OPTIONS-DC, a feasible discharge planning conference to expand infection treatment options for people with substance use disorder

Background Serious bacterial infections associated with substance use often result in long hospitalizations, premature discharges, and high costs. Out-of-hospital treatment options in people with substance use disorder (SUD) are often limited. Methods We describe a novel multidisciplinary and interprofessional care conference, OPTIONS-DC, to identify treatment options agreeable to both patients and providers using the frameworks of harm reduction and patient-centered care. We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients who had an OPTIONS-DC between February 2018 and July 2019 and used content analysis to understand the conferences' effects on antibiotic treatment options. Results Fifty patients had an OPTIONS-DC during the study window. Forty-two (84%) had some intravenous (IV) substance use and 44 (88%) had an active substance use disorder. Participants' primary substances included opioids (65%) or methamphetamines (28%). On average, conferences lasted 28 min. OPTIONS-DC providers recommended out-of-hospital antibiotic treatment options for 34 (68%) of patients. OPTIONS-DC recommended first line therapy of IV antibiotics for 35 (70%) patients, long-acting injectable antibiotics for 14 (28%), and oral therapy for 1 (2%). 35 (70%) patients that had an OPTIONS-DC completed an antibiotic course and 6 (12%) left the hospital prematurely. OPTIONS-DC expanded treatment options by exposing and contextualizing SUD, psychosocial risk and protective factors; incorporating patient preferences; and allowing providers to tailor antibiotic and SUD recommendations. Conclusions OPTIONS-DC is a feasible intervention that allows providers to integrate principles of harm reduction and offer patient-centered choices among patients needing prolonged antibiotic treatment.

Automated summary

The study introduced the OPTIONS-DC conference as a feasible intervention for patients with substance use disorder, providing out-of-hospital antibiotic treatment options based on harm reduction and patient-centered care principles. The conference, lasting on average 28 minutes, recommended out-of-hospital antibiotic treatment for 68% of patients, with 70% completing the recommended treatment and 12% leaving the hospital prematurely.