Infections In Primary Care Research Articles

Introducing the FATLIPS acronym for assessing the red flag clinical features of dental infection.

Introduction Dental infection can progress to life-threatening cervicofacial and deep space infections. Therefore, safe management requires early identification of serious infections in primary care with appropriate referral to secondary care. We have developed an acronym to aid assessment of the red flag clinical features for serious dental infection in primary care by general dental practitioners.Materials and methods Literature review and focus group discussions.Results We introduce the FATLIPS acronym for assessment of red flag features of dental infection: failed previous treatment(s), airway compromise, trismus, look (lower border mandible, orbit, oral, neck), immunosuppression, pyrexia, swallowing difficulties.Conclusion We propose the FATLIPS red flags acronym to help dentists assess the red flag features of dental infections in primary care.

Construction of a patient decision aid for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in primary care

BackgroundUncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI) is very common among women in primary care. The risk of developing pyelonephritis remains low after uUTI, nonetheless, empiric antibiotic therapy is frequently prescribed for symptomatic purposes. This may lead to adverse effects and antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, patients may express the will to limit the use of antibiotics. Some European countries recommend discussing a delayed prescription with the patient and developing a shared decision. The aim of this study is to create a patient decision aid (PtDA) used in primary care settings to make a shared decision between practitioners and women about whether or not to treat uUTI with antibiotics.MethodsWe followed the steps recommended by the International Patient Decision Aids Standards, with a scoping phase, a design phase (including focus groups and literature review), and an alpha-testing phase. A steering group, made of patients and physicians, met throughout the study to develop a prototype PtDA.ResultsThe information included in the PtDA is the definition of uUTI, information on the options, their benefits, risks, and consequences, based on a review of the literature. The results of the focus group made possible to determine the patient’s values and preferences to consider in decision-making, including: the discomfort felt, the impact on daily life, patients’ perceptions of antibiotics, and the position relative to the risk of adverse effect. The choices in presentation, organisation and design are the result of the work of the steering group, improved by feedback from alpha testing. We confirmed the need for shared decision-making and the equipoise in this situation.ConclusionsWe developed a PtDA to be used in primary care for sharing decision on the use of antibiotic in uUTI. It needs to be validated in a beta-testing phase, with complementary advice from peers, and then tested in a clinical study comparing its use with the systematic prescription approach.

Sexually transmitted infections in primary care

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have often been managed in genitourinary medicine clinics. However, with increasing rates of STIs, more patients are now presenting to primary care services. It can be a sensitive subject for patients, who may be embarrassed to attend. A non-judgemental approach and knowledge about STIs are important in easing patients’ anxieties. This article provides an overview of the most common STIs in the UK, including presenting features and primary care investigation and management.

Management and characteristics of patients suffering from Clostridiodes difficile infection in primary care

Background Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is rising and increases patient healthcare costs due to extended hospitalisation, tests and medications. Management of CDI in French primary care is poorly reported. Objectives To characterise patients suffering from CDI, managed in primary care and describe their clinical outcomes. Methods Retrospective observational study based on survey data among 500 randomly selected General Practitioners (GPs) surveyed in France from September 2018 to April 2019. GPs were asked to complete a multiple-choice questionnaire for each reported patient presenting a CDI. Responses were analysed according to clinical characteristics. Treatment strategies were compared according to the outcome: recovery or recurrent infection. Results Participation rate was 8.6% (n = 43/500) with two incomplete questionnaires. Data from 41 patients with an actual diagnosis of CDI were analysed. Recovery was observed in 61% of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CDI. In the recovery group, this was exclusively a primary episode, most patients (72%) had no comorbidities, were significantly younger (p = 0.02) than the ones who relapsed and 92% were successfully treated with oral metronidazole. Duration of diarrhoea after antimicrobial treatment initiation was significantly shorter in the recovery group (≤ 48 h) (p = 0.03). Cooperation with hospital specialists was reported in 28% of the recovery group versus 87.5% of the recurrent group (p = 0.0003). Overall, GPs managed successfully 82.9% of cases without need of hospital admission. Conclusion GPs provide relevant ambulatory care for mild primary episodes of CDI using oral metronidazole. Persistent diarrhoea despite an appropriate anti-Clostridiodes regimen should be interpreted as an early predictor of relapse.

Improving management of sexually transmitted infections in primary care: feasibility and acceptability of a new patient management tool for clinicians.

INTRODUCTION Routinely following an evidence-based clinical pathway of care for bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea is important to help reduce the spread of infections, prevent reinfections and avoid associated health complications. AIM To develop an easy-to-use tool for routine use by primary care clinicians to ensure best practice management of patients tested for and diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhoea. METHODS The tool (a MedTech Advanced Form) was developed in consultation with seven primary care clinicians and included different tabs for use during the STI care pathway (testing, treatment, advice, partner notification and follow up) with clickable links to relevant online resources. The tool was trialled over 3 months by 19 clinicians in three Wellington primary care clinics - two youth health and a student health service. Outcome measures were frequency of use, completeness of fields related to best practice care and clinician acceptance of the tool (from focus group feedback). RESULTS The tool was used for approximately one in four patients who were tested during the trial period, with 'forgetting' reported as the most common reason for non-use. Clinician views about the tool were favourable, with most indicating they would like to continue use and would recommend it to colleagues. Documentation of best practice care was excellent; fields to record reasons for testing, discussion of sexual history, provision of treatment and advice given were used for most patients for whom the form was completed. CONCLUSIONS Inclusion of this STI management tool in the electronic patient records system appeared to improve primary care clinicians' delivery and documentation of best practice sexual health care at a practice level. Wider use of a modified version of this tool could facilitate more comprehensive best practice management of bacterial STIs.

Progression of SARS-COV-2 Infection in Patients Requiring Hospital Admission During the Second COVID-19 Pandemic Wave

Objective: Establish the characteristics and number of patients with a diagnosis of SARS-COV-2 who end up requiring hospital admission, and which of them require assistance in Intensive Care Units (ICU), and determine the time that passes from diagnosis to hospitalization. Compare our own health data between the different waves to see how the pandemic is evolving to manage healthcare resources. Methods: Retrospective observational epidemiological study of 517 COVID-19 patients, microbiologically confirmed, in a tertiary hospital, between June 1 and November 30, 2020. Results: The diagnosis of SARS-COV-2 infection was made by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) in 78% of the cases, and by Antigen (Ag) test in the rest. In patients who presented symptoms, an average of 3 days elapsed until diagnosis. In asymptomatic patients, the time from the positive test to the onset of symptoms was 8.4 days on average in the cases of screening and 1 day in the case of contact studies. The mean time from the onset of symptoms to hospital admission was 9 days, 15.3 days in the cases detected by screening and 7.8 days in contact studies. The average hospital stay was 10 days and there was an overall mortality of 13%. 10% of the positive patients needed intensive care, where the average stay was 21 days, the median age was 61 years, and the mortality was 21%. Conclusions: A high percentage of patients diagnosed with SARS-COV-2 infection in Primary Care will require hospitalization (70% according to our study). This information is essential to anticipate the need for hospital resources and the time frame in which they will be needed.

Workload, diagnostic work-up and treatment of urinary tract infections in adults during out-of-hours primary care: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections in primary care. Previous research showed that GPs find it challenging to diagnose UTIs and frequently divert from guidelines leading to unwarranted antibiotic prescriptions and inefficient use of diagnostics such as urinary cultures. We hypothesise that management of UTIs during out-of-hours care may be extra challenging due to a higher workload and logistical issues regarding diagnostic work-up and obtaining results. We therefore aimed to study the workload, diagnostic work-up and treatment of UTIs during out-of-hours primary care.MethodsWe performed a retrospective observational cohort study in which we analysed a full year (2018) of electronic patient records of two large Dutch GP out-of-hours centres. All adult patients with UTI symptoms were included in this study. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression were used to analyse diagnostics and subsequent management.ResultsA total of 5657 patients were included (78.9% female, mean age of 54 years), with an average of eight patients per day that contact a GP out-of-hours centre because of UTI symptoms. Urinary dipsticks were used in 87.5% of all patients visiting the out-of-hours centres with UTI symptoms. Strikingly, urinary cultures were only requested in 10.3% of patients in which urinary culture was indicated. Seventy-four percent of the patients received antibiotics. Seventy-nine percent of the patients with a negative nitrite test still received antibiotics. Remarkably, patients at risk of complications because of a UTI, such as men, received fewer antibiotic prescriptions.ConclusionsIn total, 74% of the patients received antibiotics. 8 out of 10 patients still received an antibiotic prescription in case of a negative nitrite test, and 9 out of 10 patients with an indication did not receive a urine culture. In conclusion, we found that correctly diagnosing UTIs and prescribing antibiotics for UTIs is a challenge that needs major improvement, especially during out-of-hours GP care.

Effectiveness of Stewardship Intervention for Urinary Tract Infections in Primary Care: A Difference in Differences Study

Adherence to 2011 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines for urinary tract infections (UTIs) remains low in primary care. Fluoroquinolones are commonly prescribed to treat uncomplicated cystitis, and most antibiotic prescriptions have durations that exceed current recommendations. We performed a difference-in-differences study to assess the effectiveness of a stewardship intervention in a family medicine clinic at an academic outpatient center from August 2016 to March 2019. During our intervention period, the FDA released 2 additional warnings about the side effects of fluoroquinolones. Methods: The study had 2 sites (intervention and comparison) and 3 periods: baseline, before the intervention, and the intervention. During the first 2 years, we obtained baseline data and performed interviews (preintervention period) exploring provider prescribing decisions for cystitis at both sites. During the intervention period at the intervention site only, we presented an educational lecture including an overview of the IDSA guidelines, definitions for various UTI syndromes and actual clinical examples, and instruction on use of a decision aid. During the audit and feedback phase, providers were contacted once per month in person or by phone to provide follow-up on whether their treatment decision adhered to the IDSA guidelines. We performed a log-binomial regression analysis of the primary outcome, adherence to the IDSA guidelines for management of uncomplicated cystitis, both to antibiotic choice and duration of therapy. Results: We performed 156 audit-and-feedback sessions with 13 providers during the intervention period (March 2018–2019). Patients in both sites were similar in terms of age and Charlson comorbidity index. Adherence to the guidelines for antibiotic choice and duration increased in the intervention period at both sites (Fig. 1). The treatment of cystitis in the intervention period of the intervention site was 11.5 times (95% CI, 6.1–21.6) as likely to be guideline-adherent as the treatment in the baseline period of the comparison site (Fig. 2). Conclusions: Adherence to IDSA guidelines for the choice of antibiotic and duration increased in both intervention and comparison sites. Even though the intervention site started with higher compliance, improvement was also greater in the intervention site. FDA warnings about the side effects of fluoroquinolones released during the intervention period may have contributed to the avoidance of fluoroquinolones at both sites. Our intervention was effective at improving antibiotic choice and duration, so our future plans include incorporating our decision-support algorithm into the electronic medical record.Funding: This study was supported by Zambon Pharmaceuticals.Disclosures: None

Strategies to reduce antibiotic use in women with uncomplicated urinary tract infection in primary care: protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis including individual patient data

IntroductionUncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in women is a common reason to present in general practice and is usually treated with antibiotics to reduce symptom severity and duration. Results of...

Point-of-Care C-Reactive Protein Testing to Reduce Antibiotic Prescribing for Respiratory Tract Infections in Primary Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care testing (POCT) is increasingly being promoted to reduce diagnostic uncertainty and enhance antibiotic stewardship. In primary care, respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are the most common reason for inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, which is a major driver for antibiotic resistance. We systematically reviewed the available evidence on the impact of CRP-POCT on antibiotic prescribing for RTIs in primary care. Thirteen moderate to high-quality studies comprising 9844 participants met our inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses showed that CRP-POCT significantly reduced immediate antibiotic prescribing at the index consultation compared with usual care (RR 0.79, 95%CI 0.70 to 0.90, p = 0.0003, I2 = 76%) but not during 28-day (n = 7) follow-up. The immediate effect was sustained at 12 months (n = 1). In children, CRP-POCT reduced antibiotic prescribing when CRP (cut-off) guidance was provided (n = 2). Meta-analyses showed significantly higher rates of re-consultation within 30 days (n = 8, 1 significant). Clinical recovery, resolution of symptoms, and hospital admissions were not significantly different between CRP-POCT and usual care. CRP-POCT can reduce immediate antibiotic prescribing for RTIs in primary care (number needed to (NNT) for benefit = 8) at the expense of increased re-consultations (NNT for harm = 27). The increase in re-consultations and longer-term effects of CRP-POCT need further evaluation. Overall, the benefits of CRP-POCT outweigh the potential harms (NNTnet = 11).

Peritonsillar Abscess and Antibiotic Prescribing for Respiratory Infection in Primary Care: A Population-Based Cohort Study and Decision-Analytic Model.

To quantify the risk of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) following consultation for respiratory tract infection (RTI) in primary care. A cohort study was conducted in the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink including 718 general practices with 65,681,293 patient years of follow-up and 11,007 patients with a first episode of PTA. From a decision tree, Bayes theorem was employed to estimate both the probability of PTA following an RTI consultation if antibiotics were prescribed or not, and the number of patients needed to be treated with antibiotics to prevent 1 PTA. There were 11,007 patients with PTA with age-standardized incidence of new episodes of PTA of 17.2 per 100,000 patient years for men and 16.1 for women; 6,996 (64%) consulted their practitioner in the 30 days preceding PTA diagnosis, including 4,243 (39%) consulting for RTI. The probability of PTA following an RTI consultation was greatest in men aged 15 to 24 years with 1 PTA in 565 (95% uncertainty interval 527 to 605) RTI consultations without antibiotics prescribed but 1 in 1,139 consultations (1,044 to 1,242) if antibiotics were prescribed. One PTA might be avoided for every 1,121 (975 to 1,310) additional antibiotic prescriptions for men aged 15 to 24 years and 926 (814 to 1,063) for men aged 25 to 34 years. The risk of PTA following RTI consultation was smaller and the number needed to treat higher at other ages and risks were lower in women than men. The risk of PTA may be lower if antibiotics are prescribed for RTI but even in young men nearly 1,000 antibiotic prescriptions may be required to prevent 1 PTA case. We caution that lack of randomization and data standardization may bias estimates.

High Effectiveness of a 14-Day Concomitant Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Treatment in Primary Care. An Observational Multicenter Study.

Background: The current cure rates with triple therapy combining a proton-pump inhibitor, amoxicillin and clarithromycin are unacceptably low. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of a 14-day concomitant therapy as an empirical first-line treatment for curing Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in primary care. Methods: Patients from six primary care centers in Catalonia -Spain- were included consecutively. Hp status pre and post treatment was assessed according to local clinical practice protocol. A 14-day concomitant therapy (amoxicillin 1 g, clarithromycin 500 mg and metronidazole 500 mg plus omeprazole 20 mg, all drugs administered twice daily) was prescribed. Adherence to therapy and adverse events were assessed by personal interview. Results: 112 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 46.7 ± 16.1 years. Main indication for treatment was non-investigated dyspepsia (83%). Hp eradication was achieved in 100 of the 112 patients. Eradication rates were 89.3% (95% CI: 81.7–94.1) by intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis and 91.7% (95% CI; 84.6–95.9) per protocol (PP). No major side effects were reported; 104 (92.8%) patients complete the treatment. Forty-seven patients (42%) complained of mild side effects (metallic taste, nausea). Low adherence to treatment (p = 0.004) and significant adverse events (p = 0.004) were the variables associated with treatment failure. Conclusions: In primary care, a 14-day concomitant therapy is highly effective and well tolerated.

Treatment of urinary tract infections in Swiss primary care: quality and determinants of antibiotic prescribing

BackgroundUrinary tract infections are one of the most common reasons for prescribing antibiotics in primary care. Current guidelines recommend fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin, or trimethoprim - sulfamethoxazol as empiric first line antimicrobial agents in uncomplicated infections. However, there is evidence that the use of fluoroquinolones, which are no longer recommended, is still inappropriate high. We determined antibiotic prescription patterns, quality and factors affecting antibiotic prescriptions in urinary tract infections in primary care in Switzerland.MethodsFrom June 2017 to August 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study in patients suffering from a urinary tract infection (UTI). Patient and general practitioners characteristics as well as antibiotic prescribing patterns were analysed.ResultsAntibiotic prescribing patterns in 1.352 consecutively recruited patients, treated in 163 practices could be analysed. In 950 (84.7%) patients with an uncomplicated UTI the prescriptions were according to current guidelines and therefore rated as appropriate. Fluoroquinolones were prescribed in 13.8% and therefore rated as inappropriate. In multivariable analysis, the age of the general practitioner was associated with increasing odds of prescribing a not guideline recommended antibiotic therapy.ConclusionsWe found a high degree of guideline conform antibiotic prescriptions in patients with an uncomplicated urinary tract infection in primary care in Switzerland. However, there is still a substantial use of fluoroquinolones in empiric therapy.

Establishing a pharmacist-prescriber partnership in publicly funded primary healthcare clinics to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the Western Cape: An exploratory study.

BackgroundPromoting evidence-based antibiotic prescribing through successful antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes is critical to preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics for common infections in primary care. This requires a coordinated multidisciplinary effort. Such pharmacist–prescriber partnerships have been effective in high-income countries (HICs). Yet, evidence generated in such countries is not always applicable because of different social determinants of health.MethodsA multidisciplinary workshop was conducted with pharmacists and clinicians (doctors, nurses) on community-based antibiotic stewardship, the purpose of which was to explore how and where such partnerships might work in publicly funded primary care clinics in the greater Cape Metro region.ResultsParticipants perceived that promoting effective AMS was a priority for South African primary healthcare. However, it was clear that there are many hurdles to overcome working in settings that are relatively resource-poor. Prescribing guidelines needed to be harmonised. Participants felt that staff training on the principles of AMS should be mandatory. Research was urgently needed to better understand their community’s understanding of antibiotic use and AMS, and to champion outreach projects in the community.ConclusionImportant stakeholder perspectives in the community were highlighted to promote a multidisciplinary approach to AMS initiatives in primary care. These will need to be addressed to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the community.

The association between influenza infections in primary care and intensive care admissions for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI): A modelling approach.

BackgroundThe burden of severe influenza virus infections is poorly known, for which surveillance of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) is encouraged. Hospitalized SARI patients are however not always tested for influenza virus infection. Thus, to estimate the impact of influenza circulation we studied how influenza in primary care relates to intensive care unit (ICU) admissions using a modelling approach.MethodsWe used time‐series regression modelling to estimate a) the number of SARI admissions to ICU associated with medically attended influenza infections in primary care; b) how this varies by season; and c) the time lag between SARI and influenza time series. We analysed weekly adult ICU admissions (registry data) and adult influenza incidence (primary care surveillance data) from July 2007 through June 2016.ResultsDepending on the year, 0% to 12% of annual SARI admissions were associated with influenza (0‐554 in absolute numbers; population rate: 0/10 000‐0.39/10 000 inhabitants), up to 27% during influenza epidemics. The average optimal fitting lag was +1 week (SARI trend preceding influenza by 1 week), varying between seasons (−1 to +4) with most seasons showing positive lags.ConclusionUp to 12% of yearly SARI admissions to adult ICU are associated with influenza, but with large year‐to‐year variation and higher during influenza epidemics. In most years, SARI increases earlier than medically attended influenza infections in the general population. SARI surveillance could thus complement influenza‐like illness surveillance by providing an indication of the season‐specific burden of severe influenza infections and potential early warning of influenza activity and severity.

Infecção marinha

Introdução: Cidades litorâneas possuem atividades econômicas como a pesca e o turismo que promovem o contato com a água do mar e, consequentemente, a exposição a microrganismos raramente encontrados em outros contextos e muitas vezes de diagnóstico tardio, podendo resultar em morbidade ou morte significativa. Objetivo: Essa revisão da literatura objetiva mostrar a importância da suspeição da infecção marinha na Atenção Primária, sua etiologia, manifestações clínicas, tratamento, complicações e prevenção. Métodos: Foi realizada pesquisa em bases de dados eletrônicos (SciELO, Google Acadêmico, MEDLINE e PubMed). Resultados: Foram encontrados 135 artigos e vinte foram selecionados, referentes aos anos de 2003 a 2018. Observou-se escassez de estudos que avaliam a efetividade de esquemas de antibioticoterapia e sua duração necessária. Além disso, verificou-se a ausência de classificação no Código Internacional de Doenças (CID-10) e Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS), fato que prejudica a notificação e estudos epidemiológicos sobre o assunto. Conclusão: É preciso incluir a infecção marinha no diagnóstico diferencial de casos de ferimentos crônicos de difícil diagnóstico, principalmente se houver histórico de exposição a ambiente marinho. Novos estudos se fazem necessários para avaliação da terapêutica adequada. Outrossim, é fundamental conscientizar a população quanto ao risco de infecção marinha e seus métodos de prevenção.

Effectively implementation of prevention and control for COVID-19 vinus infection in primary care

为强化和规范基层新型冠状病毒感染的防控工作，由中华医学会、中国医师协会相关专业分会的专家联合制订了《新型冠状病毒感染基层防控指导意见（第一版）》，从基层医疗卫生机构防控规范、普通人群防控规范、特殊人群防控规范、科普宣教、信息技术应用等方面给予了详细的指导。旨在促进基层医疗卫生机构和基层医务人员在抗击新型冠状病毒感染疫情阻击战中，承担起居民健康守门人的职责，扎扎实实做好科学有效的防控工作，从根本上保障全民健康。

Effectively implementation of prevention and control for novel coronavirus infections in primary care

为强化和规范基层新型冠状病毒感染的防控工作，由中华医学会、中国医师协会相关专业分会的专家联合制订了《新型冠状病毒感染基层防控指导意见（第一版）》，从基层医疗卫生机构防控规范、普通人群防控规范、特殊人群防控规范、科普宣教、信息技术应用等方面给予了详细的指导。旨在促进基层医疗卫生机构和基层医务人员在抗击新型冠状病毒感染疫情阻击战中，承担起居民健康守门人的职责，扎扎实实做好科学有效的防控工作，从根本上保障全民健康。

Economic evaluation of the OSAC randomised controlled trial: oral corticosteroids for non-asthmatic adults with acute lower respiratory tract infection in primary care

ObjectiveTo estimate the costs and outcomes associated with treating non-asthmatic adults (nor suffering from other lung-disease) presenting to primary care with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) with oral corticosteroids...

How to manage PVL-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections in primary care

How to manage PVL-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections in primary care