Oral Antibiotic Prescriptions Research Articles

1414. Real-World Study of Healthcare Resource Use and Costs Associated with Inappropriate and Suboptimal Antibiotic Use Among Females with Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection in the United States

BackgroundUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common outpatient infection requiring medical care in the US; but, despite Infectious Diseases Society of America 2011 guidelines for treating uncomplicated UTI (uUTI), variation in prescribing practices still exists. Few studies have used real-world data (RWD) to evaluate uUTI-associated healthcare resource use (HRU) and costs. We examined HRU and direct costs associated with appropriate and optimal (AP&OP) and inappropriate or suboptimal (IA/SO) antibiotic (AB) prescribing in females with uUTI using US RWD.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study used RWD from IBM MarketScan (commercial/Medicare claims) to examine uUTI-related HRU and costs (inpatient, emergency room, outpatient, pharmacy) per index uUTI episode and during 1-year follow-up among females (age ≥ 12 years) diagnosed with uUTI from July 1, 2013–December 31, 2017 (index date). Patients had an oral AB prescription ± 5 days of the index date, and continuous health plan enrollment ≥ 6 months pre/1 year post-index date; those with complicated UTI were excluded. Patients were stratified by AB prescription as follows: AP&OP = guideline-compliant and correct duration; IA/SO = guideline non-compliant/incorrect duration or re-prescription/switch within 28 days.ResultsThe study included 557,669 patients. In the commercial population (n=517,664, mean age 37.7 years), fewer patients were prescribed AP&OP (11.8%) than IA/SO (88.2%) ABs, a trend also seen in the Medicare population (n=40,005, mean age 74.5 years). In both populations, adjusted average numbers of uUTI-related ambulatory visits and pharmacy claims were lower for the AP&OP cohort than the IA/SO cohort during index episode and 1-year followup (p < 0.0001, Table 1). In the commercial population, total adjusted uUTI-related costs were &194 (AP&OP) versus &274 (IA/SO; p < 0.0001); in the Medicare population, total adjusted uUTI-related costs were &253 (AP&OP) versus &355 (IA/SO; p < 0.0001) (Table 2).Table 1. uUTI-related HRU for commercial and Medicare populations calculated using the GLM model Table 2. uUTI-related costs for commercial and Medicare populations calculated using the GLM model ConclusionOverall uUTI-related HRU and costs in the US were low during index episodes and follow-up. However, females with uUTI prescribed IA/SO ABs were more likely to incur higher HRU and costs than those prescribed AP&OP ABs, suggesting an unmet need for training to optimize uUTI prescribing per US guidelines.Disclosures Madison T. Preib, MPH, STATinMED Research (Employee, Former employee of STATinMED Research, which received funding from GlaxoSmithKline plc. to conduct this study) Fanny S. Mitrani-Gold, MPH, GlaxoSmithKline plc. (Employee, Shareholder) Xiaoxi Sun, MA, STATinMED Research (Employee, Employee of STATinMED Research, which received funding from GlaxoSmithKline plc. to conduct this study) Christopher Adams, MPH, STATinMED Research (Employee, Employee of STATinMED Research, which received funding from GlaxoSmithKline plc. to conduct this study) Ashish V. Joshi, PhD, GlaxoSmithKline plc. (Employee, Shareholder)

1422. Real-World Study of the Effects of Inappropriate or Suboptimal Treatment on the Burden of Illness Among Patients with Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection and High-Risk Comorbid Conditions in the United States

Abstract Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are associated with significant morbidity and economic burden. Nitrofurantoin (NFT) and fosfomycin are among the first-line treatments for uncomplicated UTI (uUTI) recommended by Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) 2011 guidance. We used real-world data (RWD) to assess patterns of appropriate and optimal (AP&amp;OP) and inappropriate or suboptimal (IA/SO) antibiotic (AB) prescribing (RX), and related healthcare resource use (HRU) and costs, in US uUTI patients with high-risk comorbid conditions. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of RWD (IBM MarketScan, commercial/Medicare Supplemental claims January 1, 2014–December 31, 2017) in females ≥ 12 years of age with uUTI, who had an oral AB prescription ± 5 days of uUTI diagnosis (index date) and continuous health-plan enrollment ≥ 1 year pre-/post-index date. Patients were stratified into high-risk cohorts (Table 1) and by AB RX (AP&amp;OP and IA/SO) during first uUTI episode (within 28 days of index). AP&amp;OP RX followed IDSA guidance, IA RX did not; SO RX was considered a proxy for treatment failure (e.g., AB switch or a second UTI diagnosis [acute care setting] in index episode). Sample size was balanced via random match selection, AP&amp;OP:IA/SO ratio 1:5 (age and region). uUTIrelated HRU and costs were compared between cohorts (at index episode and 1-year follow-up) via multivariable analysis. Table 1. High-risk cohorts identified in the study Results IA/SO AB RX was highest in the elderly cohort (94.3%, likely influenced by renal impairment/no NFT RX in this group) and &amp;gt; 90% in other cohorts; AP&amp;OP AB RX was highest in the postmenopausal cohort (9.0%). IA/SO AB RX in all cohorts was associated with significantly higher uUTI-related HRU (outpatient visits and pharmacy claims) per index episode/during follow-up versus AP&amp;OP AB RX (p ≤ 0.0237, Table 2). IA/SO AB RX in all cohorts was associated with significantly higher adjusted total costs per index episode/during follow-up versus AP&amp;OP AB RX (p &amp;lt; 0.05; Table 3). Table 2. uUTI-related HRU* per patient according to high-risk cohort and stratified by AB RX Table 3. uUTI-related costs* per patient according to high-risk cohort and stratified by AB RX Conclusion Over 90% of females in each high-risk cohort identified had IA/SO AB RX (outside IDSA 2011 guidance for uUTI treatment), leading to high HRU and cost burden. This suggests an unmet need for uUTI symptom relief, new treatments, training, and improved RX practices in the US and, furthermore, a need for additional research in this area. Disclosures Madison T. Preib, MPH, STATinMED Research (Employee, Former employee of STATinMED Research, which received funding from GlaxoSmithKline plc. to conduct this study) Alen Marijam, MSc, GlaxoSmithKline plc. (Employee, Shareholder) Fanny S. Mitrani-Gold, MPH, GlaxoSmithKline plc. (Employee, Shareholder) Daniel C. Gibbons, PhD, GlaxoSmithKline plc. (Employee, Shareholder) Xiaoxi Sun, MA, STATinMED Research (Employee, Employee of STATinMED Research, which received funding from GlaxoSmithKline plc. to conduct this study) Christopher Adams, MPH, STATinMED Research (Employee, Employee of STATinMED Research, which received funding from GlaxoSmithKline plc. to conduct this study) Ashish V. Joshi, PhD, GlaxoSmithKline plc. (Employee, Shareholder)

Outpatient antibiotic use in British Columbia, Canada: reviewing major trends since 2000.

BackgroundWith 90% of all antibiotics in Canada being used in the community setting, tracking outpatient prescribing is integral to mitigate the issue of antimicrobial resistance. In 2005, a provincial programme was launched in British Columbia (BC) to disseminate information regarding the judicious use of antibiotics. These efforts include educational campaigns, updated practitioner guidelines and academic detailing. The impact of provincial stewardship on community prescribing requires ongoing evaluation.ObjectivesThis study examines outpatient prescribing to quantify rates of antibiotic use, evaluate major trends over time and identify new targets for stewardship.MethodsA retrospective cohort design using population-level data.ResultsThis study included over 3.5 million unique individuals with a total of 51 367 938 oral antibiotic prescriptions dispensed over a 19 year period (2000–18). Overall antibiotic utilization decreased by 23% over the course of the study period. This trend in the reduction of antibiotic prescription was observed across all major antibiotic classes, apart from the class of other antibacterials, which was mostly related to use of nitrofurantoin. The largest magnitudes of decreased prescribing were observed in the paediatric population. Prescribing across two distinct eras of provincial stewardship reaffirmed preliminary findings of programme efficacy, when compared with pre-stewardship levels of antibiotic use.ConclusionsOutpatient prescribing in BC is decreasing overall, and this study confirms an association between provincial stewardship interventions and improvements in antibiotic use. Pronounced declines in paediatric populations are promising, and further research is underway to examine prescribing quality.

Trends and patterns in antibiotic prescribing for adult outpatients with acute upper respiratory tract infection in Japan, 2008–2018

IntroductionThis study aimed to characterize the patterns and trends in the use of major oral antibiotics prescribed for adult outpatients diagnosed with acute upper respiratory tract infections (AURTIs) in Japan between 2008 and 2018. MethodsWe analyzed administrative claims data for adults in Japan, between April 2008 and September 2018. The trends in oral antibiotic prescription were illustrated using the prescribing rate, and tested using interrupted time series analysis. We also assessed the factors associated with antibiotic prescription for AURTIs. ResultsData on 7.54 million antibiotic prescriptions in 1,937,379 adults with AURTIs were analyzed; people ≥65-years old were scarcely included. The antibiotic prescribing rate declined from 49.9% in 2008 to 39.0% in 2018, and the rate of decrease accelerated after the national action plan on antimicrobial resistance was launched in April 2016. Acute nasopharyngitis was the most common indication. Cephalosporins (35.2%), macrolides (32.2%), fluoroquinolones (24.6%), and penicillins (5.88%) were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic classes. Sex, age, type and specialty of the facility, and season affected the likelihood of being prescribed antibiotics. The majority of antibiotics prescribed were broad-spectrum, but use of penicillins showed a higher rate of increase after 2016. ConclusionsThe percentage of antibiotic prescriptions for AURTIs decreased significantly after implementing the action plan, indicating that it was effective to some extent. However, since the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics was high, there is scope for improving the prescribing pattern, including the types of antimicrobial agents; this is considered to be a future issue.

Revised hospital antibiotic formulary reduces antimicrobial consumption and promotes a shift towards narrow-spectrum antibiotic usage.

In Japan, the national action plan to adress antimicrobial resistance problems aimed to reduce the use of oral cephalosporins, quinolones, and macrolides per day per 1000 inhabitants by 50% from the levelin 2013 by 2020. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a revised antibiotic formulary on in- and out-hospital oral antibiotic prescribing practices at a 600-bed university hospital. A retrospective before-and-after comparison study was conducted. All antimicrobial consumption data in the reviewed classes from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2018, were extracted from the hospital database's electronic medical records. The data were measured in the defined daily dose and antibiotic use density (defined daily dose per 1000 patient-days). The total oral antibiotic use densities for in-hospital prescriptions in 2013 and 2018 were 117.95 and 75.42, respectively, and 239.83 and 193.88, respectively, for out-hospital prescriptions. From 2013 to 2018, antibiotic use densities of second- and third-generation cephalosporins, macrolides and fluoroquinolones for in-hospital prescriptions changed annually by -49.00%, -92.67%, +0.49% and -48.19%, and out-hospital prescriptions of these antibiotics changed by +76.69%, -86.37%, -16.29% and -51.75%, over the same period. Penicillin prescriptions increased by 71.31% for in-hospital and 42.72% for out-hospital prescriptions over this period. The revised hospital antibiotic formulary reduced total antibiotic consumption and increased the use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics for both in- and out-hospital prescriptions.

Painless ulcer on the dorsal aspect of hand

A previously healthy 47-year-old man presented a 3-month history of progressive proliferative plaque and ulcer on the dorsal aspect of the right hand. Initially, the patient was bitten by an irritable woman savagely during a dispute on a bus. Bleeding from the wound was stopped by local treatment. Six weeks later, the lesion expanded despite the prescription of irregular oral antibiotics in community hospitals. The patient is heterosexual and denied extramarital sex. On physical examination, the ulcer was brownish-red and 7 to 9 cm in diameter.

A Systematic Review of Antibiotic Prescription for Acute Otitis Externa.

Background: There is a perception among ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons that oral antibiotics are over-prescribed for acute otitis externa (AOE), and the potential for topical therapy as first-line treatment is not fully realized in primary care. We evaluated the prescription rate of topical and oral antibiotics for AOE in primary care and in patients referred to the ENT emergency clinic.Methods: A systematic review was performed by searching the MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases between January 1990 and October 2020. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) tool. The outcome measures were the rate of topical and oral antibiotic prescriptions for AOE by primary care practitioners and the rate of oral antibiotic prescriptions that were not indicated.Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The overall quality of evidence was moderate. The rate of topical antibiotic prescriptions was between 77% and 95%, and oral antibiotics varied between 6% and 30% in patients that were managed only in primary care. Patients that were referred to an ENT emergency clinic had initially been treated by primary care practitioners with topical antibiotics in 14%-60% of cases and oral antibiotics in 16%-17%. The most commonly prescribed oral antibiotics were Amoxicillin and Co-amoxiclav (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid). No study had comprehensively reviewed the indication for oral antibiotics.Conclusion: The rate of topical antibiotic prescriptions for AOE was high in primary care; however, the rate was frequently suboptimal in patients attending the ENT emergency clinic. Although the rate of oral antibiotic prescriptions was relatively low, the choice of antibiotic for empirical treatment frequently did not cover the typical bacteria in AOE. There is a need for improvement in primary care prescribing of topical therapy prior to referral to the ENT emergency clinic.

Incidence and management of acute otitis media in adults: a primary care-based cohort study.

Although primarily considered a childhood disease, acute otitis media (AOM) also occurs in adults. Data on the burden of this condition in adults are, however, scarce. To explore the primary care incidence and current management of AOM in adults. All patients aged 15 and older included in the routine health care database of the Julius General Practitioners' Network were followed from 2015 to 2018 (contributing to a total of 1 261 575 person-years). We extracted data on AOM episodes, AOM-related consultations, comorbidities, and antibiotic and analgesic prescriptions. Five thousand three hundred and fifty-eight patients experienced one or more AOM episodes (total number of AOM episodes: 6667; mean 1.2 per patient). The overall AOM incidence was 5.3/1000 person-years and was fairly stable over the study period. Incidence was particularly high in atopic patients (7.3/1000 person-years) and declined with age (from 7.1 in patients 15-39 years of age to 2.7/1000 person-years in those aged 64 years and older). Oral antibiotics, predominantly amoxicillin, were prescribed in 46%, and topical antibiotics in 21% of all episodes. Over the past years, the incidence of AOM in adults in primary care has been stable. Oral antibiotic prescription rates resemble those in children with AOM, whereas a remarkably high topical antibiotic prescription rate was observed. Future prognostic research should inform on the need and feasibility of prospective studies into the best management strategy in this condition.

Changes in outpatient antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory illnesses, 2011 to 2018.

Objectives:To describe acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) visits and antibiotic prescriptions in 2011 and 2018 across outpatient settings to evaluate progress in reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for ARIs.Design:Cross-sectional study.Setting and patients:Outpatient medical and pharmacy claims captured in the IBM MarketScan commercial database, a national convenience sample of privately insured individuals aged <65 years.Methods:We calculated the annual number of ARI visits and visits with oral antibiotic prescriptions per 1,000 enrollees overall and by age category, sex, and setting in 2011 and 2018. We compared these and calculated prevalence rate ratios (PRRs). We adapted existing tiered-diagnosis methodology for International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes.Results:In our study population, there were 829 ARI visits per 1,000 enrollees in 2011 compared with 760 ARI visits per 1,000 enrollees in 2018. In 2011, 39.3% of ARI visits were associated with ≥1 oral antibiotic prescription versus 36.2% in 2018. In 2018 compared with 2011, overall ARI visits decreased 8% (PRR, 0.92; 99.99% confidence interval [CI], 0.92–0.92), whereas visits with antibiotic prescriptions decreased 16% (PRR, 0.84; 99.99% CI, 0.84–0.85). Visits for antibiotic-inappropriate ARIs decreased by 9% (PRR, 0.91; 99.99% CI, 0.91–0.92), and visits with antibiotic prescriptions for these conditions decreased by 32% (PRR, 0.68; 99.99% CI, 0.67–0.68) from 2011 to 2018.Conclusions:Both the rate of antibiotic prescriptions per 1,000 enrollees and the percentage of visits with antibiotic prescriptions decreased modestly from 2011 to 2018 in our study population. These decreases were greatest for antibiotic-inappropriate ARIs; however, additional reductions in inappropriate antibiotic prescribing are needed.

144. Little evidence of same-day, oral antibiotic prescribing at ambulatory surgery centers

BackgroundThe objective of our study was to describe oral antibiotic prescriptions associated with procedures in ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) to evaluate if there are major national opportunities to improve antibiotic use in this setting.MethodsWe identified surgical procedures in ASCs and oral antibiotic prescriptions in the IBM® MarketScan® Commercial 2018 database, a large convenience sample of privately-insured individuals aged < 65 years. We excluded visits with same-day hospitalizations and those with infectious diagnoses that may warrant antibiotic treatment. We included only antibiotic prescriptions dispensed on the same day as an ASC visit. We calculated the number of visits and oral antibiotic prescriptions and the percent of visits with oral antibiotic prescriptions overall, and by patient age group (< 18 and 18–64 years), antibiotic class, and procedure type. We also calculated median antibiotic course length. Across-group comparisons were evaluated using chi-square tests.ResultsIn 2018, 918,127 ASC visits with surgical procedure codes were captured, of which 37,032 (4.0%) were associated with same-day oral antibiotic prescriptions. The percent of visits with antibiotic prescriptions was significantly higher among children compared to adults (9.4% vs 3.8%; p< 0.01); however, adults accounted for 89% of prescriptions. Respiratory/nasal and urinary tract system procedures were most frequently associated with antibiotic prescriptions (Figure). Median course length was 5 (interquartile range 3–7) days. The most common antibiotic class was cephalosporins (49.6% of prescriptions), followed by penicillins (12.6%) and fluoroquinolones (10.9%).Figure. Percent of ambulatory surgery center visits with same-day antibiotic prescriptions by procedure category, IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Database, 2018 ConclusionOnly 4% of ASC procedures were associated with same-day oral antibiotic prescriptions, suggesting antibiotics are not commonly prescribed in ASCs on the day of surgical procedures. Additionally, the observed 5-day median duration may suggest that some of these courses are intended for treatment rather than prophylaxis. Our estimates represent lower bounds for oral antibiotic prescriptions in this setting, as we only captured same-day prescriptions. However, our findings suggest that ASC facilities may not be high-impact targets for national, public health antibiotic stewardship efforts.Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

1359. Utilization of West Virginia Pediatric Medicaid Claims Data to Guide Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions

BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance is a significant public health risk with overuse and misuse of antibiotics as primary drivers. West Virginia (WV) leads the nation in per capita prescribing in the outpatient setting, where the majority of antibiotic use occurs.MethodsWe analyzed outpatient pharmacy and medical claims for WV Medicaid recipients age < 20 years from 1/1/2018 – 12/31/2019. Dental claims were excluded. Oral antibiotics were identified using National Drug Codes (NDCs). Key demographic variables extracted from the claims include patient age (as of December 31st of that calendar year [CY]), sex, race, ethnicity, Medicaid region, place of medical service, provider, and cost. Rates of prescribing were calculated as the number of prescriptions per 1,000 children and stratified by age, race/ethnicity, sex, and WV Medicaid region. We used geographic information system (GIS) mapping to depict geographic variation in prescribing by county. Oral antibiotic prescriptions were compared across CY 2018 and 2019 including spectrum of antibiotic coverage.ResultsIn CY 2018, 204,576 pediatric patients received 237,759 antibiotics (1,162 prescriptions/1,000 children). In 2019, 201,520 pediatric patients received 227,440 antibiotics (1,129 prescriptions/1,000 children). Prescription rates were higher among females, Caucasians and a younger (0-2) age group (Table 1). Antibiotics were more commonly prescribed by non-physician (e.g. nurse practitioner, etc.), non-pediatric specialty providers. Amoxicillin, cefdinir, and azithromycin were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics across CYs. Table 2 summarizes commonly prescribed antibiotics and their associated cost. Medicaid region 4 encompassed the highest prescription rates. Figure 1 is a GIS map of prescription rates by WV county.Table 1. West Virginia pediatric (0 – 19 years*) Medicaid patient population demographic summary by calendar year (CY). Table 2. Oral antibiotic prescription review including cost, CY 2018-2019. Figure 1. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping of prescriptions per 1,000 children by WV county. ConclusionThere is significant variation in antibiotic prescribing across WV. Potential areas of stewardship intervention should focus on non-physician, non-pediatric providers in Medicaid Region 4, the southern and arguably most rural portion of the state. Secondary analysis revealed an alarmingly high total number of broad-spectrum antibiotic use compared to narrow-spectrum. Further data analysis will examine diagnosis-specific prescription practices within this population.DisclosuresMichael J. Smith, MD, MSC.E, Kentucky Medicaid (Grant/Research Support)Merck (Grant/Research Support)

200. Frequency and Characteristics of Patients Switched from Intravenous to Oral Antibiotic Therapy on Discharge to Nursing Homes

BackgroundDetermining eligibility for intravenous (IV) to oral (PO) antibiotic conversion is challenging in patients transitioning to nursing homes (NHs) due to atypical infection presentation, increased diagnostic uncertainty, and multimorbidity. Understanding current practice and patient characteristics influencing prescriber behavior is necessary to provide effective antibiotic stewardship in this vulnerable population. We compared the frequency and characteristics of patients discharged with IV antibiotics to those switched from IV to PO therapy.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of Oregon Health & Science University Hospital patients treated with IV antibiotics and discharged to a NH from 1/1/2016-12/31/2018. We focused on IV to PO antibiotic switch within 48 hours of discharge. Using a repository of electronic health record data, we collected patient demographic, diagnosis, length of stay, and treatment duration data.ResultsAmong 2,410 patients discharged to a NH on antibiotics, 1,483 (61.5%) received an IV antibiotic within 48 hours of discharge. IV to PO switch occurred in 46.7% of patients prior to discharge, and these patients had fewer baseline comorbidities (Table 1). Of those continuing IV antibiotics, 96.1% were prescribed a different PO medication at discharge indicating potential to take PO medications. Cephalosporins (45%) and penicillins (22%) were the most commonly prescribed IV antibiotics, with IV to PO conversion rates of 26% and 46%, respectively. The median (interquartile range) outpatient duration of therapy was 21 (12–33) days for IV antibiotics and 7 (4–10) days for PO antibiotics. Osteomyelitis diagnosis was more frequent among IV therapy patients; pneumonia and urinary tract infections were more frequent in IV to PO switch patients. IV to PO switch patients were less likely to experience a hospital stay > 7 days or receive an infectious disease consult (p < 0.001).Table 1. Comparison of Patient and Treatment Characteristics among IV and Oral Antibiotic Prescriptions on Discharge ConclusionThe proportion of patients discharged to a NH on IV antibiotics remains high, even among patients able to tolerate PO medication. Continuing IV therapy was associated with longer treatment durations, hospital stays, and broad spectrum regimens, while patients with IV to PO switch had a higher comorbidity burden at baseline.Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

139. Impact of Pharmacist Driven Outpatient Fluoroquinolone Stewardship Initiative in Community Based Setting

BackgroundAntimicrobial stewardship initiatives and efforts have historically had a greater emphasis in the inpatient hospital setting. There is a need for outpatient stewardship, and additionally, accreditation standards are starting to require antimicrobial stewardship efforts in the ambulatory care setting. Fluoroquinolones are a target for antimicrobial stewardship based on their broad-spectrum activity, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, safety profile, downstream resistance, and risk of super infections. The objective of this study was to compare outpatient fluoroquinolone prescribing rates before and after pharmacist led initiative.MethodsThis was a prospective, quality improvement initiative between October 1, 2019 to June 1, 2020 at a community-based physician network across Indiana. The pharmacist initiative incorporated a live, educational presentation with intervention 1 and an informational letter to healthcare providers across the outpatient physician network with intervention 2. Data was collected from a computer-generated, prescription report. The primary outcome was fluoroquinolone prescribing rates at Central Indiana (CI) sites before and after pharmacist led interventions. Rate of fluoroquinolone prescribing was defined as total number of fluoroquinolone prescriptions per month. The secondary outcome included percentage of fluoroquinolone use at CI sites. Percentage of fluoroquinolone use was defined as monthly number of fluoroquinolones prescriptions compared to monthly number of all oral antibiotic prescriptions.ResultsThere was a 29.8% decrease (382 vs 268 prescriptions) in outpatient fluoroquinolone prescriptions at CI sites after intervention 1 compared to same month of previous year. There was a 43.7% decrease (428 vs 241 prescriptions) in outpatient fluoroquinolone prescriptions at CI sites after intervention 2. There was an overall 2.4% decrease (4.9% vs 2.5%) in percentage of fluoroquinolone use compared to all oral antibiotics at CI sites after intervention 2 compared to same month of previous year.ConclusionThese findings suggest the pharmacist led outpatient antimicrobial stewardship initiative successfully decreased fluoroquinolone prescribing rates across the network.DisclosuresChristian Cheatham, PharmD, BCIDP, Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (Shareholder)

243. Temporal Trends in Appropriateness of Ambulatory Antibiotic Prescribing in South Carolina

BackgroundPrevious studies have reported high levels of inappropriate ambulatory antibiotic prescribing in the United States. This population-based cohort study examines temporal trends in appropriateness of ambulatory antibiotic prescribing in South Carolina.MethodsAggregated pharmacy claims data for oral antibiotic prescriptions among South Carolina residents < 65 years old were matched with primary diagnosis codes from medical claims within 14 days of the pharmacy claim from 2012–2017. Appropriateness of antibiotics was defined as maybe indicated or not indicated based on diagnosis codes. Chi-square tests were used to examine overall temporal trend in appropriateness and the trends across age group and gender.ResultsDuring the 6-year period, 3,133,379 prescriptions were identified. Overall, 25.6% of antibiotic prescriptions filled were not indicated. This decreased from 27.9% in 2012 to 22.7% in 2017 (p < 0.001). The most common not indicated conditions were viral upper respiratory infections (39.1%), bronchitis (26.7%), and serous otitis (10.9%). The most common maybe indicated conditions were bacterial otitis (27.5%), acute bacterial tonsillitis (24.8%), and sinusitis (23.6%). While females filled more antibiotic prescriptions, they were less likely than males to have a not indicated condition (24.7% vs. 27.1%, p < 0.001). Prescribing for not indicated conditions was more likely in adults aged 40–64 (33.7%) than those aged 18–39 (23.5%) and < 18 (24.2%).ConclusionThe observed decline in inappropriate ambulatory antibiotic prescribing from 2012 to 2017 in South Carolina represents welcomed news. Further improvements in ambulatory antibiotic stewardship efforts are needed particularly in men ≥ 40 years old with acute respiratory infections.DisclosuresJulie Ann Justo, PharmD, MS, BCPS-AQ ID, bioMerieux (Speaker’s Bureau)TRC Healthcare (Speaker’s Bureau)

Oral antibiotic prescribing patterns for treatment of pulmonary exacerbations in two large pediatric CF centers.

Oral antibiotics are frequently prescribed for outpatient pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). This study aimed to characterize oral antibiotic use for PEx and treatment outcomes at two large US CF centers. Retrospective, descriptive study of oral antibiotic prescribing practices among children with CF ages 6-17 years over 1 year. The care setting for antibiotic initiation (clinic or phone encounter) was determined and outcomes were compared. A total of 763 oral antibiotic courses were prescribed to 312 patients aged 6-17 years (77% of 403 eligible patients) with a median of two courses per year (range: 1-10). Fifty-eight percent of prescriptions were provided over the phone. Penicillin was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic class (36% of prescriptions) but differences in antibiotic class prescriptions were noted between the two centers. Hospitalizations occurred within 3 months following 19% of oral antibiotic courses. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ) recovered to within 90% of prior baseline within 6 months in 87% of encounters; the mean (SD) % recovery was 99.6% (12.1%) of baseline. Outcomes did not differ between phone and clinic prescriptions. Phone prescriptions, commonly excluded in studies of PEx, made up more than half of all oral antibiotic courses. Heterogeneity in prescribing patterns was observed between the two centers. Most patients had improvement in FEV1 returning to near their prior baseline, but hospitalizations occurred in one-fifth following oral antibiotic treatment. Efforts to optimize PEx treatment must consider care that occurs over the phone; this is particularly important as the use of telemedicine increases.

Decreased Overall and Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing in a Veterans Affairs Hospital Emergency Department following a Peer Comparison-Based Stewardship Intervention.

Antibiotic prescribing is very common in emergency departments (EDs). Optimal stewardship intervention strategies in EDs are not well defined. We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study in a Veterans Affairs ED in which clinician education and monthly e-mail-based peer comparisons were directed against all oral antibiotic prescribing for discharged patients. Oral antibiotic prescriptions were compared in baseline (June 2016 to December 2017) and intervention (January to June 2018) periods using an interrupted time series regression model. Prescribing appropriateness was compared during January to June 2017 and the intervention period. During the intervention period, antibiotic prescriptions decreased monthly by 10.4 prescriptions per 1,000 ED visits (P = 0.07 [95% confidence interval {CI}, -21.7 to 1.0]). The relative decrease in the trend of antibiotic prescriptions during the intervention period compared to baseline was 9.9 prescriptions per 1,000 ED visits per month (P = 0.07 [95% CI, -20.9 to 1.0]). The intervention was associated with a significant decrease and increase in amoxicillin-clavulanate and cephalexin prescriptions, respectively (P < 0.001, P = 0.004). Decreasing trends in ciprofloxacin prescriptions during the baseline period were maintained during the intervention. Unnecessary antibiotic prescribing (i.e., antibiotic not indicated) decreased from 55.6% to 38.7% during the intervention (30.4% decrease, P = 0.003). Optimal antibiotic prescribing (i.e., antibiotics were indicated, and a guideline-concordant agent was prescribed for guideline-concordant duration) increased by 36% (21.6% to 29.3%, P = 0.12). A peer comparison-based stewardship intervention directed at ED clinicians was associated with reductions in overall and unnecessary oral antibiotic prescribing. There is potential to further improve antibiotic use as suboptimal prescribing remained common.

Duration of Outpatient Antibiotic Therapy in Common Outpatient Infections, 2017

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), urinary tract infection (UTI), pharyngitis, acute otitis media (AOM), and skin and soft-tissue infection (SSTI) are among the most common outpatient conditions for which antibiotics are prescribed. The objective of this study was to describe the observed duration of outpatient antibiotic therapy compared with guideline recommendations for these common conditions in 2017 in the United States to identify antibiotic stewardship targets. Methods: We estimated therapy duration for oral and parenteral antibiotic prescriptions associated with CAP, AOM, pharyngitis, acute cystitis, pyelonephritis, SSTI, and sinusitis diagnoses from the IQVIA National Disease and Therapeutic Index 2017 dataset, a two-stage stratified cluster sample of office-based physician visits. We excluded azithromycin due to its unique pharmacokinetics, and we limited our study to prescriptions from emergency medicine, family practice, general practice, geriatrics, internal medicine, osteopathic medicine, and pediatrics physicians. We excluded observations with antibiotic prescriptions for multiple conditions. We used NDTI projection weights and complex sample methods to estimate antibiotic prescription numbers and durations by condition and age group. Results: Table 1 shows antibiotic prescriptions by condition and population. The median antibiotic therapy duration for all conditions except acute cystitis was 10 days. The median duration for acute cystitis was 7 days. Conclusions:Clinicians prescribed 10-day antibiotic courses for the most common outpatient conditions, regardless of guideline-recommended duration. Antibiotic stewardship efforts targeting excessive durations of antibiotic therapy for common outpatient conditions, particularly sinusitis in adults, CAP, SSTI, and acute cystitis, are needed.Funding: This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Disclosures: Laura M. King is a contractor employed by Northrop Grumman Corporation to fulfill research needs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of a contract covering many positions and tasks. All other authors declare no conflicts.

Epidemiology of antibiotic treatment for uncomplicated cystitis in adults in Japan

IntroductionA large number of antibiotics are used for the treatment of uncomplicated cystitis owing to its high morbidity. As the administration of antibiotics for uncomplicated cystitis may be considered an example of inappropriate use, outpatient antimicrobial stewardship for this condition is important. We evaluated the current pharmacoepidemiology trends for the treatment of uncomplicated cystitis in Japan to predict stewardship strategies. MethodsThis descriptive observational study analyzed data from an anonymized claims database of employees and their family members covered by the employer’s health insurance. We identified female outpatients diagnosed with acute cystitis (ICD-10 code N300) aged ≥15 years and extracted oral antibiotic prescription records between 2013 and 2016. We excluded prescriptions for >7 days. ResultsThe most prescribed antibiotic category was fluoroquinolones (52.67%), followed by cephalosporins and penems (40.63%). Third-generation cephalosporins accounted for 90.91% of cephalosporin and penem prescriptions. The most common duration of antibiotic prescription was 5 days, except for first-generation cephalosporins, penem (7 days) and sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (3 days). ConclusionFluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins were prescribed to most uncomplicated cystitis cases in Japan. Although the lack of alternatives to quinolones and beta-lactams in Japan is an obstacle for antimicrobial stewardship for uncomplicated cystitis, promoting accurate diagnoses and establishing alternatives available in the Japanese market are important. Shortening the treatment duration is also an important strategy. Further research is needed on local antimicrobial resistance patterns to determine a fixed treatment strategy for uncomplicated cystitis.

National Trends in Oral Antibiotic Prescribing in United States Physician Offices from 2009 to 2016.

Prior studies have found that outpatient antibiotics are commonly prescribed for non-bacterial conditions. It is unclear if national prescribing has changed in recent years given recent public health and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives. This study aimed to describe antibiotic prescribing in United States (U.S.) physician offices. This was a cross-sectional study of all sampled patient visits in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2009 to 2016. Antibiotic use was defined as at least one oral antibiotic prescription during the visit as identified by Multum code(s). Patient visits were categorized by U.S. geographic region and season. ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 codes were used to assess diagnoses and categorize antibiotic use as appropriate, possibly appropriate, or inappropriate. Seven billion visits were included for analysis, with 793,415,182 (11.3%) including an antibiotic. Prescribing rates were relatively stable over the study period (102.9-124.9 prescriptions per 1000 visits); however, 2016 had one of the lowest prescribing rates (107.7 per 1000 visits). The most commonly prescribed antibiotic class was macrolides (25 per 1000 visits). The South region and winter season had the highest antibiotic prescribing (118.2 and 129.7 per 1000 visits, respectively). Of patients who received an antibiotic, 55.9%, 35.7%, and 8.4% were classified as inappropriate, possibly appropriate, and appropriate, respectively. The most common conditions in which antibiotics were prescribed inappropriately included those with no indication in any of the predefined diagnosis codes (40.1%), other skin conditions (17.3%), and viral upper respiratory conditions (13.3%). There was no significant reduction in outpatient antibiotic prescribing rates among U.S. outpatients from 2009 to 2016 and prescribing varied by region and season. These data suggest that more than half of antibiotics were prescribed inappropriately, with the majority of antibiotics prescribed with no indication. However, these findings need to be confirmed with robust prospective studies.

The Prescription of Oral Antibiotics for Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Pediatric Outpatients at Acute Diagnosis Procedure Combination Hospitals (2013-2018)

The Prescription of Oral Antibiotics for Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Pediatric Outpatients at Acute Diagnosis Procedure Combination Hospitals (2013-2018)