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Improving Adherence to Rabies PEP Guideline Recommendations

Improving Adherence to Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis Guideline Recommendations for Rabies Immune Globulin at a Multi-hospital Health System Through Education, Collaboration, and Clinical Decision Support

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04213950
Enrollment
70
Registered
2019-12-30
Start date
2019-12-29
Completion date
2020-12-23
Last updated
2021-09-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Rabies, Rabies Human, Rabies Virus Infection

Keywords

rabies immune globulin, rabies vaccine, rabies postexposure prophylaxis, rabies PEP, rabies IG

Brief summary

This quasi-experimental, quality improvement study will be conducted across the Houston Methodist system, including all hospital-based and freestanding emergency departments (ED). Previous research identified opportunities to improve patient selection and delivery of rabies immune globulin (IG) as recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guideline recommendations for rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). The purpose of this study is to develop, implement, and measure the impact of a quality improvement bundle that consists of (1) rabies PEP electronic health records (EHR) enhancements, (2) education to ED staff, and (3) education to patients. Adherence to quality indicators, which are based on CDC guideline recommendations, for patient selection and delivery of rabies IG for 12 months following implementation (post-implementation group) will be compared with a historical control group.

Detailed description

BACKGROUND: Rabies infection can occur in humans when key elements of the rabies PEP regimens are omitted or incorrectly administered. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that patients who are exposed to rabies virus should receive prompt and thorough wound cleansing followed by administration of human rabies IG and rabies vaccine. Previous research identified three opportunities to improve adherence to CDC guideline recommendations for rabies PEP: (1) infiltration of rabies IG into and around the wounds, if anatomically feasible, (2) administration of rabies IG at an anatomical site distant from rabies vaccine administration, and (3) avoiding administration of rabies IG into the buttock. STUDY DESIGN: This quasi-experimental, quality improvement study evaluates adherence to 6 quality indicators, which are based on CDC guideline recommendations, for patient selection and delivery of rabies IG before and after implementation of the rabies PEP quality improvement bundle. The quality improvement bundle includes EHR enhancements, ED staff education, and patient education. Patients who receive at least one dose of rabies IG or rabies vaccine at a study site during the study period will be included in this study. The historical control group includes patients treated prior to bundle implementation. The post-implementation group includes patients treated within 12 months following bundle implementation. The primary outcome is full adherence to all 6 quality indicators for rabies IG selection and delivery.

Interventions

OTHERRabies PEP quality improvement bundle

The rabies PEP quality improvement bundle consists of (1) electronic health record enhancements to support rabies PEP treatment selection, administration, and discharge process; (2) education to ED staff on rabies PEP; and (3) education to patients on rabies PEP and follow-up care.

Sponsors

Grifols Biologicals, LLC
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

The study consists of 2 groups: (1) the historical control group and (2) the post-implementation group. The historical control group includes patients who received rabies PEP from January 2015 to June 2018. The quality improvement bundle will be implemented across the Houston Methodist health system in December 2019. The post-implementation group includes patients who receive rabies PEP within 12 months following bundle implementation. An estimated sample size of 70 patients in the post-implementation group and 254 patients in the historical control group will provide 80% power to detect an absolute increase of 20% in the primary endpoint using a two-sided alpha of 0.05.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

• Receive at least one dose of rabies IG or rabies vaccine at a study site during the study period

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Full adherence to 6 quality indicators for rabies immune globulin patient selection and delivery1 day; during the patient's first medical encounter at a study site for rabies PEPThe proportion of patients who achieve full adherence to a composite of all 6 quality indicators for rabies IG patient selection and delivery: (1) appropriate patient selection, (2) appropriate dose, (3) appropriate timing, (4) administration into and around the wound if anatomically feasible, (5) administration distant from rabies vaccine, and (6) administration that avoids the buttock (unless the wound is near the buttock) among patients who received rabies PEP.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Adherence to each of the 6 quality indicators for rabies immune globulin patient selection and delivery1 day; during the patient's first medical encounter at a study site for rabies PEPThe proportion of patients who achieve adherence to each of the 6 quality indicators for rabies IG patient selection and delivery.
Volume of rabies immune globulin administered into or around wounds1 day; during the patient's first medical encounter at a study site where rabies IG is administeredThe mean percent of the total volume of rabies IG administered into or around wounds, if anatomically feasible.
Clear documentation of rabies immune globulin administration site1 day; during the patient's first medical encounter at a study site where rabies IG is administeredThe proportion of patients with clear EHR documentation of rabies IG administration sites
Incidence of compartment syndromeFor 7 days following rabies IG administrationThe incidence of compartment syndrome at a rabies IG infiltration site that was documented in the EHR within 7 days of rabies IG administration
Incidence of sciatic nerve injuryFor 21 days following rabies IG administrationThe incidence of sciatic nerve injury that was documented in the EHR within 21 days of rabies IG administration among patients who receive rabies IG into the buttock

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026