Utilizing a best practice advisory (BPA) to increase pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) prophylaxis prescribing for patients with cancer on high dose corticosteroids.

Authors

null

Megan Spradlin

The University of Colorado, Aurora, CO

Megan Spradlin, Sarah Rhoads, James Maloney, Brian Montague, Abraham Wick, Li-Kheng Ngov, Sarah Samaya Norskog, Kasey Bowden, Laura Graham

Organizations

The University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, The University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO, University of Colorado Health Services Center, Aurora, CO, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, University of Colorado Cancer Center Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO

Research Funding

No funding received
None.

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is an opportunistic fungal infection that can cause severe respiratory infection in immunocompromised patients. Corticosteroid use is a common risk factor for developing PJP in non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. Corticosteroids are commonly prescribed medications for cancer patients to help with symptom control from cancer treatment (e.g. nausea, vomiting, and pain) as well as for immunotherapy related adverse events. The risk of developing PJP is significantly increased for patients on prednisone equal to or greater than 20 mg per day x 1 month or equivalent. Steroid related PJP (srPJP) is associated with a 30-50% mortality in non-HIV patients. Methods: We conducted an IRB-approved retrospective chart review of individuals diagnosed with PJP at an academic medical center and 6 partner hospitals between 2016-2022. Patients were excluded if they had a diagnosis of HIV or prior hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). We then created a best practice advisory (BPA) built into the electronic health record to notify clinicians if a patient is at risk of developing srPJP based on their outpatient corticosteroid prescription. The BPA is triggered system-wide if a clinician signs an outpatient prescription for a prednisone or equivalent steroid dose of 20 mg or more for a duration of at least 3 weeks. The BPA will suggest PJP prophylaxis and link to an order for the clinician to select. Results: There were 96 identified cases of srPJP in non HIV/HSCT patients. None of these patients received antibiotic prophylaxis. Among these cases, 32 patients died from ARDS due to PJP, a mortality of 33.3%. 45% of identified cases were related to steroids prescribed for cancer management, and 68% of these received dexamethasone as the primary steroid. The BPA launched in April 2023 system wide across UC Health. Since launching the BPA in April 2023, it has been triggered 911 times with action taken by selecting an order for PJP prophylaxis 24.5% of the time. Conclusions: Despite the efficacy of prophylaxis, many patients at risk of developing srPJP do not receive prophylaxis. Since launching the BPA, preliminary data shows that the BPA has increased the orders placed for concurrent PJP prophylaxis. Further work must be done to determine if these orders for concurrent PJP prophylaxis were signed and if the BPA can increase PJP prophylaxis prescribing for patients on high dose corticosteroids and ultimately decrease srPJP cases and deaths.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A

Track

Quality, Safety, and Implementation Science,Cost, Value, and Policy,Patient Experience,Survivorship

Sub Track

Patient Safety

Citation

JCO Oncol Pract 19, 2023 (suppl 11; abstr 391)

DOI

10.1200/OP.2023.19.11_suppl.391

Abstract #

391

Poster Bd #

H1

Abstract Disclosures

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