Antibiotic Appropriateness Research Articles

Culture-negative sepsis may be a different entity from culture-positive sepsis: a prospective nationwide multicenter cohort study

BackgroundThe distinction between culture-positive sepsis and culture-negative sepsis regarding clinical characteristics and outcomes remains contentious. We aimed to elucidate these differences using large-scale nationwide data.MethodsThis prospective cohort study analyzed data from the Korean Sepsis Alliance registry, comprising 21 intensive care units (ICUs) across 20 hospitals from September 2019 to December 2021. Patients meeting the Sepsis-3 criteria were included.ResultsAmong 11,981 sepsis patients, 3501 were analyzed, all of whom were referred to the ICU through the emergency department (mean age: 72 ± 13 years; 1976 [56%] males). Of these, 2213 (63%) were culture-positive sepsis and 1288 (37%) were culture-negative sepsis. Compared to the culture-positive sepsis group, the culture-negative sepsis group exhibited less severe illness, with lower Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores and less deteriorated vital signs. While pulmonary-origin sepsis was common in both groups, culture-negative patients primarily presented with pulmonary infections and had a higher incidence of respiratory failure. In comparison to the culture-positive sepsis group, blood cultures and the administration of empirical antibiotics were performed less promptly in the culture-negative sepsis group. Patients with culture-negative sepsis also showed lower compliance with fluid resuscitation (98.4% vs. 96.9%, p = 0.038; culture-positive sepsis vs. culture-negative sepsis) and received vasopressors earlier (31.1% vs. 35.9%, p = 0.012). In-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups (31.6% vs. 34.9%, p = 0.073); however, in patients with septic shock, culture-negative sepsis had higher mortality rates (37.6% vs. 45.1%, p = 0.029). The apparent appropriateness of empirical antibiotics in the culture-negative septic shock was higher than that of the culture-positive septic shock (85.2% vs. 96.8%, p < 0.001). Culture-negativity independently predicted poor prognosis in septic shock patients (OR: 1.462, 95% CI [1.060–2.017], p = 0.021).ConclusionIn patients with septic shock, culture-negativity was associated with increased mortality, despite the paradoxically higher appropriateness of empirical antibiotics than culture-positive patients. These contradictory findings suggest that the current criteria for determining the appropriateness of empirical antibiotic therapy may not be valid for culture-negative sepsis.

Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Antibiotic Consumption and Stewardship Program in a Southern Italian Hospital

Background/Objectives: Antibiotic resistance is a growing global threat that significantly impacts public health and healthcare costs. The Italian National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (PNCAR) was introduced in 2017 to address this issue by improving antibiotic stewardship. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the PNCAR in enhancing antibiotic management practices in a hospital in southern Italy before and after its implementation. Methods: We conducted an observational monocentric study to analyze antibiotic consumption in a hospital setting before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2019 and 2023) and to examine prescription appropriateness and the types of used antibiotics. Results: After PNCAR introduction, we recorded a significant increase in antibiotic prescription appropriateness and in Access antibiotic and targeted therapy usage, while Reserve antibiotics were prescribed in ~10% of the cases, with an increasing trend in 2023. Conclusions: Our study supports the importance of targeted stewardship initiatives, including continuous monitoring and education, to sustain antibiotic prescription appropriateness and to reduce antimicrobial resistance.

Implementation of a Nurse-Initiated Antibiotic Time-Out (NATO) in Childhood Cancer Patients in Central America

Abstract Background Children with cancer are at high risk for infection and frequently require antimicrobials. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions can mitigate toxicity and development of antibiotic resistance yet the pharmacy and infectious diseases specialists who usually perform AMS are often absent in global settings. We report our experience testing a novel intervention to shift the antibiotic timeout to nurses in six pediatric oncology units in Central America. Methods The Nurse-initiated Antibiotic Timeout (NATO) is a scripted conversation between nurses and physicians to reevaluate antibiotic appropriateness after 48 to 72 hours of empiric use for febrile neutropenia. First, we performed a baseline assessment of AMS capacity using the WHO Practical Toolkit for AMS Programmes checklist. Based on these results, sites tailored a generic implementation plan emphasizing educational and documentation tools and iterative PDSA (Plan-Do, Study-Act) cycles to improve implementation and effectiveness outcomes. Results All sites collected antimicrobial use data for a minimum of two months. Four sites then piloted NATO, producing change ideas, including changes to documentation tools, antimicrobial decision categories, communication processes, and times. From August 2022 – October 2023, NATO was performed in 53.4% of febrile neutropenia episodes in the three sites reporting data. Sites had substantial NATO performance rate variation from month to month. Sites reported changes in antimicrobial therapy in 47% of episodes after a 6-month period (Figure 1). Conclusion The difference in performance rate of NATO underscores the importance of real-time reporting to adjust AMS implementation strategies. The change ideas developed by each site differed, however, core tools emerged, which will support AMS in other global settings. Next steps include comparing antimicrobial use pre- and post-intervention and determining a sustainability and scalability plan. Figure 1. Incidence of change in antibiotic therapy over time.

Antibiotic Appropriateness for Urinary Tract Infections in Children.

We examined local prescribing patterns across the entire treatment course for children treated for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) to determine opportunities for antibiotic stewardship initiatives. We conducted a retrospective review of emergency department and inpatient encounters for febrile and afebrile UTI in a children's hospital from 2021 to 2022. An antibiotic spectrum ranking was established, and providers' choices were assessed for appropriateness on the basis of the individuals' urine culture (UCx). Groups were stratified by fever presence and compared using χ2, Fisher's exact, and Mann-Whitney U tests. Of 172 encounters (83% emergency department), 99 (58%) had a positive UCx. Eighty (80%) grew Escherichia coli, with 67 (84%) being susceptible to cefazolin (minimum inhibitory concentration ≤16 mg/L). There were 229 antibiotic regimens and 39 (17%) were appropriate. Inappropriate antibiotic choices included unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and misdiagnosed UTI. Grouping by encounter, at least 1 dose of a third cephalosporin was given in 51% of encounters, and 80% of these received it unnecessarily because of UTI misdiagnosis or suitability of a narrower-spectrum antibiotic. The median prescribed antibiotic duration was 7 days (interquartile range 7-10). Of 73 encounters with UCx growing mixed flora or a nonuropathogen, only 29 (40%) had antibiotics discontinued. Confirmed UTI was associated with fever and nitrite positivity. Our study revealed high prevalence of inappropriate antibiotics, particularly unnecessary prescribing of third cephalosporin, prescriptions not supported by laboratory data, and prolonged treatment courses. Our results identify factors that can be used to support UTI treatment pathways and ensure antibiotic stewardship.

Impact of antibiotic changes on hospital stay and treatment duration in community-acquired pneumonia.

The misuse and overtreatment of antibiotics in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can cause multi-drug resistance and worsen clinical outcomes. We aimed to analyze the trends and appropriateness of antibiotic changes in hospitalized patients with CAP and their impact on clinical outcomes. This retrospective study enrolled patients with CAP, aged > 18 years, admitted from January 2017 to December 2021 at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, South Korea. We examined the pathogens identified, antibiotics prescribed, and the appropriateness of antibiotic changes as reviewed by infectious disease specialists. Antibiotic appropriateness was assessed based on adherence to the 2019 ATS/IDSA guidelines and the 2018 Korean national guidelines for CAP, targeting appropriate pathogens, proper route, dosage, and duration of therapy. Outcomes measured included time to clinical stability (TCS), length of hospital stay, duration of antibiotic treatment, and in-hospital mortality. The study included 436 patients with a mean age of 72.11 years, of whom 35.1% were male. The average duration of antibiotic treatment was 13.5 days. More than 55% of patients experienced at least one antibiotic change, and 21.7% had consecutive changes. Throughout their hospital stay, 273 patients (62.6%) received appropriate antibiotic treatment, while 163 patients (37.4%) received at least one inappropriate antibiotic prescription. Those who received at least one inappropriate prescription experienced longer antibiotic treatment durations and extended hospital stays, despite having similar TCS. In conclusion, inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in hospitalized patients with CAP is associated with prolonged antibiotic treatment and increased length of stay. Emphasizing the appropriate initial antibiotic selection may help mitigate these negative effects.

Prescription pattern and appropriateness of antibiotics in the management of cough/cold or respiratory disorders

Prescription pattern and appropriateness of antibiotics in the management of cough/cold or respiratory disorders

Evaluation of Local Prescribing Patterns and Antimicrobial Resistance in Women With Acute Pyelonephritis Caused by E. coli.

Owing to increasing local Escherichia coli resistance and current guidelines for the treatment of acute pyelonephritis (APN) over 14 years old, an evaluation of local prescribing patterns is warranted. The purpose of this study was to evaluate local prescribing patterns and appropriateness of antibiotics in acute uncomplicated APN. This is a retrospective cohort study of female patients aged 18 to 89 years diagnosed with APN and positive urine culture growing E. coli. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, immunocompromised status, and complicated urinary tract infections. Outcomes included antibiotic appropriateness and its effects on hospital admission, hospital length of stay, and 30-day readmission. Between 2017 and 2022, 308 female patients were diagnosed with APN and had positive urine cultures, with 104 seen only in the emergency department (ED) and 109 admitted to the hospital. Patients seen in the ED had a significant increase in E. coli resistance to discharge antibiotics (12.5% vs 2.8%, P = 0.0070). In those patients discharged on antibiotics resistant to E. coli, significantly more patients returned to the ED in 30 days (31.3% vs 10.7%, P = 0.0155). Patients seen only in the ED were more likely to have resistant organisms to discharge antibiotics compared with those admitted to the hospital. Patients discharged on antibiotics resistant to E. coli had a 3-fold increase in returning to the ED within 30 days regardless of admitted location. Follow-up of all cultures should be performed, and patients resistant to discharge antibiotics should be contacted and antibiotic regimens changed.

Evaluation of appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in primary healthcare institutions in China using proxy indicator

Our objectives were to develop a set of proxy indicators (PIs) suited for assessing antibiotic use appropriateness in China's primary healthcare institutions (PHIs), and assess performance scores of these PIs while exploring factors that influence the antibiotic appropriateness. We selected potential PIs for the PHIs through a RAND-modified Delphi procedure, and assessed clinimetric properties, focusing on measurability, applicability, and potential for improvement. PIs with favorable clinimetric properties were used to evaluate antibiotic prescription appropriateness by calculating performance scores of each PI. Institutions were categorized into three clusters representing different levels of appropriateness. We used the chi-square test and an ordinal logistic regression model at PHI level to explore factors influencing antibiotic appropriateness. Eighteen PIs were developed through two rounds of online surveys and one face-to-face meeting involving 20 stakeholders. All PIs met the clinimetric properties criteria and were used to analyze 209,662 antibiotic prescriptions across 269 PHIs. The percentage of PHIs meeting the target ranged from 3.1% to 69.3%, with 6 PIs below 10%. The appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions was significantly associated with percentages of patients' gender of the PHIs. The varied and suboptimal performance of the PIs indicated the need for diverse efforts to enhance the rational antibiotic use at PHI level. It was necessary to devise distinct sets of PIs for diverse settings in future endeavors. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 72374009, 81973294).

Changes in outpatient antibiotic prescriptions by U.S. physicians and advanced practice providers, 2011 and 2022

Background: The number of advanced practice providers (APPs)—nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs)—continues to expand across the United States. Several studies suggest differences in antibiotic prescribing rates and appropriateness by APPs compared to physicians. The objective of this analysis is to characterize population- and provider-specific outpatient antibiotic prescribing rates among physicians and APPs nationally, by state, and within urban versus rural counties. Methods: We estimated outpatient oral antibiotic prescription rates for 2011 and 2022 using county-level prescription dispensing data from IQVIA Xponent® (numerator) and population census estimates (denominator). Provider specialty denominators were provided by IQVIA, based on data from the American Medical Association. Counties were classified as urban or rural per the 2013 National Center for Health Statistics classification. National and state-level prescription volume, rates per 1000 population, and average number of prescriptions per provider were calculated for physicians, NPs, and PAs. We assessed the degree to which provider-specific rates explained the variance of the overall rate by state, using the coefficient of determination (r2) from Pearson’s correlation. Results: Between 2011 and 2022, overall U.S. antibiotic prescribing declined from 877 to 709 per 1000 population, a 19.2% relative reduction. The provider-specific proportion of the overall prescribing rate relatively decreased by 32% for physicians but increased by 157% for APPs (NPs 229%, PAs 86%; Figure 1). State-level antibiotic prescribing rates varied by provider type for both years, shifting towards proportionally greater APP prescribing in 2022 (Figure 2). For 2011 and 2022, physician prescribing rate strongly correlated with the overall state rate (r2 = 0.83 in 2011 versus 0.80 in 2022), whereas the correlation of the NP prescribing rate increased (r2 = 0.20 in 2011 versus 0.76 in 2022). A total of 60,327 (7.2%) physicians practiced in rural settings in contrast to 42,876 (12%) NPs and 14,495 (9.4%) PAs in 2022. Providers in rural counties prescribed more antibiotics per provider on average compared to urban counties; rural physicians prescribed 57% more antibiotics per provider (207 vs 132 antibiotics per provider), rural NPs prescribed 115% more (284 vs 132), and rural PAs prescribed 53% more (289 vs 189). Conclusions: The relative contribution of APPs to outpatient antibiotic prescriptions more than doubled over the past decade, accounting for 1 in 3 prescriptions in 2022. This contribution was especially prominent among NPs in rural counties. Further evaluation of antibiotic prescribing appropriateness among APPs and integration of APPs into antibiotic stewardship efforts in various settings.

Impact of mandatory indications for outpatient antibiotic orders on accurate tracking of antibiotic indications.

We sought to evaluate whether implementing mandatory indications for outpatient electronic antibiotic orders or using encounter International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD10) codes more accurately reflected clinicians' charted diagnosis in encounter notes. Secondarily, we examined the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions. Cross-sectional study. Mandatory indications were added to all outpatient electronic antibiotic orders on May 18, 2022. A randomly selected convenience sample of 1300 outpatient encounters with antibiotics from walk-in clinics was reviewed. Adjusted logistic regression was used to compare the congruence between encounter ICD10 code and charted diagnosis for encounters from July 15 to September 15, 2021 (pre-implementation period) to the congruence between encounter ICD10 code, charted diagnosis, and mandatory indication for encounters from July 15 to September 15, 2022 (post-implementation period). Antibiotic appropriateness based on charted diagnosis was also evaluated. Among 1300 outpatient encounters, congruence between charted diagnosis and ICD10 code significantly increased in the post-implementation period (87.7% (565/644)) versus pre-implementation (83.3% (540/648), adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.52; 95% CI 1.03-2.25). Congruence between charted diagnosis and mandatory indication during post-implementation was 95.2% (613/644) and >5 times more likely to be congruent than charted diagnosis and ICD10 code during pre-implementation (aOR 5.45; 95% CI 3.26-9.11). Antibiotic prescribing based on charted diagnosis was twice as likely to be appropriate in the post-implementation period (aOR1.99; 95% CI 1.32-2.98). Mandatory indications within antibiotic orders show better congruence with charted diagnosis than ICD10 codes and may increase antibiotic appropriateness and congruence between ICD10 code and charted diagnosis.

Antibiotic appropriateness at outpatient settings in Ethiopia: the need for an antibiotic stewardship programme.

Antibiotics are drugs of natural or synthetic origin used to treat various infections. The practice of excessive and inappropriate antibiotics use is the main global cause of bacterial resistance, which is one of the most serious global public health threats. It is estimated that about 50% of global antibiotic prescriptions are inappropriate. This study assesses the prevalence and pattern of inappropriate prescriptions of antibiotics amongst ambulatory care visits in Ethiopia. A facility-based, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was conducted amongst randomly selected prescriptions issued for outpatients from May to June 2022 at Debre Markos Specialized Comprehensive Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages, were computed. For group comparisons, χ2 and independent sample t-tests were computed. The statistical significance of the association was considered at p<0.05. A total of 2640 antibiotics were prescribed for patients in the outpatient setting with various bacterial infections via 911 prescriptions, of which 49.5% were non-compliant with the national treatment guideline. Guideline non-compliant prescriptions increased remarkably amongst patients in the outpatient setting diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia (38.8% versus 30.1%; p=0.006) and peptic ulcer disease (14.9% versus 9%; p=0.006). Moreover, inappropriate prescription was significantly higher amongst patients taking amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (33.2% versus 48.2%; p<0.001) and cephalexin (17.8% versus 24.3%; p=0.016). Large proportions of antibiotic prescriptions for outpatients were non-compliant with the national treatment guideline, suggesting that prescribers need to give special attention to outpatients whilst ordering antibiotics such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and cephalexin. Antibiotic stewardship efforts to optimize outpatient antibiotic prescriptions and reduce the use of potentially inappropriate antibiotics are needed in Ethiopia.

Changes in the Appropriateness of US Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing After the COVID-19 Outbreak: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis of 2016-2021 Data.

No national study has evaluated changes in the appropriateness of US outpatient antibiotic prescribing across all conditions and age groups after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in March 2020. This was an interrupted time series analysis of Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database, a national commercial and Medicare Advantage claims database. Analyses included prescriptions for antibiotics dispensed to children and adults enrolled during each month during 2017-2021. For each prescription, we applied our previously developed antibiotic appropriateness classification scheme to International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes on medical claims occurring on or during the 3 days prior to dispensing. Outcomes included the monthly proportion of antibiotic prescriptions that were inappropriate and the monthly proportion of enrollees with ≥1 inappropriate prescription. Using segmented regression models, we assessed for level and slope changes in outcomes in March 2020. Analyses included 37 566 581 enrollees, of whom 19 154 059 (51.0%) were female. The proportion of enrollees with ≥1 inappropriate prescription decreased in March 2020 (level decrease: -0.80 percentage points [95% confidence interval {CI}, -1.09% to -.51%]) and subsequently increased (slope increase: 0.02 percentage points per month [95% CI, .01%-.03%]), partly because overall antibiotic dispensing rebounded and partly because the proportion of antibiotic prescriptions that were inappropriate increased (slope increase: 0.11 percentage points per month [95% CI, .04%-.18%]). In December 2021, the proportion of enrollees with ≥1 inappropriate prescription equaled the corresponding proportion in December 2019. Despite an initial decline, the proportion of enrollees exposed to inappropriate antibiotics returned to baseline levels by December 2021. Findings underscore the continued importance of outpatient antibiotic stewardship initiatives.

Antibiotic Appropriateness on Mondays vs. Fridays: Empiric Treatment of Simple Cystitis in the Emergency Department

Background: The treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) has contributed to the rise of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic appropriateness in the outpatient setting is lower than expected. We hypothesized that prescribing practices may vary based on the day of the week. We sought to determine the percentage of antibiotic prescriptions that met criteria for antibiotic appropriateness on Mondays vs. Fridays. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of adult females with simple cystitis presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) between 2019 and 2021. We defined antibiotic appropriateness based on the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines in conjunction with a regional outpatient UTI antibiogram. Each prescription was assessed for drug selection, dose, frequency, and duration. Categorical data is reported as counts (%) and compared with chi-square. Nonparametric continuous data is reported as median (range) and compared with Mann-Whitney. Results: 160 subjects were included: 80 came to the ED on a Monday and 80 on a Friday. Demographics were similar; except, more subjects had antibiotic allergies on Mondays. The number of appropriate antibiotic prescriptions was similar between Mondays and Fridays: 54 (68%) and 60 (75%), respectively (p=0.3). Overall, 44 subjects had an inappropriate duration of antibiotics and 14 subjects had an inappropriate antimicrobial prescribed, with no differences between Mondays and Fridays. Dose and frequency were always correct. In total, there were 46 (29%) antibiotics that failed to meet appropriateness criteria. Conclusions: There was no difference in antibiotic appropriateness between Mondays and Fridays; however, 29% of prescriptions did not meet criteria for appropriateness.

Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns for Respiratory Tract Illnesses Following the Conclusion of an Education and Feedback Intervention in Primary Care.

A study previously conducted in primary care practices found that implementation of an educational session and peer comparison feedback was associated with reduced antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract diagnoses (RTDs). Here, we assess the long-term effects of this intervention on antibiotic prescribing following cessation of feedback. RTD encounters were grouped into tiers based on antibiotic prescribing appropriateness: tier 1, almost always indicated; tier 2, possibly indicated; and tier 3, rarely indicated. A χ2 test was used to compare prescribing between 3 time periods: pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention (14 months following cessation of feedback). A mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between period and prescribing. We analyzed 260 900 RTD encounters from 29 practices. Antibiotic prescribing was more frequent in the post-intervention period than in the intervention period (28.9% vs 23.0%, P < .001) but remained lower than the 35.2% pre-intervention rate (P < .001). In multivariable analysis, the odds of prescribing were higher in the post-intervention period than the intervention period for tier 2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-1.30; P < .05) and tier 3 (OR, 1.20; 95% CI: 1.12-1.30) indications but was lower compared to the pre-intervention period for each tier (OR, 0.66; 95% CI: 0.59-0.73 tier 2; OR, 0.68; 95% CI: 0.61-0.75 tier 3). The intervention effects appeared to last beyond the intervention period. However, without ongoing provider feedback, there was a trend toward increased prescribing. Future studies are needed to determine optimal strategies to sustain intervention effects.

Appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing for patients with sepsis in rural hospital emergency departments.

This was a multicentre retrospective cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) presenting with a process associated International Classification of Diseases code (ICD-AM-10) pertaining to sepsis between January 2017 and July 2020 to rural Emergency Departments. Our primary outcome was antibiotic appropriateness as defined by the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines (for antibiotic selection relative to infecting source) and the National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey tool. Our secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Relevant clinical and non-clinical, physiological and laboratory data were collected retrospectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of both inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and in-hospital mortality based on clinical and non-clinical factors. A total of 378 patients were included who primarily presented with sepsis of unknown origin (36.8%), a genitourinary (22.22%) or respiratory (18.78%) source. Antibiotics were appropriately prescribed in 59% of patients. A positive Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (qSOFA) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.83), a respiratory infection source (OR = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.29-0.86) and documented allergy (OR = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.25-0.72) were associated with a lower risk of appropriate prescribing in multivariate analysis. Forty-one percent of patients received antibiotics within 1 h of presentation. Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing was not associated with in-hospital mortality. The rates of appropriate antibiotic prescribing in rural Emergency Departments for patients presenting with sepsis is low, but comparable to other referral metropolitan centres.

Antibiotic safety among neonates and paediatrics in a public hospital: KwaZulu-Natal.

The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend the empiric treatment of infections before definitive treatment begins. However, ethical concerns limit the availability of clinical trials in neonates and paediatrics to fully ascertain the safety profile of antibiotics in these populations. This study aimed to quantify the use of antibiotics among neonates and paediatrics and commented on the use, rationale and appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed. A secondary level public sector hospital located in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Demographic and treatment information of neonates and paediatrics were collected retrospectively from January 2022 to June 2022. Data were obtained from patient files and extracted for analysis using Microsoft Excel®. Analytical and descriptive statistics were used to analyse patient demographics and treatment variables. A total of 568 antibiotics, issued to 389 patients, were reviewed. Penicillins (40.1%), aminoglycosides (24.3%) and combination penicillin-beta-lactam inhibitors (23.3%) were identified as the most frequently prescribed antibiotics for inpatients. Most antibiotics prescribed to inpatients were for complications associated with pre-term birth (66.9%). Combination penicillin-beta-lactam inhibitors (34.7%), penicillins (29.5%) and cephalosporins (29.5%) were the most frequently prescribed antibiotics to outpatients. A correlation was found between the route of administration and the duration of therapy; the intravenous route (63.6%) was preferred over the oral route (36.4%) for administration. Many broad-spectrum antibiotics were prescribed, thus increasing the risk of resistance. Antibiotics were being prescribed according to the guidelines; however, there is still a need for therapeutic drug monitoring to ensure the continuation of rational drug use. There was evidence of rational use of antibiotics in the public hospital (KwaZulu-Natal), in keeping with economic and availability factors.

2824. 3rd Generation Cephalosporin (3rd CEP) Use and Antibiotic Selection Appropriateness for Uncomplicated Febrile Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in Children

Abstract Background Concerns regarding antibiotic resistance have led many pediatricians to rely on 3rd CEP, namely ceftriaxone (CRO) and cefdinir (CDR), for UTI treatment. 3rd CEP use is a major risk factor for C. difficile infections and contribute to multidrug resistance. We sought to examine local prescribing patterns for uncomplicated febrile UTI in children to guide development of a standardized treatment pathway aimed at reducing unnecessary 3rd CEP use. Methods We conducted chart review of children aged 2 mo.-18 yrs treated at our institution for uncomplicated febrile UTI between Oct 2021 – Oct 2022. Subjects were identified by abnormal urine culture (UCx) regardless of colony-forming units (CFU) and included if they met a priori definition. Antibiotic selections were evaluated relative to urinalysis (UA), UCx, and bacterial susceptibilities to assess appropriateness of treatment. This project was certified by our institutional review board as quality improvement. Results 61 subjects were included (85% female; 3.8 yrs median age; 70%, 16%, 13% treated in ED only, ED/inpatient, inpatient only, respectively). CRO or CDR were most frequently given as initial in-house treatment (ED or inpatient) (Fig 1). 53% of subjects received ≥1 dose of CRO or CDR (ED, inpatient or discharge prescription). 31% of subjects (68% in ED only) were identified as misdiagnosed with UTI (e.g., bacterial growth below CFU threshold or suggestive of contaminant). Providers relied on urine test strips rather than UA/microscopy in 38% of cases misdiagnosed UTIs. Of those with confirmed UTI, E. coli was most common pathogen (81%) followed by other Gram-negative bacteria (14%); susceptibilities were reported in 97% (Fig 2). Initial antibiotic selection was deemed inappropriate in 68% (Fig 3); 39% received CRO/CDR unnecessarily. ≥5 white blood cells per high-power field was most associated with a confirmed UTI (P=0.004). Conclusion Inappropriate 3rd CEP use and antibiotic overuse in general were prevalent in our study. The biggest drivers were UA underutilization contributing to UTI misdiagnosis and failure to use UCx to de-escalate antibiotics. Our findings serve as a foundation from which to build a standardized treatment pathway for uncomplicated febrile UTIs that will improve antibiotic stewardship and reduce 3rd CEP use. Disclosures Taylor Morrisette, PharmD, MPH, AbbVie: Advisor/Consultant|Basilea: Advisor/Consultant Ronald J. Teufel, II, MD, MSCR, Enanta Pharmaceaticals: Grant/Research Support|Health Resources and Servises Administration: Grant/Research Support|Moderna: Grant/Research Support|National Institute of Health: Grant/Research Support

2235. Characterization of the Adult Sepsis Treatment Guideline Utilization Within the Emergency Department at an Academic Medical Center

Abstract Background The early initiation of antibiotics in patients with sepsis has been identified as the most effective intervention in reducing mortality. Screening tools have been developed for the early identification of sepsis. This study characterized Emergency Department (ED) patients initiated on antibiotics for suspected sepsis of urinary or abdominal sources to identify opportunities to improve institutional sepsis guidelines. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of patients initiated on empiric antibiotics in the ED for sepsis with a suspected source of urinary tract infection (UTI) or intraabdominal infection (IAI) from September 2021 to September 2022. Epic SlicerDicer, an electronic medical record (EMR) data extraction tool, identified ED patients with an order for broad-spectrum antibiotics. Patients less than 18 years or initiated on antibiotics prior to arrival were excluded. The EMR was utilized to assess the signs of organ dysfunction, antibiotic regimen, EMR-based sepsis pathway use, and patient-specific risk factors. Institutional guidelines defined antibiotic regimen appropriateness. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the results. Results Among the 6869 patients screened, 190 patients were included. The provider initiated the sepsis pathway in 141 (74.2%) patients, and 21 (14.9%) were initiated on empiric antibiotics determined to be congruent with institutional guidelines. The most common deviation from institutional guidelines was the addition of anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) treatment. Anti-pseudomonal therapy was used in 165 (86.8%) patients and anti-MRSA coverage in 117 (61.6%) patients. Of patients with MRSA coverage, 36 (30.8%) had community-acquired infections. An organism was isolated in 113 (59.5%) patients, and Enterobacterales were most commonly isolated (65.5%). P. aeruginosa was isolated in 15 (7.9%) patients, and no patients had MRSA. Conclusion Most antibiotic regimens used in ED patients for the treatment of sepsis with suspected urinary or abdominal sources of infection were contrary to institutional guidelines. This may be a result of an overestimation of MRSA or P. aeruginosa in community-acquired infections, highlighting an opportunity for education and stewardship. Disclosures Christina Maguire, PharmD, Viiv: Advisor/Consultant Amanda Binkley, PharmD, BCIDP, AAHIVP, Viiv: Advisor/Consultant

1223. Utilizing Multiple Antimicrobial Stewardship Metrics to Trend Vancomycin Use in an Implementation Study

Abstract Background Inpatient IV vancomycin use is often inappropriately prolonged. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) nares swabs have shown high negative predictive values for many infections and can guide appropriate vancomycin de-escalation. Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) often monitor vancomycin use in days of therapy (DoT) per 1000 patient days present (PDP). This measure can be affected, especially for smaller facilities, by changes in bed capacity and prolonged stays and thus may not accurately reflect vancomycin use. We evaluated whether alternative metrics of vancomycin use would show different impacts during a multi-step ASP intervention to reduce inappropriate vancomycin use at Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. Figure 1 Run chart of vancomycin DoT/1000 PDP at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) in two years prior to intervention. Methods In September 2021, the ASP, with multiple stakeholders, initiated use of MRSA nasal swabs to inform vancomycin de-escalation. From 7/2022 to 3/2023, we performed iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act intervention cycles including educating medicine and surgical divisions on MRSA swab result interpretation, educating nurses on timely swab collection, replacing MRSA culture swabs with PCR swabs, and adding MRSA swab orders to vancomycin order sets. In April 2022, in addition to DoT/1000 PDP, we began measuring mean, median, and mode DoT per vancomycin course initiated by start week. Results Despite multiple interventions beginning July 2022, vancomycin use in DoT/1000 PDP increased to a peak of 106 DoT/1000 PDP in September 2022. In that same period, median and mode DoT per vancomycin initiation remained steady at 2 days and 1 day, respectively. Figure 2 Run chart of vancomycin DoT/1000 PDP at the TVHS from April 2022 to March 2023. Specific ASP interventions are annotated on the dates they occur. Figure 3 Run chart of mean, median, and mode days of vancomycin therapy per vancomycin course initiated at the TVHS from April 2022 to March 2023. Specific ASP interventions are annotated on the dates they occur. Conclusion DoT/1000 PDP may not be the best metric to evaluate efforts to reduce inappropriate vancomycin use. By tracking mean, median, and mode of DoT per individual vancomycin course, we determined that most providers already practice rapid de-escalation, minimizing patient vancomycin exposure. This method also allows us to quickly detect changes in prescribing patterns and determine whether interventions were warranted. More evaluation of antibiotic use metric appropriateness based on desired outcome is needed in ASPs. Disclosures Milner Staub, MD, MPH, Gilead: Stocks/Bonds|Johnson &amp; Johnson: Stocks/Bonds

2275. No "One-Size-Fits All": Chronic "Carryover" Diagnoses Dilute Antibiotic Prescribing Metrics in Primary Care

Abstract Background International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) encounter coding is used to identify sub-optimal outpatient antibiotic use, but the utility of a popular billing data based metric, antibiotic prescribing rate (APR), for diagnoses which antibiotics are situationally indicated remain unexplored. We assessed the impact of different ICD-10 groupings on outpatient sinusitis APR to characterize its use. Methods We included all adult telemedicine and office encounters from January 2021 to March 2022 with an acute or chronic sinusitis ICD-10 from two academic urgent care and eight academic primary care clinics. We calculated an APR (encounters with antibiotics/all encounters) by sinusitis ICD10 code, ICD10 group (acute vs. chronic) and clinic type (Table 1). We then reviewed 100 urgent and 182 randomly selected primary care sinusitis encounters conducted in 2021 to assess symptom documentation and guideline adherence (Table 2). This quality improvement project was deemed non-human subjects research. Results We included 987 sinusitis encounters of 821 unique patients with an overall APR of 56.5% (Table 3). The APR for acute sinusitis encounters was higher than chronic (72.7% vs 22.0%), with a larger difference in primary care (65.5% vs 10.4%) compared to urgent care (76.9% vs 54.2%). Upon chart review, 42.3% (77/182) of primary care sinusitis encounters had no active symptoms (60/77) or did not address sinusitis (17/77); the majority used chronic sinusitis ICD-10s (66/77) (Table 4). Antibiotic prescriptions were guideline adherent for 32.8% of primary care (23/70) compared to 58.0% (40/69) of urgent care encounters (Figure 1). Conclusion Combining acute and chronic sinusitis ICD10 codes yielded lower APR than acute sinusitis ICD10s alone, predominately in primary care, suggesting a dilution effect. Compared to urgent care, lack of documentation of active symptoms for chronic sinusitis encounters was common in primary care, hindering the assessment of antibiotic appropriateness. Until there is improved ICD10 utilization with methods to control for ‘carryover’ ICD-10s in primary care, acute and chronic sinusitis ICD-10 categories should likely be analyzed separately to increase the usefulness of sinusitis APR as a metric. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures