***DO NOT USE VANCOMYCIN CALCULATOR FOR DIALYSIS PATIENTS***
**Prompt administration within one hour of recognition of sepsis reduces mortality**
Welcome to the Right Decision Service (RDS) newsletter for April 2024.
Tactuum has been working hard to address the issues experienced during the last week. They have identified a series of three mitigation measures and put the first of these in place on Friday 3rd May. If this does not resolve the problems, the second mitigation will be actioned, and then the third if necessary.
Please keep a lookout for any slowing down of the system or getting locked out. Please email myself, mbuchner@tactuum.com and onivarova@tactuum.com if you experience any problems, and also please raise an urgent support ticket via the Support Portal.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we achieve a full resolution.
A rotating carousel presenting some of the key RDS tools and capabilities, and an editable slideset, are now available in the Resources for RDS providers section of the Learning and Support toolkit.
The redesign of RDS Search and Browse is still on-track for delivery by mid-June 2024. We then plan to have a 3-week user acceptance testing phase before release to live. All editors and toolkit owners on this mailing list will be invited to participate in the UAT.
The archiving and version control functionality is also progressing well and we will advise on timescales for user acceptance testing shortly.
Tactuum is also progressing with the deep linking to individual toolkits within the mobile RDS app. There are several unknowns around the time and effort required for this work, which will only become clear as the work progresses. So we need to be careful to protect budget for this purpose.
These have all been compiled and effort estimated. Once the redesign work is complete, these will be prioritised in line with the remaining budget. We expect this to take place around late June.
Many thanks to those of you completed the value and impact survey we distributed in February. Here are some key findings from the 65 responses we received.
Figure 1: Impact of RDS on direct delivery of care
Key figures
Figure 2 shows RDS impact to date on delivery of health and care services
Key figures
These data show how RDS is already contributing to NHS reform priorities and supporting delivery of more sustainable care.
Saving time and money
Quality assurance and governance
Service innovation and workforce development
A few examples of toolkits published to live in the last month:
Some of the toolkits the RDS team is currently working on:
Please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot if you would like to learn more about a toolkit. The RDS team will put you in touch with the relevant toolkit lead.
Thanks to all of you who have responded to the retrospective quality audit survey and to the follow up questions. We still have some following up to do, and to work with owners of a further 23 toolkits to complete responses. An interim report is being presented to the HIS Quality and Performance Committee.
Eight clinical services and two public library services are undertaking tests of change to implement the Being a partner in my care app. This app aims to support patients and the public to become active participants in Realistic Medicine. It has a strong focus on personalised, person-centred care and a library of shared decision aids, as well as simple explanations and videoclips to help the public to understand the aims of Realistic Medicine. The tests of change will inform guidance and an implementation model around wider adoption and spread of the app.
With kind regards
Right Decision Service team
Healthcare Improvement Scotland
04.07.2023
This guidance replaces Management of Vancomycin to pateitns on haemodialysis which currently sits on policies library.
Changes for the update include:
The main difference is that the new policy allows patients to remain on HDF and a level is no longer required immediately prior to giving the next dose. This ensures patients maintain optimal dialysis as previously we switched them to a low flux dialyser, with the risk they may not get switched back. With the old policy it was necessary to take a level at the start of dialysis to check the level was <15mg/L to inform whether a dose of vancomycin should be given before the end of dialysis. This added pressure to nursing staff who often had to chase the results. It also wasn't possible to achieve this for patients in our satellite units, where samples were being taxied to Raigmore and still weren't processed by the end of their dialysis session. The new policy has been adopted nationally, allbeit with slight variations, and I'm not aware of any units now switching their patients to a low flux dialyser to administer vancomycin. A level will now be taken prior to the third dose and is used to inform the fourth dose.
Table 1 Loading dose (first dose: can be given on dialysis or on ward) |
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Actual body weight | Dose | Volume to be made up to with 0·9% Sodium chloride | Administration time (max rate of 10mg/min) |
<40kg | 750mg | 250mL | 75 minutes |
40 to 59kg | 1000mg | 250mL | 100 minutes |
60 to 90 kg | 1500mg | 500mL | 150 minutes |
>90kg | 2000mg | 500mL | 200 minutes |
Table 2 Maintenance dose (2nd and 3rd doses given at end of the next two HDF sessions) |
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Actual bodyweight (dry weight) | Dose | Volume to be made up to with 0·9% sodium chloride | Administration time (max rate of 10mg/min) |
<40kg | 500mg | 100mL | 50 minutes |
40 to 59kg | 750mg | 250mL | 75 minutes |
60 to 90kg | 1000mg | 250mL | 100 minutes |
>90kg | 1250mg | 250mL | 125 minutes |
Incremental (twice weekly) HDF patients |
It has been agreed that incremental (2 x week) patients should receive dialysis three times a week for the duration of their vancomycin course. |
Off unit patients receiving low flux dialysis | |
Loading dose | Give loading dose as per table 1 |
Therapeutic drug monitoring | Check a trough level prior to next dialysis session |
Subsequent doses | Give 1g if vancomycin level <15mg/L (Consultant may specify a level <20mg/L) |
*Caution is required in acutely unwell patients and those receiving HDF more than 3 x week. The frequency of monitoring will need increased. Please refer to Renal Consultant/Renal Pharmacist for advice*
Table 3 |
|
Trough level* | Subsequent dose |
<10mg/L | Increase dose by 50% |
10 to 15mg/L | Increase dose by 25% |
15 to 20mg/L | Continue current dose |
20 to 25mg/L | Reduce dose by 25% |
25 to 30mg/L | Omit next dose and reduce subsequent dose by 50% |
>30mg/L | Stop until level back to 15 to 20 |
*Use caution when interpreting levels taken prior to first dialysis of the week eg Monday for MWF and Tues for TTS. They may not be representative due to longer interdialytic gap.