Skip Navigation HRSA - Health Resources and Service Administration U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Home
Questions
Order Publications
 
Grants Find Help Service Delivery Data Health System Concerns About HRSA

The HIV/AIDS Program: HAB Performance Measures Group 1

 

PCP Prophylaxis

 

< Previous | Home | Next >

On this page...
 
Performance Measure
 
Numerator
 
Denominator
 
Patient Exclusions
 
Data Element
 
Data Sources
 
National Goals, Targets or Benchmarks for Comparison
 
Outcome Measures for Consideration
 
Basis for Selection and Placement in Group 2
 
US Public Health Service Guidelines
 
References/Notes
 
Performance Measure: PCP Prophylaxis - OPR-Related Measure: Yes  

Percentage of clients with HIV infection and a CD4 T-cell count below 200 cells/mm3 who were prescribed PCP prophylaxis.

TOP
Numerator  

Number of HIV-infected clients with CD4 T-cell counts below 200 cells/mm3 who were prescribed PCP prophylaxis

TOP
Denominator  

Number of HIV-infected clients who:

  • had a medical visit with a provider with prescribing privileges [ 1 ], i.e. MD, PA, NP at least once in the measurement year, and
  • had a CD4 T-cell count below 200 cells/mm3
TOP
Patient Exclusions  
  1. Patients with CD4 T-cell counts below 200 cells/mm3 repeated within 3 months rose above 200 cells/mm3
  2. Patients newly enrolled in care during last three months of the measurement year
TOP
Data Elements  
  1. Is the client HIV-infected? (Y/N)
  2. If yes, was the CD4 T-cell count <200 cells/mm3 ? (Y/N)
  3. If yes, was PCP prophylaxis prescribed? (Y/N)
    1. If no, was the CD4 count repeated within 3 months? (Y/N)
    2. If yes, did it remain below 200 cells/mm3 ? (Y/N)
      1. If yes, was PCP prophylaxis prescribed? (Y/N)?
TOP
Data Sources  
  • Electronic Medical Record/Electronic Health Record
  • CAREWare, Lab Tracker, or other electronic data base
  • HIVQUAL reports on this measure for grantee under review
  • Medical record data abstraction by grantee of a sample of records
TOP
National Goals, Targets, or Benchmarks for Comparison 

IHI Goal: 95% [ 2 ]

National HIVQUAL Data3 ]
  2003 2004 2005 2006
Top 10%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
Top 25%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
Median*
93.3%
90.9%
92.3%
94.4%

*from HAB data base

TOP
Outcome Measures for Consideration 
  • Rate of PCP in the measurement year
  • Mortality rates
  • Cost savings
TOP
Basis for Selection and Placement in Group 1 

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is the most common opportunistic infection in people with HIV. Without treatment, over 85% of people with HIV would eventually develop PCP. It is a major cause of mortality among persons with HIV infection, yet is almost entirely preventable and treatable. Pneumocystis almost always affects the lungs, causing a form of pneumonia. People with CD4 T-cell counts under 200 cells/mm3 are at greatest risk of developing PCP. The drugs now used to prevent and treat PCP include TMP/SMX, dapsone, pentamidine, and atovaquone. [ 4 ]

Before the widespread use of primary PCP prophylaxis and effective ART, PCP occurred in 70%-80% of patients with AIDS. The course of treated PCP was associated with a mortality rate of between 20% and 40% in persons with profound immunosuppression. Approximately 90% of cases occurred among patients with CD4 T-cell counts <200 cells/mm3. [ 5 ]

Measure reflects important aspect of care that significantly impacts survival and mortality. Data collection is currently feasible and measure has a strong evidence base supporting the use.

TOP
US Public Health Service Guidelines 

HIV-infected adults and adolescents, including pregnant women and those on HAART, should receive chemoprophylaxis against PCP if they have a CD4 T-cell count <200 cells/mm3. [ 6 ]

TOP
References/Notes 

[1] A "provider with prescribing privileges" is a health care professional who is certified in their jurisdiction to prescribe ARV therapy.

[2] IHI Measure reads, "Percent of Patients with a CD4 Cell Count Below 200 cells/mm 3  Receiving Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP) Prophylaxis"

[3] http://www.hivguidelines.org/admin/files/qoc/hivqual/proj%20info/ HQNatlAggScrs3Yrs.pdf

[4] http://www.aidsinfonet.org/factsheet_detail.php?fsnumber=515

[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treating opportunistic infections among HIV-infected adults and adolescents: recommendations from CDC, the National Institutes of Health, and the HIV Medicine Association/Infectious Diseases Society of America. MMWR 2004;53(No. RR-15) (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5315a1.htm)

[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guidelines for Preventing Opportunistic Infections Among HIV-Infected Persons - 2002 Recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service and the Infectious Diseases Society of America . MMWR 2002;51 (No. RR-8) (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5108.pdf or http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ContentFiles/OIpreventionGL.pdf)

TOP