiotic strategy was cost-effective compared with OPAT at the $100 000 per LY threshold.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this decision analytical modeling study, incorporation of OPAT or partial oral antibiotic approaches along with addiction care services for the treatment of patients with IDU-IE was associated with increases in the number of people completing treatment, decreases in mortality, and savings in cost compared with the usual care strategy of providing inpatient IV antibiotic therapy alone.

Unequal access to opioid agonist treatment and sterile injecting equipment among hospitalized patients with injection drug use-associated infective endocarditis

BACKGROUND

Addiction treatment and harm reduction services reduce risks of death and re-infection among patients with injection drug use-associated infective endocarditis (IDU-IE), but these are not offered at many hospitals. Among hospitalized patients with IDU-IE at the two tertiary-care hospitals in the Canadian Maritimes, we aimed to identify (1) the availability of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) and sterile drug injecting equipment, and (2) indicators of potential unmet addiction care needs.

METHODS

Retrospective review of IDU-IE hospitalizations at Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre (Halifax, Nova Scotia) and the Saint John Regional Hospital (Saint John, New Brunswick), October 2015 -March 2017. In Halifax, there are no addiction medicine providers on staff; in Saint John, infectious diseases physicians also practice addiction medicine. Inclusion criteria were: (1) probable or definite IE as defined by the modified Duke criteria; and (2) injection drug use within the prior 3 months.

RESULTS

We identified 38 hospitalizations (21 in Halifax and 17 in Saint John), for 30 unique patients. Among patients with IDU-IE and untreated opioid use disorder, OAT was offered to 36% (5/14) of patients in Halifax and 100% (6/6) of patients in Saint John. Once it was offered, most patients at both sites initiated OAT and planned to continue it after discharge. In Halifax, no patients were offered sterile injecting equipment, and during five hospitalizations staff confiscated patients' own equipment. In Saint John, four patients were offered (and one was provided) injecting equipment in hospital, and during two hospitalizations staff confiscated patients' own equipment. Concerns regarding undertreated pain or opioid withdrawal were documented during 66% (25/38) of hospitalizations, and in-hospital illicit or non-medical drug use during 32% (12/38). Two patients at each site (11%; 4/38) had self-directed discharges against medical advice.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with IDU-IE in the Canadian Maritimes have unequal access to evidence-based addiction care depending on where they are hospitalized, which differs from the community-based standard of care. Indicators of potential unmet addiction care needs in hospital were common.