Inappropriate Antimicrobial Prescribing Research Articles

Examining Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Implementation in Carceral Settings.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat that inequitably affects minoritized populations, including Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people-especially in carceral settings-and is largely driven by inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing practices. People whose identities are minoritized are more likely to be incarcerated, and people who are incarcerated experience higher disease risk than people who are not incarcerated. This article draws on a case of dental infection suffered by a woman who is incarcerated to consider key ethical and clinical complexities of antimicrobial prescribing in carceral settings.

Implementation of a quality improvement strategy to optimise the management of community acquired pneumonia in a rural health setting.

In Australia, inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials is higher in rural and regional areas than in major city hospitals. Inappropriate prescribing is defined as the prescription of antimicrobial agents that do not adhere to guidelines in terms of type of antimicrobial chosen, dose and/or duration or are deemed unnecessary. A review of antimicrobial prescribing in a Queensland rural Hospital and Health Service (HHS) identified that respiratory infections were an area for potential improvement. The study was performed in a rural HHS in Queensland. Appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing for baseline and post-implementation phases of the study was evaluated according to Therapeutic Guidelines: antibiotic recommendations for community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Quality improvement strategy to implement a multifaceted package of interventions for CAP. Post-implementation, overall appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing improved and there was a decrease in duration of antimicrobial therapy. A quality improvement strategy to implement a multifaceted package of interventions for CAP has shown to be acceptable and effective in improving the antimicrobial prescribing in a rural setting. Our findings highlight the importance of utilising a multifaceted package of interventions which can be tailored to the prescribers and the patients at hand. It is also valuable to engage with local clinicians to promote the optimal management of common infections in the rural setting.

Exploring determinants of antimicrobial prescribing behaviour using the Theoretical Domains Framework

BackgroundFew theoretically-based, qualitative studies have explored determinants of antimicrobial prescribing behaviour in hospitals. Understanding these can promote successful development and implementation of behaviour change interventions (BCIs). Objective(s): To use the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to explore determinants of clinicians’ antimicrobial prescribing behaviour, identifying barriers (i.e., impediments) and facilitators to appropriate antimicrobial practice. MethodsSemi-structured interviews with purposively-sampled doctors and pharmacists with a wide range of specialties and expertise in Hamad Medical Corporation hospitals in Qatar. Interviews based on previous quantitative research and the TDF were audio-recorded, transcribed and independently analysed by two researchers using the TDF as an initial coding framework. ResultsData saturation was achieved after interviewing eight doctors and eight pharmacists. Inter-related determinants of antimicrobial prescribing behaviour linked to ten TDF domains were identified as barriers and facilitators that may contribute to inappropriate or appropriate antimicrobial prescribing. The main barriers identified were around hospital guidelines and electronic system deficiencies (environmental context and resources); knowledge gaps relating to guidelines and appropriate prescribing (knowledge); restricted roles/responsibilities of microbiologists and pharmacists (professional role and identity); challenging antimicrobial prescribing decisions (memory, attention and decision processes); and professional hierarchies and poor multidisciplinary teamworking (social influences). Key facilitators included guidelines compliance (goals and intentions), and participants’ beliefs about the consequences of appropriate or inappropriate prescribing. Further education and training, and some changes to guidelines including their accessibility were also considered essential. ConclusionsAntimicrobial prescribing behaviour in hospitals is a complex process influenced by a broad range of determinants including specific barriers and facilitators. The in-depth understanding of this complexity provided by this work may support the development of an effective BCI to promote appropriate antimicrobial stewardship.

P18 You can’t prescribe what you don’t have: the limitations of addressing the management of symptomatic sexually transmitted infections in a rural Zambian health post

Abstract Background Management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains a significant global issue, with more than one million cases acquired each day worldwide.1 Growing antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to addressing this global burden of disease. While STIs are a recognized public health problem in Zambia,2 resistance remains largely an unknown entity.3 This is particularly true of rural areas where there is no local resistance data available and very few microbiology labs. In this setting, the WHO syndromic approach to STI management is recommended.4 Objectives To reduce inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing for genital presentations in a rural health post in Zambia by the provision of educational resources and collaborative teaching based on the WHO syndromic approach to STIs. Volunteers for a non-governmental organization designed and implemented a clinical audit to improve diagnosis and management of genital symptoms in a rural Zambian health post as part of an ongoing antimicrobial stewardship programme.5 Methods Antibiotic use was measured at two intervals over a 1 year period (April to June 2022 and January to March 2023). Patient records were reviewed against an inclusion criterion of a relevant genitourinary diagnosis. The data was analysed for diagnostic accuracy and for the appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing using the appropriate prescribing ratio (APR).6,7 National guidelines and WHO recommended alternatives were used as the standard. Data collection and analysis was approved by the Zambian Ministry of Health. The WHO granted permission to use and adapt its materials (ID:202300108). The intervention consisted of collaborative teaching structured around the implementation of simple flow charts based on the WHO syndromic approach and national Zambian guidelines. One-to-one mentoring was delivered over a period of three weeks. Results The proportion of plausible differentials increased from 52.5% (n=40) to 80.5% (n=41). APR increased from 5% to 9.8%. The proportion of inadequate and unnecessary prescriptions reduced, falling from 85% to 73.2% and 10% to 2.4%, respectively. Suboptimal prescriptions increased, rising from 0% to 14.6%. Conclusions This audit supports the use of guidelines and education based around the WHO syndromic approach to improve the diagnosis of genital infections in low resource settings. The limited improvement in prescribing was most likely influenced by the severe antibiotic shortages reported by local healthcare workers.5 This highlights the significance of addressing supply chains and ordering processes, particularly to rural areas. It is likely that improvements in appropriate prescribing rates will depend on parallel improvements in local antimicrobial availability. No educational intervention can overcome an empty drug cupboard, but education can be used to conserve the limited stock through more selective use. Improved access to either laboratories or point of care testing would make the decision to prescribe easier. However, in their absence, increasing adherence to the WHO syndromic approach has the potential to limit unnecessary prescriptions in low-resource rural settings, improving resource conservation and antimicrobial stewardship.

Intermittent hemodialysis: a review of the top antimicrobial stewardship practices to be employed.

The vulnerability of patients on hemodialysis (HD) to infections is evident by their increased susceptibility to infections in general and to resistant organisms in particular. Unnecessary, inappropriate, or suboptimal antimicrobial prescribing is common in dialysis units. This underscores the need for dedicated antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions that can be implemented both in the inpatient and outpatient settings. In this review, we provide a comprehensive approach for clinicians with the most updated coordinated AMS principles in HD setting in six areas: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, education and empowerment, monitoring, and research.

An audit of oral antimicrobial therapy against acne vulgaris NICE guidelines

Abstract Introduction The suggested therapy for moderate to severe acne vulgaris (AV) is a choice of lymecycline or doxycycline, in combination with topical adapalene and topical benzyl peroxide or topical azelaic acid. The guidelines state care should be taken when prescribing tetracyclines and topical retinoids in pregnancy given the potential harm.1 Antimicrobial resistance is rapidly emerging worldwide, endangering the efficacy of antimicrobial therapy which can be attributed to overuse and misuse of antimicrobials. This audit was conducted to identify inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing to allow discussion of therapy options with patients, thus reducing antimicrobial prescribing.2 Aim The audit objectives were to ensure appropriate therapy choice, therapy duration and contraception consideration in women of a childbearing age (WOCBA). To assess the aim of alignment to NICE guidelines, the following audit criteria and standards were used: 100% of patients should be prescribed appropriate therapy for moderate to severe AV; 100% of patients should receive less than 6 months of antimicrobial therapy; 100% of WOCBA should be considered for contraception at the initiation of tetracycline therapy. Methods A search was conducted on the VISION software on 20/01/2023 identifying which of the 25,000 patients registered as applied or permanent in a single GP practice had a repeat prescription issued for lymecycline or doxycycline in the previous 12 months. A pilot of approximately 10% of the sample size was successfully conducted, requiring no alterations to the search. Each included patient record was accessed individually for the required information and recorded under headings using Microsoft Excel. Patients without AV were excluded. The data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. As a clinical audit, this study did not require ethics approval. Results The search produced 157 results, leaving 102 patients after the exclusion criteria was applied. Of the included patients, 9.8% (n=10) were on the correct oral and topical therapy aligned with NICE guidance. In 90.2% (n=92) of patients, the duration of oral antimicrobial therapy was longer than 6 months. In 30.4% (n=17) of WOCBA, contraception was not prescribed at the initiation of tetracycline therapy. Discussion/Conclusion All set aims and objectives were met. A lack of adherence to NICE guidelines surrounding choice and duration of therapy was found. This may be attributed to unawareness of updated guidelines. Raising awareness of the guidelines and the implication of antimicrobial resistance may improve the inappropriate prescribing, thereby improving patient outcomes long term. The results suggested inadequate consideration of contraception, which was noted as a priority for being addressed within the practice. Healthcare professionals should be reminded of the potential teratogenicity caused by tetracyclines in pregnancy and the importance of thorough documentation.3 Further audits would be beneficial to address the limitations of the study, which included not knowing whether contraception had been discussed with WOCBAs on initiation, if not documented in the patient’s record, as the audit was conducted retrospectively. It would be useful to observe ordering patterns, issues of acute prescriptions, and the use of topical retinoids to WOCBA to further improve practice.

1272. Teaching the ABCs of ASB in a 60-minute educational intervention. A quality improvement project.

Abstract Background Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) refers to the presence of bacteria in the urine of individuals that do not present with symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI). Treatment for ASB is not recommended in most cases. [1] Previous studies have shown that provider education on proper antibiotic use has been effective in mitigating the ongoing wave of antimicrobial-resistant organisms across hospitals in the United States.[2] We aimed to decrease the proportion of cases classified as having asymptomatic bacteria by 20% in four months after the intervention using a small group discussion and a presentation. Methods We evaluated the rates of inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing for asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) for 4 months before educational intervention and 4 months after. Data was extracted from the electronic medical record (Cerner®), imported into REDCap®, and with standardized manual chart review. Data analysis was completed using STATA® 17 & 18. Results The mean duration of antibiotic therapy was 7.9 days in the pre-intervention group and 6.1 days in the post-intervention group. See Table 1 for more details on demographics. Following the intervention, the rate of inappropriate use of antimicrobial therapy in ASB was reduced by 29.8% (p-value 0.035). The mean duration of antibiotic therapy decreased by almost 2 days in the post-intervention group. Conclusion This quality improvement project suggests that focused interventions of short interactive educational sessions in small groups may reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics in ASB by almost 30%. The mean duration in days of antibiotic treatment decreased from 7.9 days to 6.1 days in the pre and post-intervention groups (p-value 0.060). Of note the total number of cases with providers selecting UTI as an indication was also lower in the post-intervention group and although we can’t determine causality, it provided evidence of a lower number of cases, providers initially classified as UTI between the pre and post-intervention period from 33 to 19. Further research may include incorporating small groups and interprofessional educational interventions to help implement good antimicrobial stewardship in inpatient care facilities. [4,5,6] Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Evaluation of Restricted Antimicrobial Utilization in a Tertiary Care Hospital

The World Health Organization has declared that antimicrobial resistance is one of the top ten public health threats faced by humanity. In addition to death and disability, prolonged illness results in longer hospital stays, more expensive medicines and financial challenges for those impacted. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance was mainly attributed to the inappropriate prescribing and overuse of antimicrobials including self-medication. The main objective of our study was to study the prescribing patterns of restricted antimicrobials among in-patients in a tertiary care hospital. A prospective observational study was conducted among 108 in-patients and the rationality of prescriptions with restricted antimicrobials was analyzed. There were 174 antimicrobials prescribed in 108 patients, out of 174 antimicrobials prescribed 140 drugs were restricted antimicrobials and 34 drugs were non-restricted antimicrobials. Among restricted antimicrobials prescribed 53(49.07%) were Penicillin and Beta-lactamase inhibitors, 40(37.03%) were Carbapenems, 30 (21.42%) were third-generation Cephalosporins, 7(6.48%) were Oxazolidinones,7(6.48%) were glycopeptide antibiotic and 2(1.85%) Vancomycin. Out of 108 patients, 16(14.81%) patients were prescribed antimicrobials for prophylactic use, 63(58.33%) patients were prescribed with antimicrobials based on empirical therapy and 29(26.85%) patients were prescribed antimicrobials based on culture and sensitivity reports. The study concluded that the restricted antimicrobials were mostly prescribed based on empirical therapy (58.33%) in the study population which shows the need to control the use of restricted antimicrobials.

Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance during the COVID-19 Era among Hospitals in Saudi Arabia and the Implications.

The inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials increases antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which poses an appreciable threat to public health, increasing morbidity and mortality. Inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing includes their prescribing in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, despite limited evidence of bacterial infections or coinfections. Knowledge of current antimicrobial utilization in Saudi Arabia is currently limited. Consequently, the objective of this study was to document current antimicrobial prescribing patterns among Saudi hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study included patients with or without COVID-19 who were admitted to five hospitals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Data were gathered using the Global PPS methodology and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Out of 897 hospitalized patients, 518 were treated with antibiotics (57.7%), with an average of 1.9 antibiotics per patient. There were 174 culture reports collected, representing 36.5% of all cases. The most common indication for antibiotics use was community-acquired infections, accounting for 61.4% of all cases. 'Watch' antibiotics were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics, with the cephalosporins and carbapenems representing 38.7% of all antibiotics prescribed, followed by the penicillins (23.2%). Notably, Piperacillin/Tazobactam and Azithromycin were prescribed at relatively higher rates for COVID-19 patients. These findings highlight the need for continuous efforts to optimize the rational use of antibiotics through instigating appropriate antimicrobial stewardship programs in hospitals and, as a result, reduce AMR in the country.

P29 Catheter-associated urinary tract infections, potential for diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship

Abstract Background and Objectives Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are one of the most common healthcare-associated infections.1 Microbiological investigation of catheter specimens of urine (CSUs) results in a significant workload for microbiology laboratories. As bacteria cultured from CSUs often reflect colonization rather than infection, we must prudently interpret these culture results and judiciously prescribe antimicrobials in this setting. For these reasons, we felt it was important to assess if CAUTIs are being appropriately investigated and managed in our hospital. Methods We identified all the CSUs received in the microbiology laboratory from inpatients over a 7 day period in an 820-bed adult tertiary referral hospital. Once identified, a retrospective review of each patient’s clinical and drug charts was undertaken. The CDC definition of CAUTI was applied for the purpose of this audit.2 Results A total of 126 CSUs from 101 patients were included. The majority of patients (n=79, 78%) had a urinary catheter introduced during their hospital admission. At the time of CSU sampling, suspicion of infection was documented in only 47 patients. Only 9% of patients who had a CSU processed met the criteria for a CAUTI.2 Fifty-six percent of patients were commenced on antibiotics, despite only 31% returning a culture positive CSU sample. CSU results were documented in only 10% of patient charts. In cases where a CAUTI was suspected, it took an average of 6.75 days for the urinary catheter to be exchanged or removed. Four patients continued to receive an antibiotic despite the organism isolated being reported as resistant. Conclusions Overall, we noted that there was poor documentation of both urinary catheter status and of CSU results. Our audit revealed that several patients had multiple specimens processed within the 7 day period. Most patients had no clear indication for CSU sampling. From an antimicrobial stewardship perspective, there was unnecessary and inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials. The results of this audit show that there is potential for both diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship in the management of CAUTIs.

Antimicrobial prescription pattern in the Deido health district, Douala, Cameroon

Inappropriate antimicrobial prescriptions are among the highest contributing factors to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Most low and middle-income (LMICS) countries with high AMR burdens like Cameroon, seldom document information on prescription patterns, whereas this information is crucial in addressing inappropriate antimicrobial prescriptions. This study was therefore designed to elucidate antimicrobial prescription patterns in order to tailor interventions to mitigate AMR in Cameroon. The study adopted a multicentre cross-sectional design. Information on antimicrobial prescriptions was collected from four hospitals within the Deido Health District, between October 2019 and March 2020. Of the 1398 participants that were enrolled in the study, the most presented age group were participants aged 15-45 years 913(65.3%) and prescriptions were higher amongst females (923,53.6%). The highest number of antimicrobial prescriptions was made in the outpatient department 592(42.3%) followed by the pediatric unit, 344(24.6%). Most of the prescriptions were for patients with respiratory tract infections 436 (31.2%), followed by those with digestive tract infections 248 (17.7%). The most frequently prescribed class of drugs were the Penicillins 690 (40.3%, 37.8 – 42.6), with Amoxicillin clavulanic acid accounting for 27.8% of the overall prescriptions followed by Cephalosporins 392 (22.7, 20.6 – 24.7), with Ceftriaxone being the most prescribed in the class (13.3%). The need for prescription was mainly determined by clinical judgement (61.1%), while only 9.5% of prescriptions were based on antimicrobial sensitivity test. In the struggle to mitigate AMR, there is a great need to exploit data on prescription patterns and develop stewardship programs in order to optimise antimicrobial use in Cameroon. We emphasize in this communication the potential benefits and outcomes of foresight thinking, such as improved resilience, better resource allocation, and effective response strategies.

Pharmacist-led multi-faceted intervention in an antimicrobial stewardship programme at a dental university hospital in Japan

Antimicrobials are commonly prescribed in dentistry. However, inappropriate antimicrobial prescriptions are common in this field. Optimizing antimicrobial prescriptions in dentistry requires an effective strategy for modifying prescribing behaviour. To assess the efficacy of pharmacist-led multi-faceted intervention for the proportion of monthly antimicrobial prescriptions in each drug group per 100 oral antimicrobial prescriptions. A before-after trial was performed at a university hospital outpatient dental clinic. A pharmacist-led, multi-faceted intervention, including immediate and direct feedback to the prescribers, an explanation of the rules of antimicrobial prescriptions for patients with penicillin allergy, tutorials for dentistry students, and a review of hospital-approved antimicrobials, was implemented from April 2017 to March 2022. Antimicrobials were classified into eight groups, namely, penicillins, first- and second-generation cephalosporins, third-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, clindamycin, carbapenem, and others. In total, there were 2,643,988 visits to the outpatient dental clinic during the study period. The monthly mean proportion of prescriptions for penicillins increased from 45.6 to 84.1 per 100 oral antimicrobial prescriptions (P<0.001) while that of third-generation cephalosporins decreased from 43.0 to 7.3 (P<0.001) from the pre-intervention to the intervention period. Moreover, the monthly mean proportion of fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and carbapenems decreased from 11.2 to 7.44 (P<0.001). The intervention modified dentists' antimicrobial prescribing behaviours, leading to an immediate increase in the number of monthly prescriptions for penicillins and a simultaneous decrease in the number of monthly prescriptions for third-generation cephalosporins and other broad-spectrum, oral antimicrobials.

Safety and Tolerability of Antimicrobial Agents in the Older Patient.

Older patients are at high risk of infections, which often present atypically and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Antimicrobial treatment in older individuals with infectious diseases represents a clinical challenge, causing an increasing burden on worldwide healthcare systems; immunosenescence and the coexistence of multiple comorbidities determine complex polypharmacy regimens with an increase in drug-drug interactions and spread of multidrug-resistance infections. Aging-induced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes can additionally increase the risk of inappropriate drug dosing, with underexposure that is associated with antimicrobial resistance and overexposure that may lead to adverse effects and poor adherence because of low tolerability. These issues need to be considered when starting antimicrobial prescriptions. National and international efforts have been made towards the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions to help clinicians improve the appropriateness and safety of antimicrobial prescriptions in both acute and long-term care settings. AMS programs were shown to decrease consumption of antimicrobials and to improve safety in hospitalized patients and older nursing home residents. With the abundance of antimicrobial prescriptions and the recent emergence of multidrug resistant pathogens, an in-depth review of antimicrobial prescriptions in geriatric clinical practice is needed. This review will discuss the special considerations for older individuals needing antimicrobials, including risk factors that shape risk profiles in geriatric populations as well as an evidence-based description of antimicrobial-induced adverse events in this patient population. It will highlight agents of concern for this age group and discuss interventions to mitigate the effects of inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing.

Translated article] Evaluation of the antibiotic prescription in a hospital emergency department: Pilot study

ObjectiveA study about the adherence of the antimicrobial prescriptions to the local guidelines of treatment of infections was conducted in a hospital emergency department to study the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients who received these treatments. Conducting a feasibility study for supporting the design and execution of future studies, addressing specific aspects of the appropriateness of the antimicrobial prescription. MethodObservational, descriptive and cross-sectional pilot study, with retrospective data collection about the antimicrobial prescription in a hospital emergency department. Seven cross sections were made, corresponding to seven different days of the week, in seven consecutive weeks. Inclusion criteria: patient over 14 years of age, with at least one first dose of antimicrobial treatment prescribed on the day of recruitment. The main variable was the inappropriate antimicrobial prescription according to the local guidelines. Epidemiological and clinical parameters of the patients were collected as secondary variables. In order to determine inappropriate prescription a revision was carried out by two specialists in emergencies, two pharmacists and one specialist in infectious diseases, all unrelated to prescriptions. Results168 patients with 192 prescriptions were evaluated. Seventy-six (39.6%) of the prescriptions were not conformed to the local treatment guidelines. Of these, 55% were with active antimicrobial coverage against the microorganism but not recommended, 23.5% with inactive drugs, 13.7% presented an inappropriate dose and 7.8% were unnecessary treatment. The strength of agreement in the evaluation of the adequacy of treatment between doctors and pharmacists was high (kappa = 0.71). ConclusionsA high rate of inappropriate antimicrobial prescriptions was obtained in a hospital emergency department according to local guidelines. The hospital pharmacist has an opportunity to improve the use of antimicrobials in this area.

Evaluación de la prescripción de antibióticos en un servicio de urgencias hospitalarias: estudio piloto

ObjectiveA study about the adherence of the antimicrobial prescriptions to the local guidelines of treatment of infections was conducted in a hospital emergency department to study the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients who received these treatments. Conducting a feasibility study for supporting the design and execution of future studies, addressing specific aspects of the appropriateness of the antimicrobial prescription. MethodObservational, descriptive and cross-sectional pilot study, with retrospective data collection about the antimicrobial prescription in a hospital emergency department. Seven cross sections were made, corresponding to 7 different days of the week, in 7 consecutive weeks. Inclusion criteria: patient over 14 years of age, with at least one first dose of antimicrobial treatment prescribed on the day of recruitment. The main variable was the inappropriate antimicrobial prescription according to the local guidelines. Epidemiological and clinical parameters of the patients were collected as secondary variables. In order to determine inappropriate prescription a revision was carried out by 2 specialists in emergencies, 2 pharmacists and one specialist in infectious diseases, all unrelated to prescriptions. ResultsOne hundred sixty eight patients with 192 prescriptions were evaluated. 76 (39.6%) of the prescriptions were not conformed to the local treatment guidelines. Of these, 55% were with active antimicrobial coverage against the microorganism but not recommended, 23.5% with inactive drugs, 13.7% presented an inappropriate dose and 7.8% were unnecessary treatment. The strength of agreement in the evaluation of the adequacy of treatment between doctors and pharmacists was high (kappa=0.71). ConclusionsA high rate of inappropriate antimicrobial prescriptions was obtained in a hospital emergency department according to local guidelines. The hospital pharmacist has an opportunity to improve the use of antimicrobials in this area.

Determinants of clinician and patient to prescription of antimicrobials: Case of Mulanje, Southern Malawi.

Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging problem in low- and middle-income countries. The problem is exacerbated by inappropriate prescription of antimicrobials. Factors that lead to overuse or inappropriate prescription of antimicrobials by the cadre of medical assistants, clinical technicians and clinical officers have received limited attention. This study investigated factors that influence prescription behaviours of antimicrobials among clinical officers in various health facilities in Mulanje district, Southern Malawi. Qualitative study design exploring determinants of antimicrobial prescription from May to October, 2019, was used. In-depth interviews (n = 18) and focus group discussions (n = 2) were conducted with medical assistant (MA), clinical technicians and clinical officers (CO) from four health facilities in Mulanje district. COs are licensed medical practitioners with an initial three-year training and one-year internship while MAs are licensed medical practitioners with initial two-year training and one year internship. Purposive sampling was done to arrive at a sample size of 30 health cadres. Participants pointed out that patient preferences, beliefs and clinicians' inadequate education on this issue were among the factors that contribute to inappropriate antimicrobial prescription. 75% of clinicians showed lack of knowledge on the definition of antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials is facilitated by prescription decisions made by clinicians who are greatly influenced by their patients. Interventions aimed at improving antimicrobial prescription should target both clinicians and patients.

Using a Knowledge-Based Clinical Decision Support System to Reduce the Time to Appropriate Antimicrobial Therapy in Hospitalized Patients With Bloodstream Infections: A Single-Center Observational Study.

Inappropriate antimicrobial use is a crucial determinant of mortality in hospitalized patients with bloodstream infections. Current literature reporting on the impact of clinical decision support systems on optimizing antimicrobial prescription and reducing the time to appropriate antimicrobial therapy is limited. Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital implemented a hospital-wide, knowledge-based, active-delivery clinical decision support system, named RAPID (Real-time Alert for antimicrobial Prescription from virtual Infectious Diseases experts), to detect whether there was an antimicrobial agent-pathogen mismatch when a blood culture result was positive. Once RAPID determines the current antimicrobials as inappropriate, an alert text message is immediately sent to the clinicians in charge. This study evaluated how RAPID impacted the time to appropriate antimicrobial therapy among patients with bloodstream infections. During the study period, 633 of 11 297 recorded observations (5.6%) were determined as inappropriate antimicrobial prescriptions. The time to appropriate antimicrobial therapy was significantly shortened after the implementation of RAPID (1.65 vs 2.45 hours, P < .001), especially outside working hours (1.24 vs 6.43 hours, P < .001), in the medical wards (1.40 vs 2.14 hours, P < .001), in participants with candidemia (0.74 vs 5.36 hours, P < .001), and for bacteremia due to non-multidrug-resistant organisms (1.66 vs 2.49 hours, P < .001). Using a knowledge-based clinical decision support system to reduce the time to appropriate antimicrobial therapy in a real-world scenario is feasible and effective. Our results support the continued use of RAPID.

Evaluating the appropriateness of laboratory testing and antimicrobial use in South African children hospitalized for community-acquired infections.

Community acquired infection (CAI) is the leading indication for paediatric hospitalization in South Africa. We conducted secondary data analysis of prospective, consecutive paediatric admissions to Tygerberg Hospital (May 2015-November 2015). Clinical characteristics, admission diagnosis, appropriateness of diagnostic tests, use of antimicrobial prescriptions, hospital outcome and costs were analyzed. CAI episodes were documented in (364/451; 81%) children admitted to the general paediatric ward; median age 4.8 months (Interquartile range, IQR, 1.5-17.5) and weight 5.4kg (IQR, 3.6-9.0). Male gender predominated (210/364; 58%), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection prevalence was 6.0% (22/364). Common CAI types included respiratory tract infections (197; 54%), gastroenteritis (51; 14%), and bloodstream infections (33; 9%). Pre-hospital antibiotics (ceftriaxone) were given to 152/364 (42%). Of 274 blood cultures and 140 cerebrospinal fluid samples submitted, 5% and 2% respectively yielded a pathogen. Common CAI antibiotic treatment regimens included: ampicillin alone (53%); ampicillin plus gentamicin (25%) and ampicillin plus cefotaxime (20%). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was found in 39% of the children investigated for pneumonia. Most antibiotic prescriptions (323/364; 89%) complied with national guidelines and were appropriately adjusted based on the patient's clinical condition and laboratory findings. The overall estimated cost of CAI episode management ZAR 22,535 (≈1423 USD) per CAI admission episode. Unfavourable outcomes were uncommon (1% died, 4% required re-admission within 30 days of discharge). CAI is the most frequent reason for hospitalization and drives antimicrobial use. Improved diagnostic stewardship is needed to prevent inappropriate antimicrobial prescriptions. Clinical outcome of paediatric CAI episodes was generally favourable.

Economic evaluation of antimicrobial stewardship in primary care: a systematic review and quality assessment

BackgroundPrimary care accounts for 80%–90% of antimicrobial prescriptions, making this setting an important focus for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions.ObjectivesTo collate the findings and critically appraise the qualities of economic evaluation studies of AMS or related interventions aimed at reducing inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing in primary care.MethodsA systematic review of economic evaluations of interventions aimed at reducing inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing in primary care was performed. Published literature were retrieved through a search of Medline, Embase, EconLit and Web of Science databases for the period 2010 to 2020. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria checklist and Good Practice Guidelines for Decision-Analytic Modelling in Health Technology Assessment.ResultsOf the 2722 records identified, 12 studies were included in the review (8 trial-based and 4 modelled evaluations). The most common AMS interventions were communication skills training for health professionals and C-reactive protein point-of-care testing (CRP-POCT). Types of economic evaluations included in the review were cost-effectiveness (7 studies), cost-utility (1), cost-benefit (2), cost-effectiveness and cost-utility (1) and cost analysis (1). While six of the studies found AMS interventions to be cost-effective, the other six reported them as not cost-effective or inconclusive. The quality of the studies ranged from good to low.ConclusionsThere were significant variations in cost-effectiveness of AMS interventions across studies and depending on the inclusion of cost components such as the cost of antimicrobial resistance. However, communication skills training and CRP-POCT were frequently cost-effective or cost-beneficial for reducing inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing.

P07 PCT-targeted ward rounds to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in medical admissions with suspicion of respiratory tract infections

BackgroundLower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are a common reason for antibiotics with unnecessary antibiotic prescribing common because of the difficulties differentiating viral, bacterial and non-infectious mimics of LRTIs (e.g. heart failure) due to similar clinical signs and symptoms.1 Studies of procalcitonin (PCT)- guided antimicrobial stewardship in managing RTI (including community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, acute bronchitis, exacerbation of asthma and sepsis with a suspected respiratory tract infection) in various healthcare settings (primary care, emergency departments, hospital wards and ICUs) have shown it to reduce antibiotic exposure and antibiotic associated side effects without impacting treatment failure, hospital length of stay or negatively impacting on mortality.2 PCT-guided antibiotic stewardship aims to augment clinical decision-making. We wanted to see whether we could use PCT-guided stewardship to safely stop antibiotics in patients with an RTI diagnosis in those with low severity disease and where bacterial infection looks an unlikely cause for the presenting symptoms.3MethodsAn automated daily Excel report sent via e-mail to the antimicrobial pharmacists identified patients with a PCT result and presented the date and levels for PCT, CRP, WBC, any prescribed antibiotics and ward location. Patients with a serum PCT level (<0.25 μg/L) and prescribed respiratory antibiotics were reviewed by one of the antimicrobial pharmacists. All available pathology and radiological results were reviewed on the ward with the patient's clinical signs and symptoms and illness acuity to determine the likelihood of a bacterial cause for symptoms and the risk of early antibiotic cessation. Cases were discussed with the medical team and antibiotics stopped if consensus was achieved. Mortality at 30 days was collected retrospectively for all patients.ResultsBetween June 2020 and January 2022, 120 patients with low PCT and on respiratory antibiotics were reviewed. Antibiotics were stopped in 40 patients (33%). Two patients in the early antibiotic cessation group died within 30 days, both of not infectious causes. By comparison, 11 patients in the continuation group died within 30 days.ConclusionsPharmacist-delivered PCT ward rounds in patients with a clinical suspicion of respiratory infections successfully reduced inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing without negatively impacting 30 day mortality.