Use Of Oral Cephalosporins Research Articles

Position of oral cephalosporins and its fixed-dose combinations in the guideline recommendations for the management of community-acquired infections

Community-acquired infections (CAIs) represent a major burden for health-care system. This directly aids the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms. India is not immune to it. This review assessed the current guideline recommendations for the usage of oral cephalosporins in the management of common CAIs. The researchers conducted iterative searches in PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar for published articles using various keywords. The search was conducted in November 2022 and considered articles published till date. Different CAIs are caused by similar organisms, susceptible to first-line antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporins. Most of the guidelines recommend the use of oral cephalosporins for the management of the commonly prevalent CAIs. These antibiotics however should be used as a monotherapy and not as fixed-dose combinations (FDCs), as FDCs with oral cephalosporins lack scientific basis and may be detrimental. For burden of CAIs intensified by anti-microbial resistance, guidelines are useful for the management of CAIs to educate the prescribers and preserve currently available antibiotics.

Quality Appraisal of Ambulatory Oral Cephalosporin and Fluoroquinolone Use in the 16 German Federal States from 2014-2019.

Background: Despite concerns about causing bacterial resistance and serious side effects, oral cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones are still frequently prescribed in Germany. We aimed to test a method for the detection of regional quality differences in the use of oral cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones and to apply this to the German federal states. Methods: Use of antibiotics from 2014–2019 was analyzed using dispensing data from community pharmacies claimed to the statutory health insurance (SHI) funds. Quality of regional antibiotic use in 2019 was assessed by calculating indicators based on defined daily doses per 1000 SHI-insured persons per day (DID). Oral cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone use was followed by linear regression analyses. Results: The method used was suitable to find meaningful quality differences in ambulatory oral cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone use between the German federal states. In 2019, DID varied from 1.62 in Brandenburg to 3.17 in Rhineland-Palatinate for cephalosporins and from 0.47 in Brandenburg to 0.89 in Saarland for fluoroquinolones. The city-states Hamburg, Bremen, and Berlin showed highest quality with the applied indicator set. From 2014–2019, a significant decrease in utilization of oral cephalosporins was found in all federal states. During 2017–2019, all states showed a significant decline of fluoroquinolone use.

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.

Five-year point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in a Japanese university hospital

SummaryBackgroundPeriodic point prevalence surveys (PPSs) provide a method for assessing changes in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial use over time. Following the introduction of an antimicrobial stewardship programme at Nagoya University Hospital (Aichi, Japan) a five-year PPS study was performed to highlight any epidemiological changes.MethodsOne-day PPSs were performed annually in July at Nagoya University Hospital. Data on patient characteristics, medical devices, active HAIs and antimicrobial use were collected using a standard data-collection form.ResultsA total of 4339 patients were included. Over the five-year study period the median patient age was 62 years, median duration of hospital admission was nine days, 9% of patients had an HAI and 35.2% received at least one antimicrobial. Overall there were 406 HAIs (95% confidence interval, 369–447) with surgical site infection, pneumonia and febrile neutropenia occurring most frequently. Enterobacterales were the most common pathogens (N = 78, 28.6%) and 32.1% were third-generation cephalosporin-resistant. Meropenem was the most frequently prescribed antimicrobial for HAIs. Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis changed drastically, with shorter durations and a marked reduction in oral cephalosporin use. However, antimicrobials for medical prophylaxis gradually increased.ConclusionsThis five-year PPS study shows consistent data for patient background, HAIs and causative pathogens and highlights changes in antimicrobial use during the era of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. To describe the epidemiology of Japanese hospitals by PPS, multicentre PPSs including in community hospitals should be performed annually.

"Sex in the Time of COVID": Clinical Guidelines for Sexually Transmitted Disease Management in an Era of Social Distancing.

"Sex in the Time of COVID": Clinical Guidelines for Sexually Transmitted Disease Management in an Era of Social Distancing.

1459. Oral Cephalosporins vs. Fluoroquinolones for the Empiric Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Pyelonephritis

BackgroundThe Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines for the treatment of acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis (AUP) recommend oral fluoroquinolones (FQs) as a first-line agent in patients not requiring hospitalization. However, with increasing rates of FQ and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole resistance, oral β-lactams are attractive agents due to improved empiric susceptibility patterns at our institution. The current guideline advises caution when using oral β-lactams due to concern for inferior efficacy, but studies specifically evaluating the efficacy of oral cephalosporins (CPHs) in AUP are limited. The purpose of this study was to provide additional evidence for the safe and effective use of oral CPHs for empiric treatment of AUP.MethodsRetrospective chart review was performed on all patients prescribed oral CPHs or FQs for AUP from the Emergency Department (ED) at Parkland Memorial Hospital between September 2017 and July 2018. The primary endpoint was treatment failure within 30 days, defined as ED return due to any cause or modification to an alternative antibiotic. Secondary endpoints included ED return within 30 days due to continued symptoms of AUP, documented adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and C. difficile infection (CDI) within 30 days.ResultsOf the 333 patients included in the study, treatment failure occurred in 72 (21.6%) patients and was similar between oral FQs and CPHs (21.4% vs. 21.7%). A higher rate of treatment failure was observed for first-generation (1GC) CPHs compared with second-generation (2GC) or third-generation (3GC) CPHs (19/51 [43.1%] vs. 18/107 [16.8%] vs. 9/68 [13.2%]). The primary reason for treatment failure was modification to an alternative antibiotic, and was highest for oral 1GC, followed by FQs, then 2GC and 3GC (19/51 [37.3%] vs. 14/107 [13.1%] vs. 11/107 [10.3%] vs. 4/68 [5.9%]). Rates of return to the ED for continued symptoms of AUP were found to be lower for oral CPHs (8/226 [3.5%]) vs. FQs (9/107 [8.4%]). Documented ADRs were low (5/333 [1.5%]) and none developed CDI.ConclusionOral CPHs appear to be as safe and effective as FQs for the empiric treatment of AUP. In concordance with the susceptibility data of our institutional antibiogram, 2GC and 3GC were observed to have a lower rate of treatment failure compared with 1GC and FQs.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Nationwide study of outpatient oral antimicrobial utilization patterns for children in Japan (2013-2016).

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major multinational public health concern. The Japanese government set goals in its AMR action plan to reduce use of oral cephalosporins, macrolides, and quinolones by half between 2013 and 2020. We aimed to evaluate antimicrobial use in children in Japan by observing prescription patterns as an interim assessment of the national AMR action plan. Using the national health claims database, we retrospectively analyzed all oral antimicrobials dispensed from outpatient pharmacies in Japan to children under 15 years old from 2013 to 2016 by age, prefecture, type of antimicrobial, and year. Data were presented as days of therapy (DOTs) per 1000 pediatric inhabitants per day (DOTs/PID). The χ2 test for trends was performed to evaluate annual changes in DOTs/PID overall as well as within each stratum. A total of 721,627,553 oral antimicrobial DOTs were identified during 2013-2016. No statistically significant changes were observed in total antimicrobial use in children (2013: 28.54 DOTs/PID; 2016: 28.70 DOTs/PID; Ptrend=0.25) and amount of cephalosporins, macrolides, and quinolones prescribed. Prescription rates of all antimicrobials were highest among children 1-5 years old, peaking at 1 year old. Targeted antimicrobials for the AMR action plan showed similar distribution by age. The amount of antimicrobials prescribed to children in Japan is not decreasing. Overall antimicrobial prescriptions, as well as prescriptions of cephalosporins, macrolides, and quinolones, were most prevalent in children ≤5 years old. Rigorous antimicrobial stewardship interventions targeting infants and younger children are necessary.

Preferential Use of Nitrofurantoin Over Fluoroquinolones for Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis and Outpatient Escherichia coli Resistance in an Integrated Healthcare System.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate changes in outpatient fluoroquinolone (FQ) and nitrofurantoin (NFT) use and resistance among E. coli isolates after a change in institutional guidance to use NFT over FQs for acute uncomplicated cystitis. DESIGN Retrospective preintervention-postintervention study. SETTING Urban, integrated healthcare system. PATIENTS Adult outpatients treated for acute cystitis. METHODS We compared 2 time periods: January 2003-June 2007 when FQs were recommended as first-line therapy, and July 2007-December 2012, when NFT was recommended. The main outcomes were changes in FQ and NFT use and FQ- and NFT-resistant E. coli by time-series analysis. RESULTS Overall, 5,714 adults treated for acute cystitis and 11,367 outpatient E. coli isolates were included in the analysis. After the change in prescribing guidance, there was an immediate 26% (95% CI, 20%-32%) decrease in FQ use (P<.001), and a nonsignificant 6% (95% CI, -2% to 15%) increase in NFT use (P=.12); these changes were sustained over the postintervention period. Oral cephalosporin use also increased during the postintervention period. There was a significant decrease in FQ-resistant E. coli of -0.4% per quarter (95% CI, -0.6% to -0.1%; P=.004) between the pre- and postintervention periods; however, a change in the trend of NFT-resistant E. coli was not observed. CONCLUSIONS In an integrated healthcare system, a change in institutional guidance for acute uncomplicated cystitis was associated with a reduction in FQ use, which may have contributed to a stabilization in FQ-resistant E. coli. Increased nitrofurantoin use was not associated with a change in NFT resistance. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:461-468.

Interaction of the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and the use of individual antibiotics among children on nasopharyngeal colonization with erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

The purpose of this study was to assess the complex interaction of the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) and individual classes of antimicrobial agents on the nasopharyngeal carriage of erythromycin-resistant pneumococci within the day-care center population. Between February 2005 and May 2007, nasopharyngeal cultures for Streptococcus pneumoniae were obtained from 1,829 day-care center attendees in Central Greece. Thirty-one percent of the pneumococci were erythromycin-resistant; 85.2% of these isolates were also penicillin-nonsusceptible. PCV7 immunization was associated with decreased carriage of erythromycin-resistant PCV7 serotypes but not with an overall decrease in erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae colonization. The largest decline in the carriage of erythromycin-resistant pneumococci, particularly of PCV7 serotypes, was observed among vaccinated attendees who had not been exposed to antimicrobials within the preceding 3 months. Exposure to macrolides, 90% clarithromycin, significantly correlated with erythromycin resistance (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38-3.12). There was a trend toward an association between the use of oral cephalosporins, other than cefprozil and cefaclor, and colonization with erythromycin-resistant pneumococci (AOR = 1.91, 95% CI = 0.92-3.96). Penicillins had a nonsignificant correlation with the carriage of erythromycin-resistant pneumococci (AOR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.80-1.71). Despite the widespread PCV7 immunization, the antibiotic pressure, particularly of macrolides, continues to cause dissemination of erythromycin-resistant, commonly multidrug-resistant, pneumococci within the day-care center population.

Perspectives of oral cephalosporins in upper respiratory tract infections

Perspectives of oral cephalosporins in upper respiratory tract infections

Resistance pattern of middle ear fluid isolates in acute otitis media recently treated with antibiotics

Little information is available about the effect of antibiotic treatment on the prevalence and MIC of the subsequently isolated pathogens in cases of acute otitis media (AOM) failing a course of antibiotic therapy. This information is important, particularly regarding the effectiveness of the oral antibiotics used in children failing initial therapy. One hundred eighty-one children with culture-positive AOM were prospectively studied between October, 1995, and July, 1996. Sixty-three (35%) patients received various antibiotics for variable periods during the 14 days preceding enrollment. A total of 94 Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pnc) and 113 Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) were isolated. Thirty-eight Pnc and 35 Hi were isolated in the 63 patients with recently treated AOM. Pnc as a single isolate was more prevalent in patients recently treated with antibiotics (27 of 63, 43%) than among those not recently treated (32 of 118, 27%, P = 0.047). The MIC50 values of penicillin, cefaclor and cefuroxime axetil for Pnc were significantly higher in the pneumococci isolated from patients recently treated than among those isolated from patients not recently treated with antibiotics (0.38, 3 and 0.75 microg/ml vs. 0.094, 0.38 and 0.12 microg/ml, respectively). Seventy-nine percent of Pnc isolates in the recently treated group had MIC for penicillin of >0.1 microg/ml vs. only 47% in those not recently treated (P < 0.05). The respective figures for MIC >0.5 microg/ml of cefaclor were 79% vs. 41% for the recently treated and not recently treated groups (P < 0.001); cefuroxime MIC >0.5 microg/ml was found in 61 and 25%, respectively (P = 0.001). Pneumococcus is more prevalent in AOM after a recent antibiotic treatment, and the MIC of the commonly used beta-lactam drugs for Pnc is considerably higher in this setting. In view of our data, the use of oral cephalosporins like cefaclor or cefuroxime as second line drugs in the treatment of unresponsive AOM, particularly in regions where resistant PNC is prevalent, should be reconsidered.

Types and proper use of oral cephalosporins

Types and proper use of oral cephalosporins

Attempts to curb the rise of drug-resistant pneumococci

A vaccine against pneumococci may be the best approach to overcoming the increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of this organism. Other approaches are also under investigation, including the use of multimeric α-lactalbumin and the new cephalosporin cefepime. However, increasing the use of oral cephalosporins may exacerbate the problem, according to Professor Keith Klugman from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. The views of Professor Klugman and other leading specialists in this field were presented at the 7th International Congress of Infectious Disease [Hong Kong; June 1996].

Effect of an educational intervention of oral cephalosporin use in primary care

\s=b\The prescribing of oral cephalosporin antibiotics in an ambulatory setting was evaluated before and after an educational intervention. A drug utilization review used previously developed criteria to study the indications, processes, complications, and outcome for oral cephalosporins in the outpatient setting. Baseline data were collected for one year in the initial phase of the study. Only one prescription (1.4%) in the initial phase (0.96% of the total) met the criteria for appropriate use. However, during the year after an educational intervention by a clinical pharmacist explaining the proper use of oral cephalosporins, the prescribing of these agents decreased substantially. Educational strategies in medical schools and residency programs that seek to improve drug-prescribing behavior should combine drug utilization review programs with specific education about the appropriate use of pharmacologic agents. (Arch Intern Med 1987;147:44-47)

Effect of an Educational Intervention on Oral Cephalosporin Use in Primary Care

The prescribing of oral cephalosporin antibiotics in an ambulatory setting was evaluated before and after an educational intervention. A drug utilization review used previously developed criteria to study the indications, processes, complications, and outcome for oral cephalosporins in the outpatient setting. Baseline data were collected for one year in the initial phase of the study. Only one prescription (1.4%) in the initial phase (0.96% of the total) met the criteria for appropriate use. However, during the year after an educational intervention by a clinical pharmacist explaining the proper use of oral cephalosporins, the prescribing of these agents decreased substantially. Educational strategies in medical schools and residency programs that seek to improve drug-prescribing behavior should combine drug utilization review programs with specific education about the appropriate use of pharmacologic agents.

Effect of an educational intervention on oral cephalosporin use in primary care

Effect of an educational intervention on oral cephalosporin use in primary care