244. The Double-Edged Sword of Cost Effectiveness in Evaluating Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions

Abstract Background The multiple classical benefits of reducing antimicrobial consumption extend beyond the impact on rates of antimicrobial resistance and infections to include a cost-saving effect of 100,000$-300,000$ per intervention as estimated by the CDC. However, the recent introduction of novel antimicrobial molecules with a high price tag and the fall in the prices of older agents presents a substantial challenge in maintaining cost-effectiveness. Methods We retrieved from the antimicrobial stewardship program(ASP) database the consumption of the Gram-negative broad-spectrum antibacterial agents (GNBS): imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, amikacin, colistin, ceftazidime, ceftolozane-tazobactam and cefepime from January 2015-August 2019 at Saint George Hospital(SGH), a 333-bed tertiary care center in Lebanon. The yearly cost of all antibacterials consumed during this period were obtained from SGH billing records. GNBS consumption was calculated as Daily Defined Doses (DDD)/1000 Patient Days(PD) per WHO guidelines. Results The carbapenem consumption significantly dropped from a peak of 205 DDD/1000PD in 2015 to 33 DDD/1000PD in 2019. This drop was not accompanied by an increase in the consumption of other GNBS. The total use of GNBS dropped by 54% from 288 DDD/1000PD in 2015 to 132 DDD/1000PD by August 2019. Currently, SGH serves a yearly average of 82,000 patient-days. Hence, this reduction in total GNBS consumption corresponds to 12,792 fewer daily defined doses of antimicrobial therapy per year. The average annual cost of all antibacterials at SGH is 1,100,000 $ (U.S. Dollars), ranging from 955679 $ to 1340109 $ for the period 2015–2019. (Table 1) Consumption of Gram-negative Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Agents and Cost of Antibiotics at Saint George Hospital, Lebanon Conclusion The striking decrease in GNBS consumption, namely carbapenems, was not mirrored with a reduction of total antibacterial cost. Although novel antimicrobials carry great potential, they come at a significant increase in overall cost. Modeling ASP interventions solely around cost-effectiveness will limit the better placement of these new agents in institutional therapeutic guidelines. Strict continuous analysis of consumption, antimicrobial resistance, and cost within an ASP provides a proactive and vigilant approach to navigate through the complexity of difficult to treat bacterial infections. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Appropriateness of Gram-Negative Agent Use at a Tertiary Care Hospital in the Setting of Significant Antimicrobial Resistance

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofv009 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Neil M. Vora ◽

Christine J. Kubin ◽

E. Yoko Furuya

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Tertiary Care Hospital ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Stewardship Program

Abstract Background. Practicing antimicrobial stewardship in the setting of widespread antimicrobial resistance among gram-negative bacilli, particularly in urban areas, is challenging. Methods. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study at a tertiary care hospital with an established antimicrobial stewardship program in New York, New York to determine appropriateness of use of gram-negative antimicrobials and to identify factors associated with suboptimal antimicrobial use. Adult inpatients who received gram-negative agents on 2 dates, 1 June 2010 or 1 December 2010, were identified through pharmacy records. Clinical data were collected for each patient. Use of gram-negative agents was deemed optimal or suboptimal through chart review and according to hospital guidelines. Data were compared using χ2 or Fischer's exact test for categorical variables and Student t test or Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables. Results. A total of 356 patients were included who received 422 gram-negative agents. Administration was deemed suboptimal in 26% of instances, with the most common reason being spectrum of activity too broad. In multivariable analysis, being in an intensive care unit (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], .49; 95% confidence interval [CI], .29–.84), having an infectious diseases consultation within the previous 7 days (aOR, .52; 95% CI, .28–.98), and having a history of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli within the past year (aOR, .24; 95% CI, .09–.65) were associated with optimal gram-negative agent use. Beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination drug use (aOR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.35–5.16) was associated with suboptimal use. Conclusions. Gram-negative agents were used too broadly despite numerous antimicrobial stewardship program activities.

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Implementation of a Rapid Phenotypic Susceptibility Platform for Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections With Paired Antimicrobial Stewardship Intervention: Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciab126 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Evan D Robinson ◽

Allison M Stilwell ◽

April E Attai ◽

Lindsay E Donohue ◽

Megan D Shah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Median Time ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

A Priori ◽

Bloodstream Infections ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Days Of Therapy ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Implementation of the Accelerate PhenoTM Gram-negative platform (RDT) paired with antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) intervention projects to improve time to institutional-preferred antimicrobial therapy (IPT) for Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) bloodstream infections (BSIs). However, few data describe the impact of discrepant RDT results from standard of care (SOC) methods on antimicrobial prescribing. Methods A single-center, pre-/post-intervention study of consecutive, nonduplicate blood cultures for adult inpatients with GNB BSI following combined RDT + ASP intervention was performed. The primary outcome was time to IPT. An a priori definition of IPT was utilized to limit bias and to allow for an assessment of the impact of discrepant RDT results with the SOC reference standard. Results Five hundred fourteen patients (PRE 264; POST 250) were included. Median time to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) results decreased 29.4 hours (P < .001) post-intervention, and median time to IPT was reduced by 21.2 hours (P < .001). Utilization (days of therapy [DOTs]/1000 days present) of broad-spectrum agents decreased (PRE 655.2 vs POST 585.8; P = .043) and narrow-spectrum beta-lactams increased (69.1 vs 141.7; P < .001). Discrepant results occurred in 69/250 (28%) post-intervention episodes, resulting in incorrect ASP recommendations in 10/69 (14%). No differences in clinical outcomes were observed. Conclusions While implementation of a phenotypic RDT + ASP can improve time to IPT, close coordination with Clinical Microbiology and continued ASP follow up are needed to optimize therapy. Although uncommon, the potential for erroneous ASP recommendations to de-escalate to inactive therapy following RDT results warrants further investigation.

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An Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Based on Systematic Infectious Disease Consultation in a Rehabilitation Facility

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2016.233 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 76-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Sara Tedeschi ◽

Filippo Trapani ◽

Maddalena Giannella ◽

Francesco Cristini ◽

Fabio Tumietto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infectious Disease ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Antibiotic Consumption ◽

Defined Daily Dose ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program ◽

Rehabilitation Hospital ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Resistance Patterns ◽

The Impact

OBJECTIVETo assess the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) on antibiotic consumption, Clostridium difficile infections (CDI), and antimicrobial resistance patterns in a rehabilitation hospital.DESIGNQuasi-experimental study of the periods before (from January 2011 to June 2012) and after (from July 2012 to December 2014) ASP implementation.SETTING150-bed rehabilitation hospital dedicated to patients with spinal-cord injuries.INTERVENTIONBeginning in July 2012, an ASP was implemented based on systematic bedside infectious disease (ID) consultation and structural interventions (ie, revision of protocols for antibiotic prophylaxis and education focused on the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions). Antibiotic consumption, occurrence of CDI, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of selected microorganisms were compared between periods before and after the ASP implementation.RESULTSAntibiotic consumption decreased from 42 to 22 defined daily dose (DDD) per 100 patient days (P<.001). The main reductions involved carbapenems (from 13 to 0.4 DDD per 100 patient days; P=.01) and fluoroquinolones (from 11.8 to 0.99 DDD per 100 patient days; P=.006), with no increases in mortality or length of stay. The incidence of CDI decreased from 3.6 to 1.2 cases per 10,000 patient days (P=.001). Between 2011 and 2014, the prevalence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains decreased from 55% to 12% in P. aeruginosa (P<.001) and from 96% to 73% in A. baumannii (P=.03). The prevalence of ESBL-producing strains decreased from 42% to 17% in E. coli (P=.0007) and from 62% to 15% in P. mirabilis (P=.0001). In K. pneumoniae, the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant strains decreased from 42% to 17% (P=.005), and the prevalence of in methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains decreased from 77% to 40% (P<.0008).CONCLUSIONSAn ASP based on ID consultation was effective in reducing antibiotic consumption without affecting patient outcomes and in improving antimicrobial resistance patterns in a rehabilitation hospital.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2016;1–7

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Comparison of Prior Authorization and Prospective Audit with Feedback for Antimicrobial Stewardship

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/677624 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (9) ◽

pp. 1092-1099 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Jimish M. Mehta ◽

Kevin Haynes ◽

E. Paul Wileyto ◽

Jeffrey S. Gerber ◽

Daniel R. Timko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Broad Spectrum ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Prior Authorization ◽

Antimicrobial Consumption ◽

Prospective Audit ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Days Of Therapy

(See the commentary by Van Schooneveld and Rupp, on pages1100–1102.)ObjectiveAlthough prior authorization and prospective audit with feedback are both effective antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) strategies, the relative impact of these approaches remains unclear. We compared these core ASP strategies at an academic medical center.DesignQuasi-experimental study.MethodsWe compared antimicrobial use during the 24 months before and after implementation of an ASP strategy change. The ASP used prior authorization alone during the preintervention period, June 2007 through May 2009. In June 2009, many antimicrobials were unrestricted and prospective audit was implemented for cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, and vancomycin, marking the start of the postintervention period, July 2009 through June 2011. All adult inpatients who received more than or equal to 1 dose of an antimicrobial were included. The primary end point was antimicrobial consumption in days of therapy per 1,000 patient-days (DOT/1,000-PD). Secondary end points included length of stay (LOS).ResultsIn total, 55,336 patients were included (29,660 preintervention and 25,676 postintervention). During the preintervention period, both total systemic antimicrobial use (−9.75 DOT/1,000-PD per month) and broad-spectrum anti-gram-negative antimicrobial use (−4.00 DOT/1,000-PD) declined. After the introduction of prospective audit with feedback, however, both total antimicrobial use (+9.65 DOT/1,000-PD per month; P < .001) and broad-spectrum anti-gram-negative antimicrobial use (+4.80 DOT/1,000-PD per month; P < .001) increased significantly. Use of cefepime and piperacillin/tazobactam both significantly increased after the intervention (P = .03). Hospital LOS and LOS after first antimicrobial dose also significantly increased after the intervention (P = .016 and .004, respectively).ConclusionsSignificant increases in antimicrobial consumption and LOS were observed after the change in ASP strategy.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(9):1092-1099

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1055. Addition of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Weekend Coverage Increases Interventions while Reducing Antimicrobial Duration and Cost

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.919 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S372-S373

Author(s):

Natasha N Pettit ◽

Jennifer Pisano ◽

Cynthia T Nguyen

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Broad Spectrum ◽

Total Duration ◽

Time Frame ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program ◽

Clinical Pharmacists ◽

Duration Of Therapy ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Secondary Outcomes ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Expansion of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) activities to include coverage of weekends has been shown to facilitate further optimization of antimicrobial usage. Beginning July 2018, we implemented full ASP coverage on weekends from 0700–1530 by infectious diseases (ID) clinical pharmacists and pharmacy residents. We sought to evaluate the impact of the addition of weekend ASP coverage on the number of interventions, antimicrobial duration and cost of target broad-spectrum antimicrobials. Methods Antimicrobials reviewed by ASP on a weekend day between July 14, 2018 and December 16, 2018 were included in the analysis. The primary outcome was the number and type of documented interventions associated with the antimicrobials reviewed. Secondary outcomes included the total duration of meropenem, daptomycin, and micafungin initiated on a weekend, estimated expenditures on these target broad-spectrum antimicrobials, and comparison of the average number of interventions performed per day by ID clinical pharmacists vs. pharmacy residents. For comparison, we also evaluated these secondary outcomes prior to ASP weekend coverage, between July 16, 2017 and December 9, 2017. Results A total of 688 antimicrobials were reviewed on weekend days during the included time-frame with 753 interventions (average number of interventions/day: 37). Table 1 summarizes the type of interventions. The acceptance rate for interventions was 99%. The average number of interventions per day for ID clinical pharmacists vs. pharmacy residents was 57.9 and 26.2, respectively. Table 2 shows the total duration of therapy (DOT) and total expenditures on target antimicrobials before and after ASP weekend coverage. The total DOT of target antimicrobials agents decreased from 21 days to 7 days, with an estimated 3,165 dollar decrease in expenditures during the included time-frame. Conclusion Expansion of ASP coverage to include weekends allowed us to provide 753 interventions over 4 months that would not otherwise have been made when no ASP coverage was available. This was associated with a reduction in broad-spectrum antimicrobial duration of therapy and expenditures when compared with weekends where ASP weekend coverage was not available. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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To Study the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in a Large Tertiary Care Teaching Center

International Journal of Research Foundation of Hospital and Health Care Administration ◽

10.5005/jp-journals-10035-1031 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 13-24

Author(s):

YK Gupta ◽

Shakti Kumar Gupta ◽

Madhav Madhusudan Singh ◽

DK Sharma ◽

Aarti Kapil

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Antibiotic Stewardship ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Care Teaching ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Large Tertiary Care

ABSTRACT Introduction As antimicrobial resistance continues to increase and new antimicrobial development stagnates, antimicrobial stewardship programs are being implemented worldwide. The goal of antimicrobial stewardship is to optimize antimicrobial therapy with maximal impact on subsequent development of resistance. Thirty to fifty percent of hospitalized patients receive antimicrobial therapy. Previous data suggest that inappropriate use results in higher mortality rates, longer lengths of stay, and increased medical costs. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) reduce the improper use of antimicrobials and improve patient safety. Despite increased awareness about the benefits of these programs, few medical and surgical ASPs exist and fewer comprehensive studies evaluate their effects. Aim To study the antimicrobial stewardship program in a large tertiary care teaching center. Objectives • To study the antibiotic prescribing practices in a tertiary care government hospital • To compare the antibiotic prescribing practices with the standard guidelines available with the hospital • To make recommendation if any for rational use of antibiotics. Materials and methods • Review of literature • Prospective study of 15 days in selected general medicine and general surgery ward in which 5 to 6 reading will be taken in to know the antibiotic prescribed to patients. • Retrospective study of 15 days for study of patient records to know the antibiotic prescribed to patients. • Interaction with faculty and senior residents of general medicine and surgery to know about the pattern of infection and antibiotic prescription. • Interaction with microbiology department and their faculty to know the microbial resistance pattern and possible suggestion which need to be incorporated in antibiotic Stewardship program. Results The present study on antibiotic prescribing practices was undertaken in a super specialty hospital at New Delhi. A sample size of 100 case records was considered. There is no such stewardship program in tertiary care hospital, although it was demanded in various forum and meetings. There are no recommendations available either for patients of renal failure or other such compromised metabolic or immune states in the form of written antibiotic stewardship program of the hospital. The appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed in the case records was examined in light of the antibiotic stewardship program of the hospital. It was found that the overall adherence to antibiotic stewardship program was nil as no existing antibiotic stewardship program is exiting in this hospital. Gautum Dey in a study conducted at this hospital in New Delhi found that in 40.7% preoperative cases and 60.3% postoperative cases two or more than two antibiotics were given. The author has also commented that there was no evidence of adhering to antibiotic stewardship program or utilising culture and sensitivity reports to guide the therapy. The data obtained from the present study on further analysis has shown that in seven cases, the antibiotics prescribed were inadequate in terms of dose and duration. Thus resulting in an apparently lower cost of treatment than what was recommended by the antibiotic stewardship program of the hospital. Although such inappropriate prescription results in increased chances of antibiotic resistance, the immediate or short-term effects are not very conclusive. It is observed that there were 26 (26%) cases in medical and 12 (12%) cases in surgery disciplines in which the initial and final diagnosis was different. Uncertainty about the final diagnosis promotes empirical prescribing practices. Conclusion Antimicrobial stewards are a prominent part of local and national efforts to contain and reverse antimicrobial resistance. A range of intervention options is available with varying levels of resources and can yield substantial improvements in morbidity, mortality, quality of care, and cost. The cost of delivering such programs is dwarfed by the benefits and provides an opportunity for hospital epidemiologists to garner support. This suggests that antimicrobial management programs belong to the rarefied group of truly cost saving quality improvement initiatives. Considering the enormous implications of antibiotic resistance, it is necessary that we act in haste, lest our wonder drugs and magic bullets become ineffectual. Future systems promise greater integration and analysis of data, facilitated delivery of information to the clinician, and rapid and expert decision support that will optimize patient outcomes while minimizing antimicrobial resistance. They may also offer our best hope for avoiding an ‘Antibiotic armageddon’. In addition, the ASP plays an integral role in providing guidance to clinicians and ensures that the appropriate antimicrobial agents are used. How to cite this article Singh MM, Gupta SK, Gupta YK, Sharma DK, Kapil A. To Study the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in a Large Tertiary Care Teaching Center. Int J Res Foundation Hosp Healthc Adm 2015;3(1):13-24.

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2027. What Are the Views Among Pakistani Physicians Toward Antimicrobial Resistance and Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs? A Multi-Site Qualitative Study

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.1707 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S681-S681

Author(s):

Khezar Hayat ◽

Meagen Rosenthal ◽

Ali Hassan Gillani ◽

Panpan Zhai ◽

Wenjing Ji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Teaching Hospitals ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Face To Face ◽

Stewardship Program

Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health issue that the world is facing in the 21st century and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is one of the recognized approaches to combat AMR. Little is known on the views among Pakistani physicians regarding AMR and the benefits of hospital ASP implementation. This study was aimed to investigate the perception and attitude of physicians about AMR and ASP. Methods Qualitative face-to-face and telephonic interviews were conducted by using purposive sampling method with 22 physicians working in seven tertiary care public hospitals of Punjab, Pakistan. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative software was used, and a thematic analysis conducted. Results Three major themes were identified: (1) the growing concern of AMR in Pakistan, (2) the role(s) of healthcare professionals in antibiotic prescribing and infection control, and (3) managing antibiotic resistance in hospitals. Poor healthcare facilities, insufficient trained medical staff, and inadequate resources were the key barriers in the implementation of ASP in Pakistan. Conclusion Physicians of public sector tertiary care teaching hospitals have shown poor familiarity toward hospital ASPs but the concept of hospital ASPs in Pakistan can be established by using the distinct themes that originated during this study. Overall, the attitude of physicians was positive toward its enforcement in all types of hospital settings including teaching hospitals. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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Perspective of Pakistani Physicians towards Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs: A Multisite Exploratory Qualitative Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16091565 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (9) ◽

pp. 1565 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Khezar Hayat ◽

Meagen Rosenthal ◽

Ali Hassan Gillani ◽

Panpan Zhai ◽

Muhammad Majid Aziz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Teaching Hospitals ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Healthcare Settings ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Global Threat

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat and the antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is a globally used tool to combat AMR. There is little information on the views among Pakistani physicians regarding AMR and the benefits of hospital antimicrobial stewardship implementation. This study was designed to explore the physicians’ views about ASP. Methods: Qualitative face-to-face and telephonic interviews were conducted by using purposive sampling method with 22 physicians working in seven tertiary care public hospitals of Punjab, Pakistan. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative software was used, and a thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Three broad themes were identified: (1) the growing concern of antimicrobial resistance in Pakistan, (2) the role(s) of healthcare professionals in antibiotic prescribing, and (3) managing antibiotic resistance in hospitals. Inadequate resources, poor healthcare facilities, and insufficiently trained medical staff were the major hurdles in ASP implementation in Pakistan. Conclusions: Our study found a poor familiarity of hospital ASP among physicians working in public sector tertiary care teaching hospitals, and a number of distinct themes emerged during this study that could be helpful in establishing the concept of hospital ASP in Pakistan. Overall, physicians showed a positive attitude towards the enforcement of ASP in all healthcare settings, including teaching hospitals.

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Antimicrobial Stewardship and Its Impact on the Changing Epidemiology of Polymyxin Use in a South Indian Healthcare Setting

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10050470 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 470

Author(s):

Dipu T. Sathyapalan ◽

Jini James ◽

Sangita Sudhir ◽

Vrinda Nampoothiri ◽

Praveena N. Bhaskaran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Loading Dose ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program ◽

Entire Study ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

South Indian ◽

Implementation Period ◽

The Right

Polymyxins being last resort drugs to treat infections triggered by multidrug-resistant pathogens necessitates the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) initiatives to support its rational prescription across healthcare settings. Our study aims to describe the change in the epidemiology of polymyxins and patient outcomes following the implementation of ASP at our institution. The antimicrobial stewardship program initiated in February 2016 at our 1300 bed tertiary care center involved post-prescriptive audits tracking polymyxin consumption and evaluating prescription appropriateness in terms of the right indication, right frequency, right drug, right duration of therapy and administration of the right loading dose (LD) and maintenance dose (MD). Among the 2442 polymyxin prescriptions tracked over the entire study period ranging from February 2016 to January 2020, the number of prescriptions dropped from 772 prescriptions in the pre-implementation period to an average of 417 per year during the post-implementation period, recording a 45% reduction. The quarterly patient survival rates had a significant positive correlation with the quarterly prescription appropriateness rates (r = 0.4774, p = 0.02), right loading dose (r = 0.5228, p = 0.015) and right duration (r = 0.4361, p = 0.04). Our study on the epidemiology of polymyxin use demonstrated favorable effects on the appropriateness of prescriptions and mortality benefits after successful implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in a real-world setting.

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Effect of Removing Contact Precautions for Multidrug-Resistant Organisms on Hospital Infections in a Pediatric Health System

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2020.742 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s199-s200

Author(s):

Matthew Linam ◽

Dorian Hoskins ◽

Preeti Jaggi ◽

Mark Gonzalez ◽

Renee Watson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hand Hygiene ◽

Antibiotic Stewardship ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Bloodstream Infections ◽

Central Line ◽

Contact Precautions ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Tract Infections ◽

The Impact

Background: Discontinuation of contact precautions for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) have failed to show an increase in associated transmission or infections in adult healthcare settings. Pediatric experience is limited. Objective: We evaluated the impact of discontinuing contact precautions for MRSA, VRE, and extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing gram-negative bacilli (ESBLs) on device-associated healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Methods: In October 2018, contact precautions were discontinued for children with MRSA, VRE, and ESBLs in a large, tertiary-care pediatric healthcare system comprising 2 hospitals and 620 beds. Coincident interventions that potentially reduced HAIs included blood culture diagnostic stewardship (June 2018), a hand hygiene education initiative (July 2018), a handshake antibiotic stewardship program (December 2018) and multidisciplinary infection prevention rounding in the intensive care units (November 2018). Compliance with hand hygiene and HAI prevention bundles were monitored. Device-associated HAIs were identified using standard definitions. Annotated run charts were used to track the impact of interventions on changes in device-associated HAIs over time. Results: Average hand hygiene compliance was 91%. Compliance with HAI prevention bundles was 81% for ventilator-associated pneumonias, 90% for catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and 97% for central-line–associated bloodstream infections. Overall, device-associated HAIs decreased from 6.04 per 10,000 patient days to 3.25 per 10,000 patient days after October 2018 (Fig. 1). Prior to October 2018, MRSA, VRE and ESBLs accounted for 10% of device-associated HAIs. This rate decreased to 5% after October 2018. The decrease in HAIs was likely related to interventions such as infection prevention rounds and handshake stewardship. Conclusions: Discontinuation of contact precautions for children with MRSA, VRE, and ESBLs were not associated with increased device-associated HAIs, and such discontinuation is likely safe in the setting of robust infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship programs.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

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