Total Antibiotic Utilization Research Articles

Association between Antibiotic Use and Hospital-Onset Clostridioides difficile Infection in University Tertiary Hospital in Serbia, 2011-2021: An Ecological Analysis.

This ecological study is the largest to date examining the association between rates of antibiotic use (AU) and hospital-onset (HO) Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in a tertiary university hospital in Serbia. There was no clear trend in the incidence of HO-CDI over time. Total utilization of antibacterials for systemic use increased from 38.57 DDD/100 bed-days (BD) in 2011 to 56.39 DDD/100 BD in 2021. The most commonly used antibiotics were third-generation cephalosporins, especially ceftriaxone, with maximum consumption in 2021 (19.14 DDD/100 BD). The share of the Access group in the total utilization of antibiotics ranged from 29.95% to 42.96% during the observed period. The utilization of the Reserve group of antibiotics indicated a statistically significant increasing trend (p = 0.034). A statistically significant difference in the consumption of medium-risk antibiotics from 2011 to 2021 was shown for penicillins and a combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. The consumption of cefotaxime showed a statistically significant negative association with the rate of HO-CDI (r = −0.647; p = 0.031). Ampicillin and the combination of amoxicilline with clavulanic acid have shown a negative statistically significant correlation with the ID of HO-CDI (r = −0.773 and r = −0.821, respectively). Moreover, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between consumption of “medium-risk antibiotics” and the rate of HO-CDI (r = −0.677). The next challenging step for the hospital multidisciplinary team for antimicrobials is to modify the antibiotic list according to the Access, Watch, and Reserve classification, in such a way that at least 60% of the AU should be from the Access group, according to the World Health Organization recommendation.

149. Impact of Stewardship on Antibiotic Utilization Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Successes and Challenges in a Regional Hospital

BackgroundAntibiotic stewardship (AS) is at the core of patient safety and prevention of antimicrobial resistance. Healthcare providers prescribe antibiotics for COVID-19 despite low rates of bacterial co-infection. Our regional hospital had antibiotic utilization (AU) rates higher than other health systems even prior to the emergence of SARS-Cov2. We analyzed the effect AS on AU during the pandemic.Total Antibiotic Utilization Rates Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic MethodsTotal and specific AU rates were benchmarked using BD MedMined’s medication analytics system from 2nd quarter 2019 to 1st quarter 2021. The AS team released yearly antibiogram and individual prescriber’s AU rates and performed weekly, and as needed, review of antibiotic ordering and feedback. To assist in appropriate prescribing decisions, remote educational sessions or mini-lectures and local antibiotic guidelines were developed during the pandemic period. AU rates were monitored quarterly to determine the effects of the AS interventions to prescribing practices.ResultsTotal and specific AU rates were higher (up to 34% and 80%, respectively) in our index hospital compared to other non-teaching hospitals nationally prior to the pandemic. Total antibiotic utilization increased by only 5.5% in the 2nd quarter 2020, peak of AU during the pandemic. Total, vancomycin, piperacillin-tazobactam and quinolone utilization rates decreased by 19%, 41%, 38%, and 52%, respectively, at 1st quarter 2021 compared to 4th quarter 2019. Steeper decreases were noted with implementation of educational activities. Ceftriaxone use remained high and was 50% greater than comparator hospitals at 1st quarter 2021.ConclusionAlthough problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic, AS can have significant impact on provider prescribing practices and decrease total and specific antibiotic utilization rates. The use of ceftriaxone, an antibiotic commonly used for empiric bacterial coverage for community acquired pneumonia, presents as a continuing challenge.Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

748. The Changing Epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile Infection and the NAP1/027 Strain in Two Quebec Hospitals

BackgroundIn 2003, many hospitals in Québec, Canada experienced an increase in the incidence of healthcare-associated C. difficile infection (HA-CDI) associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This increase was associated with the dissemination of the NAP1/027 strain. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of HA-CDI in two tertiary care hospitals based in Montréal from 2003 to 2019.MethodsSurveillance for HA-CDI was performed using standard definitions from 2003 to 2019 at the Montreal General Hospital (MGH) and Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH), in Montréal, Québec. C. difficile was isolated from stool specimens using standard methods. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis and ribotyping were performed to determine genotype. Antibiotic utilization and infection control interventions implemented over the same time period were reviewed. ResultsA total of 4314 cases of CDAD were identified during the study period: 2295 at the RVH and 2019 at the MGH. The incidence decreased from 29.5 to 5.9 cases per 10,000 patient-days between 2003 and 2019 at the RVH and from 23.8 to 3.9 cases per 10,000 patient-days at the MGH. Of the 124 isolates available for genotyping in 2003, 112 were NAP1 (90.3%) compared to 5 out of 53 (9.4%) in 2019. Fluoroquinolone utilization decreased from 230 to 139 DDDs per 1,000 patient-days between 2003 and 2019, whereas total antibiotic utilization increased from 1296 to 1550 DDDs per 1,000 patient-days. Infection Control interventions included empirically placing patients with diarrhea on precautions, intensified cleaning measures, formal antibiotic stewardship, introduction of a real-time PCR C. difficile test in June 2010, and a move to a facility with only single rooms at the RVH in April 2015. Incidence of HA-CDI at the RVH and MGH and antibiotic utilization between 2003 and 2019 ConclusionAn important change in HA-CDI epidemiology was observed in two Canadian tertiary care hospitals based in Montréal between 2003 and 2019. There was a significant decrease in incidence of HA-CDI and a genotype shift from a predominance of NAP1 strains to non-NAP1 strains. Utilization of fluoroquinolones, to which the NAP1 strain is resistant, concurrently decreased. Infection control interventions targeting isolation, diagnosis, disinfection, and antibiotic stewardship have contributed to the major observed reduction in HA-CDI incidence.Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Increase and Change in the Pattern of Antibiotic Use in Serbia (2010-2019).

The aim of this study was to determine and describe trends in antibiotics utilization in Serbia over a ten-year period. Data were retrieved from publicly available annual reports (2010–2019). The results were expressed as Defined Daily Dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID). All calculations were performed using the DDD values for the 2020 Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) version for each year of the study, to account for the DDD changes during the study period. Antibiotics were classified using the WHO Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) classification. Total utilization of antibacterials for systemic use increased from 17.25 DID in 2010 to 28.65 DID in 2019. A statistically significant increasing trend in the use of the Watch category antibiotics was observed. A tendency towards use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, apparent by a statistically significant increase in the rate of utilization of broad-spectrum macrolides, quinolones and third-generation cephalosporins vs. narrow-spectrum ones, as well as a significant increasing trend in the use of quinolones was identified. Total antibiotic utilization was found to be well above the European average. Several specific problem areas were identified, which requires further efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing. The present study provides the information needed to facilitate antibiotic stewardship in Serbia further and proposes specific interventions to optimize antibiotic use in Serbia.

Antibiotic utilization, sensitivity, and cost in the medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Nepal.

Background:High utilization and irrational use of antibiotics in an intensive care unit increases microbial resistance, morbidity, mortality, and costs.Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the utilization, sensitivity and cost analysis of antibiotics used in the medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital of Nepal.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted on patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit at a tertiary care teaching hospital in central Nepal from July to September 2016. Antibiotic utilization, defined daily dose per 100 bed-days and the cost of antibiotics per patient were calculated. Descriptive statistics were performed using IBM-SPSS 20.0.Results:A total of 365 antibiotics were prescribed in 157 patients during the study period, with an average of 2.34 prescriptions per patient. Total antibiotic utilization in terms of defined daily dose per 100 bed-days was 49.5. Piperacillin/tazobactam (45.2%) was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic, and meropenem was the most expensive antibiotics (US$4440.70). The median (interquartile range) cost of antibiotics used per patient was US$47.67 (US$63.73). Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas sp. were the common organisms isolated and were found to be resistant to some of the commonly used antibiotics.Conclusion:This study suggests that the utilization and cost of antibiotics are high in medical intensive care unit of the hospital and E. coli was resistant to multiple antibiotics. The findings highlight an urgent need for the implementation of antibiotic stewardship program in order to improve antibiotic utilization in such hospital settings.

Antibiotic prescribing trends in a pediatric population in Lithuania in 2003-2012: Observational study.

The purpose of this study was to determine the trends in consumption of antibiotics and evaluate the antibiotic prescription rates in the pediatric population in Lithuania during 2003 to 2012.A cross-sectional study. Data of systemic antibiotic use in pediatric population for outpatient treatment was derived from National Health Insurance Fund database. Consumption was expressed as WHO ATC defined daily dose (DDD)/1000 children/day and as a number of prescriptions written in the general population per year. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS/W 20.0 software (Statistical Product and Service Solutions for Windows).Total utilization of antibiotics (expressed in DDD units) during study period increased by 8.40% (from 5.67 to 6.19 DDD/1000 children/day) and by 5.96% expressed in prescription rate (from 585.84 to 622.97 prescriptions/1000 children/year). The most popular antibiotic group was macrolides which showed the highest increase of utilization 5.9 times (from 0.27 DDD/1000 children/day in 2003 to 1.66 DDD/1000 children/day in 2012).The most common indications for antibiotic prescribing for children in 2012 were acute bronchitis (25.6%), acute tonsillitis (21.7%) and acute pharyngitis (14.6%). Amoxicillin had the highest probability to be chosen to treat acute tonsillitis (prob. [probability] = .2875) and acute pharyngitis (prob. = .5553). Clarithromycin had the highest probability to be chosen to treat acute bronchitis (prob. = .4222).Most of the diseases treated with antibiotics were viral infections. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were broad-spectrum. The consumption of antibiotics was evenly increasing during 2003 to 2012 period, but the distribution of separate antibiotic group remained the same.

Impact of Education and Peer Comparison on Antibiotic Prescribing for Pediatric Respiratory Tract Infections.

Inappropriate prescribing of broad-spectrum antibiotics is a significant modifiable risk factor for the development of antibiotic resistance. The objective was to improve guideline-concordant care for 3 common acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) and to reduce broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing in ambulatory pediatric patients. Quality measures were developed for 3 ARTIs: viral upper respiratory infection (URI), acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS), and acute otitis media (AOM). Among 22 pediatric clinics, a collaborative of 10 was identified for intervention using baseline data for each ARTI, and 3 plan-do-study-act cycles were planned and completed. Outcomes included guideline-concordant antibiotic utilization and broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing percentage (BSAP%). Comparison in number of diagnoses for the ARTI measures and total antibiotic prescribing over time served as balancing measures. Collaborative clinics had baseline medians for appropriate or first-line treatment of 70% for URI, 53% for ABS, and 36% for AOM. To reach targets for URI, ABS, and AOM required 6, 14, and 18 months, respectively. At 42 months, performance for all 3 ARTIs remained ≥90%. BSAP% decreased from a baseline of 57% to 34% at 24 months. There was a limited effect from financial incentives but a significant decrease was noted in total antibiotic utilization. Diagnosis shifting may have occurred for URI and ABS while the rates for diagnoses for AOM declined over time. Through education and peer comparison feedback, guideline-concordant care for 3 ARTIs in collaborative clinics improved and remained beyond above targets and was accompanied by reductions in BSAP% and total antibiotic prescribing.

Ongoing initiatives in Azerbaijan to improve the use of antibiotics; findings and implications

ABSTRACTBackground: There have been a numerous initiatives in Azerbiajan in recent years to improve antibiotic utilization including educational programmes among patients, pharmacists and physicians. Consequently, this study aimed to analyse the influence of these multiple initiatives on antibiotic utilization as a basis for suggesting future initiatives.Methods: Observational retrospective study of total antibiotic utilization from 2011 to 2015 based on import data. The quality of aggregated antibiotic prescribing was assessed against recognised indicators including those of WHO Europe, as well as compared to neighbouring countries as reference points.Results: There was a significant reduction in total antibiotic utilization from 17.1 DIDs in 2011 in Azerbaijan to 8.02 DIDs in 2015, the lowest level compared with similar countries. Beta lactam antibiotics were typically the largest group of antibiotics with low overall use of co-amoxiclav (although relative utilisation rising), macrolides, cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. There are concerns with rising use of tetracyclines in recent years in place of penicillins with changing pricing policies, as well as high relative use of third generation cephalosporins.Conclusions: Multiple interventions in Azerbaijan in recent years appear to have resulted in low use of antibiotics when compared with similar countries. However, there are some concerns especially with third generation cephalosporins. There needs to be a closer look at indications to further improve antibiotic use.

OP45 Study On Effects Of Community-acquired Pneumonia Clinical Pathway On Antibiotics’ Utilization

INTRODUCTION:Drug overuse in healthcare settings is common in China. Clinical pathways are tools that provide the link between the best available evidence and clinical practice. This study aimed to determine if the clinical pathway of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) had effects on the antibiotic use in patients with CAP.METHODS:The study was conducted in Shanghai, Hubei Province, and Gansu Province to represent high, middle, and low levels of socioeconomic status in 2015. In each region, three public tertiary general hospitals and three public secondary general hospitals were selected for chart review of antibiotics’ utilization in the patients with CAP during 2014. A multilevel logistic regression model was used in the study, with a dependent variable of appropriate utilization of antibiotics (right time, right type, and right combined use) and independent variables of hospital adoption of clinical pathway and patient characteristics (sex, age, severity of disease, and number of comorbidities).RESULTS:Twelve surveyed hospitals (66.67 percent) adopted CAP clinical pathways and 354 cases (66.29 percent) were from these twelve hospitals (CP group). Among the total utilization of antibiotics (796 times) in eighteen types of antibiotics used in patients with CAP, the five recommended types of antibiotics accounted for 82.16 percent.The percentages of cases that got initial antibiotics in time were 90.60 percent in the CP group and 76.11 percent in the non-CP group. The compliance rate for appropriate types of antibiotic utilization was 88.36 percent in CP group, much higher than that in non-CP group (70.22 percent). For 244 cases that used combined antibiotics, the compliance rate for the recommended combinations of antibiotics was 20.12 percent in the CP group, but 1.25 percent in the non-CP group. After controlling patients’ characteristics, the patients in the CP group got more appropriate antibiotics than those in the non-CP group.CONCLUSIONS:Adoption of the CAP clinical pathway in hospitals can improve antibiotics' utilization.

Antibiotics consumption in the Eastern Region Of Libya 2012-2013

Abstract Background: Drug utilization studies conducted in Libya during the period 1991-2013, have pointed out the irrational use of antibiotics as a common practice that costs the health system more than 7.7 million Libyan Dinars / year. The aim of this study is to assess the trend of antimicrobial consumption in the Eastern region of Libya during 2012 – 2013. Methods: Antimicrobial consumption data from the years 2012 and 2013 were obtained mainly from Benghazi office, Medical Supply Organization (MSO; the only official drug-importing body in Libya). This study is concerned with antibiotics imported only to the Eastern region of Libya, population of which represents approximately 35% of total Libyan population. The WHO, Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical (ATC) classification and the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) methodology were used to calculate antibiotic consumption. The total antimicrobial consumption data were calculated as DDD/1000 inhabitants/day. Results: Total utilization of antibiotics decreased dramatically from 15.47 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2012 to 4.30 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2013 which in turn shows a significant decline compared to 41.72 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day during the period 1991-1993. Consumption of penicillins decreased from 19.902 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day during 1991-1993 to 1.896 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day during 2012-2013 with pattern of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid consumption equals to 3 times ampicillin consumption and is the highest compared to all penicillins. This was accompanied by a prominent increase in consumption of amphenicols and fusidic acid during 2012-2013 noting that fusidic acid consumption was the highest among all antibiotics. Conclusion: MSO since 2011 (post 17th February 2011 revolution) lost its control on importing medicines due to receiving many drugs as donations from different international sources without acceptable level of coordination. This has been reflected on drug purchasing policy of MSO during 2013, which failed to regain the previously accepted level of DDD/1000 inhabitants/day antibiotics consumption. The decreased consumption of penicillins together with increased consumption of amphenicols and fusidic acid complies with the pattern of antibiotic resistance reported previously in Libya. Similar studies should be conducted to evaluate national drug consumption under normal conditions to be compared with regional and international data.

Healthcare expenditures and increasing antimicrobial consumption in Turkey

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the trend in antimicrobial consumption in Turkey between 2007 and 2010.Methods: Antimicrobial consumption data were obtained from Intercontinental Medical Statistics Turkey office. The total antimicrobial consumption data were calculated as Defined Daily Dose (DDD)/1000 inhabitant-days. The correlation between the previous five-year period and association with the main indicators of economy and healthcare services of the country were assessed.Results: Total utilization of antibiotics increased from 33·7 to 38·8 DDD/1000 inhabitant-days between 2007 and 2010. A steady increase took place during the study period. When this period was compared with the previous period (between 2001 and 2006), a similar trend was found. Turkey’s total healthcare expenditure 2001 to 2010 increased from 4·5 billion Turkish Liras to 32 billion Turkish Liras.Conclusion: In Turkey, antibiotic consumption increased steadily in recent years, with a close relation to government healthcare support policy, rising health expenditures and other economical indicators.

Reduction of broad-spectrum antibiotic use with computerized decision support in an intensive care unit

To implement and evaluate the effect of a computerized decision support tool on antibiotic use in an intensive care unit (ICU). Prospective before-and-after cohort study. Twenty-four bed tertiary hospital adult medical/surgical ICU. All consecutive patients from May 2001 to November 2001 (N = 524) and March 2002 to September 2002 (N = 536). A real-time microbiology browser and computerized decision support system for isolate directed antibiotic prescription. Number of courses of antibiotic prescribed, antibiotic utilization (defined daily doses (DDDs)/100 ICU bed-days), antibiotic susceptibility mismatches, and system uptake. There was a significant reduction in the proportion of patients prescribed carbapenems [odds ratio (OR) = 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.39-0.97, P = 0.04], third-generation cephalosporins (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.42-0.79, P = 0.001), and vancomycin (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.45-1.00, P = 0.05) after adjustment for risk factors including Apache II score, suspected infection, positive microbiology, intubation, and length of stay. The decision support tool was associated with a 10.5% reduction in both total antibiotic utilization (166-149 DDDs/100 ICU bed days) and the highest volume broad-spectrum antibiotics. There were fewer susceptibility mismatches for initial antibiotic therapy (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.39-0.98, P = 0.02) and increased de-escalation to narrower spectrum antibiotics. Uptake of the program was high with 6028 access episodes during the 6-month evaluation period. This tool streamlined collation and clinical use of microbiology results and integrated into the daily ICU workflow. Its introduction was accompanied by a reduction in both total and broad-spectrum antibiotic use and an increase in the number of switches to narrower spectrum antibiotics.

Outpatient Use of Systemic Antibiotics in Croatia

The aim was to estimate the outpatient utilization of antibacterials for systemic use in Zagreb, Croatia, and to define the antibiotic utilization characteristics and consequences. Using the WHO ATC/DDD methodology, the number of defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDDs/TID) was calculated for each individual antibiotic and ATC system levels were calculated from data collected on the number and size of packages prescribed and dispensed from pharmacies. The Drug Utilization 90% (DU90%) method was used to evaluate the quality of drug prescribing. The total utilization of antibiotics was found to be extremely high, 55.0 DDDs/TID. The leading antibiotic was amoxicillin + clavulanic acid with 14.7 DDDs/TID. Penicillins accounted for the highest utilization (46.3%) expressed in DDDs/TID (25.4), followed by cephalosporins and macrolides 25 and 12.5% of utilization, respectively expressed in DDDs/TID), tetracyclines, quinolones, aminoglycosides and other agents. Nine of 27 antibiotics fell within the DU90% segment. The cost/DDD foldrugs within DU90% segment was 1.2 EUR, for drugs beyond DU90% segment was 1.4 EUR, and the average was 1.2 EUR. Irrational prescribing and preference to more expensive drugs have been reported in Zagreb. Therefore, the risk of resistance of microorganisms to beta-lactamase antibiotics, macrolides and quinolones could be expected. Prescribing patterns should be changed by introducing national guidelines on rational antibiotic prescribing, monitoring and evaluation of their implementation. Additional continuing education of physicians and pharmacists from independent sources should be organized and proper education should be provided to patients.