Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities/Programs in the United Kingdom.

Diane Ashiru-Oredope,Ting Yau,Rakhee Patel,Aneeka Chavda,Frances Kerr,Ceri Phillips,Alison Cockburn,Cairine Gormley,Stephen Hughes,Aaron Brady,Adel Sheikh,Marisa Lanzman,Nicholas Reid,Tejal Vaghela,Jonathan Urch

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10020110

Abstract

Since first identified in late 2019, the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) and the resulting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems worldwide, often diverting key resources in a bid to meet unprecedented challenges. To measure its impact on national antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) activities, a questionnaire was designed and disseminated to antimicrobialstewardship leads in the United Kingdom (UK). Most respondents reported a reduction in AMS activity with 64% (61/95) reporting that COVID-19 had a negative impact on routine AMS activities. Activities reported to have been negatively affected by the pandemic include audit, quality improvement initiatives, education, AMS meetings, and multidisciplinary working including ward rounds. However, positive outcomes were also identified, with technology being increasingly used as a tool to facilitate stewardship, e.g., virtual meetings and ward rounds and increased the acceptance of using procalcitonin tests to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the AMS activities undertaken across the UK. The long-term impact of the reduced AMS activities on incidence of AMR are not yet known. The legacy of innovation, use of technology, and increased collaboration from the pandemic could strengthen AMS in the post-pandemic era and presents opportunities for further development of AMS.

Highlights

IntroductionThe novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has dominated all aspects of healthcare since it was first identified at the end of 2019 [1,2]
(56%) in the United Kingdom (UK): 79/143 acute trusts in England, 5/14 health boards (Scotland), 7/7 health boards (Wales), and 4/5 health and social care trusts (Northern Ireland) (Table 1). This is the widest survey to date that authors can locate on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) activities, covering almost a hundred healthcare providers (56%) across the four nations of the UK
The findings of our survey provides, for the first time, quantitative and qualitative data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on AMS activities undertaken across the UK

Summary

Introduction

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has dominated all aspects of healthcare since it was first identified at the end of 2019 [1,2]. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has overwhelmed healthcare systems in those countries affected and diverted resources away from established services, as clinical teams look to manage this pandemic [3]. The antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) services, established to optimize anti-infectives and minimize the spread and impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), have been severely impacted by COVID-19 [4]. Whilst we battle against this pandemic, it is essential that we do not lose sight of the long-term AMR priorities

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Conclusion