Quality and safety impact on the provision of parenteral nutrition through introduction of a nutrition support team

Nutrition support teams: Institution, evolution, and innovation

The historical institution, evolution, and innovations of nutrition support teams (NSTs) over the past six decades are presented. Focused aspects of the transition to transdisciplinary and patient-centered care, NST membership, leadership, and the future of NSTs are further discussed. NSTs were instituted to address the need for the safe implementation and management of parenteral nutrition, developed in the late 1960s, which requires the expertise of individuals working collaboratively in a multidisciplinary fashion. In 1976, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) was established using the multidisciplinary model. In 1983, the United States established the inpatient prospective payment system with associated diagnosis-related groupings, which altered the provision of nutrition support in hospitals with funded NSTs. The number of funded NSTs has waxed and waned since; yet hospitals and healthcare have adapted, as additional education and experience grew, primarily through ASPEN's efforts. Nutrition support was not administered in some instances by the "core of four" (physician, nurse, dietitian, pharmacist). The functions may be carried out by a member of the core of four not associated with the parent discipline, in accordance with licensure/privileging. This cross-functioning has evolved into the adaptation of the concept of transdisciplinarity, emphasizing function over form, supported and enhanced by "top-of-license" practice. In some institutions, nutrition support has been incorporated into other healthcare teams. Future innovations will assist NSTs in providing the right nutrition support for the right patient in the right way at the right time, recognizing that nutrition care is a human right.

Clinical Nutrition in Portuguese Gastroenterology Departments: A Multicentric Study

BACKGROUND

Hospital nutrition is a major public health problem, as up to 50% of hospitalized patients suffer from undernutrition. Adequate nutritional support (NS) decreases morbidity/mortality, shortens the length of stay, and reduces costs. We aimed to evaluate the engagement of Portuguese gastroenterology departments in NS, especially in artificial nutrition (AN).

METHODS

Cross-sectional multicentric study, using an online survey sent to 31 Portuguese gastroenterology departments.

RESULTS

Nine centers were involved, and all departments were engaged in NS activities. The most performed nutrition technique was endoscopic gastrostomy and not all departments had the expertise to perform all nutrition procedures, namely, endoscopic jejunostomy. Two departments had an AN outpatient clinic. Five centers were involved in hospital nutrition committees. Only four performed systematic nutritional evaluation of every patient on admission. Two departments developed research in the nutrition field. An increase staff and nutrition training were pointed out as suggestions to improve NS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study outlines a broad picture of NS/AN in Portuguese gastroenterology departments. Medical nutritional training and increasing nutrition teams' staff may contribute to developing NS/AN. Multidisciplinary management of nutrition-related disorders is of utmost importance, and gastroenterologists are expected to be at the core of hospital nutrition.

Nutritional Support in Pancreatic Diseases

This review summarizes the main pancreatic diseases from a nutritional approach. Nutrition is a cornerstone of pancreatic disease and is sometimes undervalued. An early identification of malnutrition is the first step in maintaining an adequate nutritional status in acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Following a proper diet is a pillar in the treatment of pancreatic diseases and, often, nutritional counseling becomes essential. In addition, some patients will require oral nutritional supplements and fat-soluble vitamins to combat certain deficiencies. Other patients will require enteral nutrition by nasoenteric tube or total parenteral nutrition in order to maintain the requirements, depending on the pathology and its consequences. Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, defined as a significant decrease in pancreatic enzymes or bicarbonate until the digestive function is impaired, is common in pancreatic diseases and is the main cause of malnutrition. Pancreatic enzymes therapy allows for the management of these patients. Nutrition can improve the nutritional status and quality of life of these patients and may even improve life expectancy in patients with pancreatic cancer. For this reason, nutrition must maintain the importance it deserves.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: effects of implementing a nutrition support team for in-hospital parenteral nutrition

BACKGROUND

Nutrition support teams (NST) may improve parenteral nutrition (PN) outcomes. No previous systematic review has provided conclusive data on catheter-related infection (CRI) occurrence after NST introduction, nor have previous studies performed meta-analysis or graded the evidence.

AIMS

To systematically evaluate the effects of implementing an NST for hospitalised adults on PN and compare these with standard care.

METHODS

This was a systematic review and meta-analysis, pre-registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020218094). On November 24, 2020, PubMed, Web of science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Clinical Key were searched. Clinical trials and observational studies with a standard care comparator were included. Primary outcome was relative reduction in CRI rate. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate effects, and evidence was rated using Cochrane and GRADE methodologies.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven studies with 8166 patients were included. Across 10 studies, NST introduction reduced the CRI rate (IRR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19-0.53) with -8 (95% CI: -12 to -5) episodes per 1000 catheter days compared with standard care. Hypophosphataemia occurred less frequently (IRD = -12%, 95% CI: -24% to -1%) and 30-day mortality decreased (IRD = -6%, 95% CI: -11% to -1%). Inappropriate PN use decreased, both judged by indication (IRD = -18%, 95% CI: -28% to -9%) and duration (IRD = -21%, 95% CI: -33% to -9%). Evidence was rated very low to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

This study documents the clinical impact of introducing an NST, with moderate-grade evidence for the reduction of CRI occurrence compared with standard care. Further, NST introduction significantly reduced metabolic complications, mortality, and inappropriate PN use.

Clinical nutrition as part of the treatment pathway of pancreatic cancer patients: an expert consensus

Purpose

Malnutrition is a common problem among pancreatic cancer (PC) patients that negatively impacts on their quality of life (QoL) and clinical outcomes. The main objective of this consensus is to address the role of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) into the comprehensive therapeutic management of PC patients.

Methods

A Spanish multidisciplinary group of specialists from the areas of Medical Oncology; Radiation Oncology; Endocrinology and Nutrition; and General Surgery agreed to assess the role of MNT as part of the best therapeutic management of PC patients.

Results

The panel established different recommendations focused on nutritional screening and nutritional screening tools, MNT strategies according to PC status, and MNT in palliative treatment.

Conclusions

There is an unmet need to integrate nutritional therapy as a crucial part of the multimodal care process in PC patients. Health authorities, health care professionals, cancer patients, and their families should be aware of the relevance of nutritional status and MNT on clinical outcomes and QoL of PC patients.

Impact of Preoperative Short-Term Parenteral Nutrition Support on the Clinical Outcome of Gastric Cancer Patients: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Nutrition status is of great significance to the clinical outcome after major abdominal surgery. However, the effect of preoperative short-term parenteral nutrition (PN) support among gastric cancer (GC) patients remains unknown and was evaluated in the current study.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 455 nutritionally at-risk GC patients after radical resection from 2010 to 2016. We matched patients with 3-7 days of PN support to those without PN support. χ² And Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare differences between the PN and control groups.

RESULTS

The propensity-matched sample included 368 GC patients (PN group, n = 184; control group, n = 184). The PN and control groups did not differ regarding postoperative complications (P = .528). The incidence of anastomotic leakage in the PN group was lower than in the control group (P = .011), whereas other complications were not found to differ between the groups. The hospitalization cost of the PN group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < .001), whereas other outcome indicators were similar. Subgroup analysis showed that short-term PN support may have an improved benefit for patients with serum albumin level <35 g/L, but not at the level of statistical significance (P = .17).

CONCLUSION

Short-term PN support did not significantly improve the short-term clinical outcomes of nutritionally at-risk GC patients, with the exception of a lower incidence of anastomotic leakage. Considering that short-term PN support increases economic burden, PN should not be the preferred method among these patients.

Assessment of Total Parenteral Nutrition administration among Intensive Care Unit patients at Omdurman Military Hospital, Sudan.. [DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.19.20215053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

Total parenteral nutrition is one of the important types of nutrition among patients with intestinal failure. This research was intended to assess total parenteral nutrition administration of the intensive care unit patients at the Military hospital, Sudan. A cross-sectional hospital-based study assessed the patients records in the period between April 2014-November 2015, data were analyzed through chi-square test, it was considered significant when p≤ 0.05. Twenty patients who received total parenteral nutrition were assessed, 60% were males, while 40% were females. The most frequent indication for total parenteral nutrition was laparotomy (35% of patients). The duration of total parenteral nutrition was assessed, 70% of patients had duration between 1-20 days. Regarding total parenteral nutrition complications, the most frequent complication was hypokalemia (45% of patients), refeeding syndrome occurred in 10 % of patients. A statistically significant association was found between total parenteral nutrition duration when assessed with age and indication (p= 0.005 and 0.000 respectively). Patients suffering from electrolytes imbalance need more care to avoid the development of refeeding syndrome, as well as high level of hygiene is strictly required to overcome septic complications. There is a need to consider specialized care team composed of nurses, clinical pharmacists and nutritionists.

Nutrition Support Teams: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The concept of a nutrition support team (NST) was first introduced at the end of the 20th century in the US and Europe. Expected benefits include reduced (inappropriate) prescription of (par)enteral nutrition; however, to the authors' knowledge, no recent review has assessed the effectiveness of NSTs. Therefore, this systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of NSTs with respect to the prevalence of adult patients receiving (par)enteral nutrition.

METHODS

Five literature databases were searched and completed by citing searches. Studies on NSTs that were published between 2000 and 2018 in Western countries, applied a comparative design, and contained at least outcome data on the prevalence of (par)enteral nutrition were included. Analyses were mainly descriptive because of high heterogeneity that prevented meta-analyses.

RESULTS

The 27 included studies mainly originated from the UK and US. Only 1 of the included studies was a randomized trial; the other studies had a pre-post design (n = 17) or compared groups in a nonrandomized way. All but 2 studies were performed in acute care hospitals, and 5 studies focused only on intensive care patients. There was conflicting evidence of whether NSTs lead to reduction or increase in patients starting parenteral nutrition (PN); however, weak evidence suggested that NSTs might lead to an increase in the ratio of enteral nutrition to PN use and might decrease inappropriate PN use.

CONCLUSION

Although almost all studies concluded in favor of NSTs, the evidence base is weak and insufficient because of a lack of well-designed studies and successful outcomes.

Pharmaceutical Aspects of Artificial Nutrition

Artificial nutrition, including enteral (EN) and parenteral (PN) nutrition, is indicated whenever adequate oral nutrition fails to sufficiently supply the necessary nutrients to the body. It is a convenient, efficacious, safe, and well-tolerated form of clinical nutrition in the hospital and home setting. EN is administered via nasogastric tube or ostomies while PN usually requires a central venous access for administration, straight into the blood stream. The infused nutrients can then be taken up directly by the different organs. PN is targeted as a single daily portion formulated as an oil-in-water emulsion providing the necessary substrates for the catabolic and anabolic metabolism including macro- and micronutrients and fluids. PN has a complex pharmaceutical composition-all-in-one admixture-and its compounding or ready-to-use preparation. The use of PN is more challenging and more expensive compare to the use of EN, commercially available as ready-to-use formulations. EN and concomitant medication is highly challenging. Upon incorrect handling and administration, PN is associated with potentially severe or even fatal complications, mostly relating to the central venous access (e.g., catheter-related sepsis) or to a metabolic intolerance (e.g., hyperglycemia, refeeding syndrome) because of inappropriate administration. A correct order of admixing, correct dosing, and administration of the artificial is crucial for safety and efficacy; clinical and biochemical monitoring of the patient and treatment regimen adaption are necessary. The high number of reactive solutes allow only limited stability of a ready-to-use PN admixture. The potential for numerous incompatibilities and interactions renders PN admixtures generally unsuitable as drug vehicle. Laboratory compatibility and stability testing and pharmaceutical expertise are a prerequisite to define the PN composition including nutrients or even drugs admixed to define the appropriate and individualized nutrition and medication regimen. The aim of this narrative review is to present the actual state-of-the-art to deliver best quality artificial nutrition with special regard on pharmaceutical aspects such as instabilities, incompatibilities, and concomitant co-medication.

Diagnosis and management of catheter-related bloodstream infections in patients on home parenteral nutrition

Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) commonly arise from a parenteral nutrition catheter hub. A target for a Nutrition Support Team is to have a CRBSI rate of less than 1 per 1000. The diagnosis of CRBSI is suspected clinically by a temperature shortly after setting up a feed, general malaise or raised blood inflammatory markers. It is confirmed by qualitative and quantitative blood cultures from the catheter and peripherally. Treatment of inpatients may involve central venous catheter removal and antibiotics for patients needing short-term parenteral nutrition, but catheter salvage is generally recommended for patients needing long-term parenteral nutrition, where appropriate.

The impact of using a malnutrition screening tool in a hospital setting: a mixed methods study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Malnutrition risk screening represents a crucial starting point for the successful management of malnourished patients. This study was conducted to (1) examine the effect of the use of a malnutrition screening tool on process indicators of nutritional care and (2) explore healthcare professionals' perceptions and opinions regarding this tool.

METHODS

A mixed methods design was used. A controlled pretest-posttest study was conducted to carry out quantitative analyses, and semi-structured, qualitative interviews were held. Quantitative data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Chi-squared tests, Student's t-tests and Kruskal-Wallis H tests, using SPSS 23. Qualitative data were analysed by performing a qualitative content analysis using MAXQDA 12. Two comparable hospitals participated in the study, representing one intervention group (IG) and one control group (CG). The Graz Malnutrition Screening Tool (GMS) was implemented and used in the IG for at least 1 month, while the CG received no intervention.

RESULTS

The use of the screening tool positively correlated with significant improvements in the process indicators of nutritional care after 1 month, in terms of the number of nutritional interventions and the frequency of documentation of the diagnosis and the patient's weight and height. The content of the interviews revealed that nearly all professionals involved perceived the overall screening process positively. Few barriers were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study show that the use of a screening tool has a positive, short-term impact on the hospital's process quality of nutritional care. Ongoing efforts are required to sustainably maintain these positive changes. During this process, positive attitudes, nomination of motivated 'opinion-leaders' and concerted management support are helpful facilitators.

Nutrition support team activities can improve enteral nutrition administration in intensive care units

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the nutritional support team (NST) activities on the quality of enteral nutrition administration in intensive care units.

METHODS

An observational, analytical, and cross-sectional study was performed in nine hospitals in the Brazilian Federal District through the administration of two questionnaires. One questionnaire focused on the activities of the NST and the other on the quality of enteral nutrition administration in intensive care units.

RESULTS

There was a strong correlation between the scores of the two questionnaires, which was confirmed by a linear regression model (R² = 0.623; P = 0.007). The results suggest that high scores in the NST activities questionnaire predict a better performance in enteral nutrition administration. The sections of the NST activity questionnaire that most strongly affected enteral nutrition administration were the protocols (r = 0.895; P < 0.01), quality control (r = 0.779; P < 0.05), and continuing education (r = 0.753; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The NST has the potential to positively influence enteral nutrition management in intensive care units and investments could be directed to the areas of continuing education, protocols, and quality control to maximize the effect of NST in intensive care units.

Intestinal failure: a review

Intestinal failure (IF) is the inability of the gut to absorb necessary water, macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein, and fat), micronutrients, and electrolytes sufficient to sustain life and requiring intravenous supplementation or replacement. Acute IF (types 1 and 2) is the initial phase of the illness and may last for weeks to a few months, and chronic IF (type 3) from months to years. The challenge of caring for patients with IF is not merely the management of the underlying condition leading to IF or the correct provision of appropriate nutrition or both but also the prevention of complications, whether thromboembolic phenomenon (for example, venous occlusion), central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection, IF-associated liver disease, or metabolic bone disease. This review looks at recent questions regarding chronic IF (type 3), its diagnosis and management, the role of the multidisciplinary team, and novel therapies, including hormonal treatment for short bowel syndrome but also surgical options for intestinal lengthening and intestinal transplant.

Parenteral nutrition: indications and safe management

The aim of this article is to provide an overview of what parenteral nutrition (PN) is and when its use is required. It will describe the process of nutritional assessment, and considerations when choosing venous access. The different approaches to provision of PN solutions in hospital will be discussed. Catheter-related and metabolic complications can occur during delivery of PN; there will be a discussion of the different types of complications and how these can be avoided or minimised. Finally, the pivotal role of the nurse in the assessment and ongoing care of patients who require PN will be highlighted, including skills required to administer PN safely.

Management of parenteral nutrition in critically ill patients

Artificial nutrition (AN) is necessary to meet the nutritional requirements of critically ill patients at nutrition risk because undernutrition determines a poorer prognosis in these patients. There is debate over which route of delivery of AN provides better outcomes and lesser complications. This review describes the management of parenteral nutrition (PN) in critically ill patients. The first aim is to discuss what should be done in order that the PN is safe. The second aim is to dispel “myths” about PN-related complications and show how prevention and monitoring are able to reach the goal of “near zero” PN complications. Finally, in this review is discussed the controversial issue of the route for delivering AN in critically ill patients. The fighting against PN complications should consider: (1) an appropriate blood glucose control; (2) the use of olive oil- and fish oil-based lipid emulsions alternative to soybean oil-based ones; (3) the adoption of insertion and care bundles for central venous access devices; and (4) the implementation of a policy of targeting “near zero” catheter-related bloodstream infections. Adopting all these strategies, the goal of “near zero” PN complications is achievable. If accurately managed, PN can be safely provided for most critically ill patients without expecting a relevant incidence of PN-related complications. Moreover, the use of protocols for the management of nutritional support and the presence of nutrition support teams may decrease PN-related complications. In conclusion, the key messages about the management of PN in critically ill patients are two. First, the dangers of PN-related complications have been exaggerated because complications are uncommon; moreover, infectious complications, as mechanical complications, are more properly catheter-related and not PN-related complications. Second, when enteral nutrition is not feasible or tolerated, PN is as effective and safe as enteral nutrition.

Role of the pharmacist in parenteral nutrition therapy: challenges and opportunities to implement pharmaceutical care in Kuwait

BACKGROUND

Pharmacists can provide beneficial pharmaceutical care services to patients receiving Parenteral Nutrition (PN) therapy by working within Nutrition Support Teams (NSTs).

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to explore pharmacists' role in PN therapy in hospitals of Kuwait, sources of PN-related information, opinions on NSTs, perceptions about the barriers to pharmaceutical care implementation and views on how to enhance their practices.

METHODS

Data were collected via face-to-face semi-structured interviews with the senior Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) pharmacists at all the hospitals which provide TPN preparation services (six governmental hospitals and one private hospital) in Kuwait. Descriptive statistics were used to describe pharmacists' demographic details and practice site characteristics. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The pharmacists mainly performed technical tasks such as TPN compounding with minimal role in providing direct patient care. They used multiple different sources of TPN-related information to guide their practice. They reported positive and negative experiences with physicians depending on their practice environment. None of the hospitals had a functional NST. However, pharmacists expressed preference to work within NSTs due to the potential benefits of enhanced communication and knowledge exchange among practitioners and to improve service. Pharmacists perceived several barriers to providing pharmaceutical care including lack of reliable sources of TPN-related information, lack of a standard operating procedure for TPN across hospitals, insufficient staff, time constraints and poor communication between TPN pharmacists. To overcome these barriers, they recommended fostering pharmacists' education on TPN, establishing national standards for TPN practices, provision of pharmacy staff, development of NSTs, enhancing TPN pharmacists' communication and conducting TPN-research research.

CONCLUSION

TPN pharmacists in Kuwait are confined to performing TPN manufacturing processes. There are promising avenues for future development of their role in patient care. This can be achieved by overcoming the barriers to pharmaceutical care practice and providing pharmacists with educational opportunities to equip them with the clinical competencies needed to practise as nutrition support pharmacists with patient-centred roles.

Enhanced oral bioavailability of vancomycin in rats treated with long-term parenteral nutrition

Long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) can induce intestinal atrophy, leading to a loss of epithelial integrity in the small intestines. This change may alter the intestinal permeability of vancomycin (VCM), a non-absorbable antibiotic. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of PN on the pharmacokinetics of VCM in rats. VCM was intravenously (5 mg/kg) or intraduodenally (20 mg/kg) administered to control and PN rats, which were prepared by administration of PN for 9 days. After intravenous administration, there were no significant differences in any of the VCM pharmacokinetic parameters between the control and PN rats. However, after intraduodenal administration, the maximum concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve of VCM in PN rats was approximately 2.4- and 2.6-fold higher, respectively, than in the control rats; the calculated bioavailability was approximately 0.5 and 1.3 % in control and PN rats, respectively. These results indicated that PN administration did not affect VCM disposition, but enhanced VCM absorption; however, the enhanced oral VCM bioavailability was statistically, not clinically, significant. Therefore, while long-term PN administration may play a role in the enhancement of VCM bioavailability, this effect may be negligible without any complications.