None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The research proposed will study the use of Point of Care Ultrasound (PoCUS) to differentiate the diagnosis of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). SSTI are a common emergency department (ED) presentation with a differential diagnosis of cellulitis or abscess and therefore differing treatment strategies. The use of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool to determine the subsequent treatment has emerged as an adjunct to emergency physician practice. Nurse Practitioners (NP) as an integral part of the Nepean ED team are expanding their Scope of Practice (SOP) to include the use of PoCUS. This research will look at the NP’s use of PoCUS in the ED to improve time to a diagnosis and the definitive management plan of patients with SSTI. The study will be undertaken using a pre and post intervention design with the intervention being Nurse Practitioners accreditation in the use of PoCUS.
Interventions
Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) are a common emergency department (ED) presentation with a differential diagnosis of cellulitis or abscess resulting in differing treatment strategies. Diagnosis of an abscess requires surgical consultation, incision and drainage, cellulitis requires antibiotics. The use of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool to determine the diagnosis of SSTI has emerged as an adjunct to emergency clinician practice. Nurse Practitioner’s (NP's) are an integral part of health c
Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) are a common emergency department (ED) presentation with a differential diagnosis of cellulitis or abscess resulting in differing treatment strategies. Diagnosis of an abscess requires surgical consultation, incision and drainage, cellulitis requires antibiotics. The use of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool to determine the diagnosis of SSTI has emerged as an adjunct to emergency clinician practice. Nurse Practitioner’s (NP's) are an integral part of health care delivery in Australia and as advanced senior clinicians are a vital part of the ED team, their use of ultrasound as an adjunct to their diagnostic skills in SSTI is inevitable. This research will explore the hypothesis: ED NP's after completion of the Point of care ultrasound training and accreditation will improve the time taken to make a diagnosis of adult emergency patients with skin and soft tissue infections. Quantitative research in the form of a pre and post intervention design, by means of chart audit of electronic medical records and patient’s records. Data will be collected for 6 months pre intervention and 6 months post intervention, intervention is NP standardized training in PoCUS.
Sponsors
Nepean Hospital
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Adult patients over 16 years of age that present to Nepean emergency department with Skin and soft tissue infections of limbs including axilla and groin and are assessed through Fast Track area of the emergency department.
Exclusion criteria
Children under 16 years of age. Patients unstable or with signs and symptoms of septic shock who require resuscitation and or monitoring in either the acute care or resuscitation areas of the emergency department. Deep space hand infections. Prior imaging confirming a diagnosis.
Outcome results
None listed