57. Financial Impact of a Regional Antimicrobial Stewardship Cost Saving Initiative in a Large Integrated Healthcare System

Abstract Background A regional antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) within a large integrated healthcare system covering two, non-academic, tertiary care medical centers and an additional six community hospitals implemented multiple interventions to optimize antimicrobial therapy and reduce unnecessary hospital costs, such as transition to extended-infusion (EI) piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP), formulary restriction of antimicrobials, and antimicrobial stewardship clinical review. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost savings associated with these regional ASP initiatives. Methods This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational review of regional stewardship interventions across eight inpatient medical centers in Oregon. Data was collected from January 2019 to December of 2020. Cost savings associated with reduced TZP administrations was based on the duration of therapy for each encounter in adults who received TZP for >24 hours in 2020. The regional antimicrobial restriction policy was implemented in February 2020. Cost savings attributed to antimicrobial formulary restrictions and reduction in overall days of therapy/1000 patient days (DOT) were based on EPIC costs. Results The reduction in number of administrations with implementation of EI TZP resulted in &226,420 saved in 2020. &182,837 was saved due to decreased usage of restricted antimicrobial agents. An additional &433,341 was saved for overall antimicrobial costs due to 19,775 days reduction in overall DOT/1000 patient days. Conclusion A community-based regional ASP has resulted in substantial financial impact and identified areas for future cost savings within the region. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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187. Significant Decline in Carbapenem Use with Multifaceted Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) Interventions

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.231 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S99-S100

Author(s):

Ashlesha Kaushik ◽

Sandeep Gupta ◽

Erin Lettow ◽

Jenna Lundsgaard ◽

Corey Thieman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Significant Decline ◽

World Health ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program ◽

Intervention Period ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Days Of Therapy

Abstract Background Per World Health Organization, carbapenems should be key targets for antibiotic stewardship programs. Methods A multifaceted antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) was implemented in January 2018 at a 160-bed tertiary care center serving the tristate area of Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska. Carbapenem use during pre ASP intervention period (P1: 07/01/2016-12/31/2017) was compared with ASP intervention period (P2: 01/01/2018-06/30/2019). ASP interventions included: providing educational pearls in monthly physician newsletter; educational posters in high-traffic provider areas; suppression of carbapenem results on microbiology susceptibility reports; distributing monthly carbapenem use data to providers; provider counseling for appropriate ordering; creating carbapenem alternative alert in order-entry software; generating pharmacy decision-support software algorithms to aid in identifying intervention opportunities; removing carbapenems from order-sets where appropriate. Additional ASP pharmacist interventions: limiting double antibiotic coverage for pseudomonas/anaerobes; de-escalation recommendations. Results Carbapenem use declined significantly from a mean of 64.81 days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient days during P1 to 8.91 DOT per 1000 patient days in P2 (p< 0.001). All hospital units showed a significant decrease in carbapenem use, with intensive care step-down unit noting 85.7% reduction (p < 0.00001); floors (medicine, pediatric, surgery) with 61.6% reduction (p< 0.00001); and intensive care units with 52% reduction (p< 0.00001) during P2 compared to P1. Defined daily doses per 1000 patient days decreased from 314.9 in P1 to 93.4 in P2 (p< 0.00001). During P2, 58.3% (132/228) of carbapenem orders were found to be appropriate compared to 37.5% (190/506) in P1 (p< 0.00001). Sensitivity profile for Pseudomonas aeruginosa improved from 86% carbapenem sensitivity during P1 to 89% in P2. No Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates were identified. Cost savings of $643 per 1000 patient days were recognized in P2 as a result of reduced carbapenem use. Conclusion There was a significant decline in total carbapenem utilization, an increase in proportion of appropriate use and considerable cost savings as a result of ASP interventions. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Development of an antimicrobial stewardship program in an integrated healthcare system

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy ◽

10.1093/ajhp/zxy002 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 76 (1) ◽

pp. 34-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael A Lane ◽

Amanda J Hays ◽

Helen Newland ◽

Jeanne E Zack ◽

Rebecca M Guth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare System ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Gap Analysis ◽

System Level ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program ◽

Integrated Healthcare ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Regulatory Mandates ◽

The Impact

Abstract Purpose The development of an inpatient antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) in an integrated healthcare system is described. Summary With increasing national focus on reducing inappropriate antimicrobial use, state and national regulatory mandates require hospitals to develop ASPs. In 2015, BJC HealthCare, a multihospital health system, developed a system-level, multidisciplinary ASP team to assist member hospitals with ASP implementation. A comprehensive gap analysis was performed to assess current stewardship resources, activities and compliance with CDC core elements at each facility. BJC system clinical leads facilitated the development of hospital-specific leadership support statements, identification of hospital pharmacy and medical leaders, and led development of staff and patient educational components. An antimicrobial-use data dashboard was created for reporting and tracking the impact of improvement activities. Hospital-level interventions were individualized based on the needs and resources at each facility. Hospital learnings were shared at bimonthly system ASP meetings to disseminate best practices. The initial gap analysis revealed that BJC hospitals were compliant in a median of 6 ASP elements (range, 4–8) required by regulatory mandates. By leveraging system resources, all hospitals were fully compliant with regulatory requirements by January 2017. Conclusion BJC’s ASP model facilitated the development of broad-based stewardship activities, including education modules for patients and providers and clinical decision support, while allowing hospitals to implement activities based on local needs and resource availability.

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Profile of Antimicrobial Use in the Pediatric Population of a University Hospital Centre, 2015/16 to 2018/19

The Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy ◽

10.4212/cjhp.v74i1.3037 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lydia R Rahem ◽

Bénédicte Franck ◽

Hélène Roy ◽

Denis Lebel ◽

Philippe Ovetchkine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Pediatric Population ◽

University Hospital ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Defined Daily Dose ◽

Centre Hospitalier ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire ◽

Days Of Therapy

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship is a standard practice in health facilities to reduce both the misuse of antimicrobials and the risk of resistance. Objective: To determine the profile of antimicrobial use in the pediatric population of a university hospital centre from 2015/16 to 2018/19. Methods: In this retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study, the pharmacy information system was used to determine the number of days of therapy (DOTs) and the defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 patient-days (PDs) for each antimicrobial and for specified care units in each year of the study period. For each measure, the ratio of 2018/19 to 2015/16 values was also calculated (and expressed as a proportion); where the value of this proportion was ≤ 0.8 or ≥ 1.2 (indicating a substantial change over the study period), an explanatory rating was assigned by consensus. Results: Over the study period, 94 antimicrobial agents were available at the study hospital: 70 antibiotics (including antiparasitics and antituberculosis drugs), 14 antivirals, and 10 antifungals. The total number of DOTs per 1000 PDs declined from 904 in 2015/16 to 867 in 2018/19. The 5 most commonly used antimicrobials over the years, expressed as minimum/maximum DOTs per 1000 PDs, were piperacillin-tazobactam (78/105), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (74/84), ampicillin (51/69), vancomycin (53/68), and cefotaxime (55/58). In the same period, the care units with the most antimicrobial use (expressed as minimum/ maximum DOTs per 1000 PDs) were hematology-oncology (2529/2723), pediatrics (1006/1408), and pediatric intensive care (1328/1717). Conclusions: This study showed generally stable consumption of antimicrobials from 2015/16 to 2018/19 in a Canadian mother-and-child university hospital centre. Although consumption was also stable within drug groups (antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals), there were important changes over time for some individual drugs. Several factors may explain these variations, including disruptions in supply, changes in practice, and changes in the prevalence of infections. Surveillance of antimicrobial use is an essential component of an antimicrobial stewardship program. RÉSUMÉ Contexte : La gestion des antimicrobiens est une pratique courante dans les centres hospitaliers afin de réduire l’utilisation inappropriée des antimicrobiens et le risque de résistance. Objectif : Décrire l’évolution de l’utilisation des antimicrobiens dans un centre hospitalier universitaire de 2015-16 à 2018-19. Méthodes : Dans cette étude rétrospective, descriptive et transversale, les dossiers pharmacologiques ont servi à déterminer le nombre de jours de traitement (NJT) et la dose définie journalière (DDD) par 1000 jours-présence (JP) pour chaque antimicrobien et pour chaque unité de soins par année de l’étude. Pour chaque mesure, on a également comparé le ratio de 2018-19 à celui de 2015-16, qui est exprimé en proportion; lorsque la valeur de cette proportion était ≤ 0,8 ou ≥ 1,2, ce qui indiquait un changement important durant la période de l’étude, une note explicative a été attribuée par consensus. Résultats : Durant la période à l’étude, 94 antimicrobiens ont été disponibles dans notre centre : 70 antibiotiques (dont les antiparasitaires et les antituberculeux), 14 antiviraux et 10 antifongiques. Le nombre total de NJT par 1000 JP a diminué de 904 en 2015-16 à 867 en 2018-19. Les cinq antimicrobiens utilisés le plus fréquemment et présentés en minimum / maximum de NJT par 1000 JP étaient les suivants : piperacilline-tazobactam (78/105), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (74/84), ampicilline (51/69), vancomycine (53/68) et cefotaxime (55/58). Pendant la même période, les unités de soins qui faisaient la plus grande utilisation d’antimirobiens (exprimée en minimum / maximum de NJT par 1000 JP) étaient hématologie-oncologie (2529/2723), pédiatrie (1006/1408) et soins intensifs pédiatriques (1328/1717). Conclusions : Cette étude démontre une consommation stable d’antimicrobiens entre 2015-16 et 2018-19 dans un centre hospitalier universitaire mère-enfant canadien. Malgré le fait que la consommation entre les groupes d’antimicrobiens (antibiotiques, antiviraux, antifongiques) était stable, on a constaté d’importantes variations concernant certains médicaments individuels. Plusieurs facteurs peuvent expliquer cette variation, notamment des ruptures d’approvisionnement, des changements de pratique et des changements dans la prévalence d’infections. La surveillance de la consommation des antimicrobiens est une partie essentielle de tout programme d’antibiogouvernance.

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Sustained Savings from a Longitudinal Cost Analysis of an Internet-Based Preapproval Antimicrobial Stewardship Program

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/670625 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 34 (6) ◽

pp. 573-580 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Anna C. Sick ◽

Christoph U. Lehmann ◽

Pranita D. Tamma ◽

Carlton K. K. Lee ◽

Allison L. Agwu

Keyword(s):

Cost Analysis ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program ◽

Pediatric Hospital ◽

Antimicrobial Prescribing ◽

Approval Rate ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Sustained Reduction

Objective.To evaluate an internet-based preapproval antimicrobial stewardship program for sustained reduction in antimicrobial prescribing and resulting cost savings.Design.Retrospective cohort study and cost analysis.Methods.Review of all doses and charges of antimicrobials dispensed to patients over 6 years (July 1, 2005–June 30, 2011) at a tertiary care pediatric hospital.Results.Restricted antimicrobials account for 26% of total doses but 81% of total antimicrobial charges. Winter months (November–February) and the oncology and infant and toddler units were associated with the highest antimicrobial charges. Five restricted drugs accounted for the majority (54%) of charges but only 6% of doses. With an average approval rate of 91.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91.1%–91.9%), the preapproval antibiotic stewardship program saved $103,787 (95% CI, $98,583–$109,172) per year, or $14,156 (95% CI, $13,446–$14,890) per 1,000 patient-days.Conclusions.A preapproval antimicrobial stewardship program effectively reduces the number of doses and subsequent charges due to restricted antimicrobials years after implementation. Hospitals with reduced resources for implementing postprescription review may benefit from a preapproval antimicrobial stewardship program. Targeting specific units, drugs, and seasons may optimize preapproval programs for additional cost savings.

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223. Difference in Carbapenem Use by ASP Intervention in Japanese Healthcare Facilities

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.267 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S112-S113

Author(s):

Mio Endo ◽

Shinya Tsuzuki ◽

Yusuke Asai ◽

Taichi Tajima ◽

Nobuaki Matsunaga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Median Number ◽

Audit And Feedback ◽

Average Hospital ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Days Of Therapy ◽

The Difference ◽

Prospective Audit And Feedback

Abstract Background Antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) interventions have been reported to reduce unnecessary antimicrobial use (AMU). In this study, we investigated the difference in the use of carbapenems by ASP intervention in Japanese healthcare facilities. Methods Data on two components of AMU and ASP registered in Japan Surveillance for Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology (J-SIPHE) from January to December 2019, were used. Facilities with an infection control team in addition to an antimicrobial stewardship team responsible for the proper use of antimicrobial agents were included in the study. AMU data (such as DOT [Days of Therapy / 100 patient days]) are entered semi-automatically from medical fee statement (receipt) file at each facility. ASP intervention is divided into four categories 1) pre-authorization, 2) prospective audit and feedback (PAF), 3) PAF and required notification (RN), 4) RN. The Kruskal-Wallis test is performed to see overall difference and the Dunn test with the Bonferroni correction is done for each pair of categories. Results A total of 114 hospitals were included in the analysis. The median number of beds at participating facilities were 430 [IQR: 281–602], the median average hospital stay was 13.0 days [IQR: 11.4–15.2] and total number of inpatients per month was 10087 [6247–14536]. PAF and RN were the most common ASP interventions for carbapenems (62.5%), followed by RN (33.6%). The median DOT [IQR] of participating facilities were 2.1 [1.2–3.1] and 1) 0.7 [0.2–1.1], 2) 2.7 [2.1–3.4], 3) 2.1 [1.4–3.1] and 4) 2.0 [1.2–3.5] by ASP categories. There are significant differences between 1) and 2), 1) and 3), and 1) and 4) (p=0.014, p< 0.01 and p< 0.01, respectively) while the differences between 2) and 3), 2) and 4), and 3) and 4) are not significant (p=1.00). Table 1. Summary statistics of healthcare facilities by ASP Interventions Figure 1. DOT by ASP Interventions Conclusion Only 3.5% of ASP interventions belong to 1) pre-authorization category and this might be due to the complexity of registration process. This category was found to have the lowest DOT among all ASP interventions in Japanese healthcare facilities. The variances of DOT were especially large in categories 3) and 4), and more detailed analyses would be necessary to evaluate their efficacies accurately. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Effects of an automatic discontinuation of antibiotics policy: A novel approach to antimicrobial stewardship

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy ◽

10.1093/ajhp/zxz144 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. S85-S90 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Bailey C Bolten ◽

J Lacie Bradford ◽

Brittany N White ◽

Gregory W Heath ◽

James M Sizemore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Therapy ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Antibiotic Usage ◽

Duration Of Therapy ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Days Of Therapy ◽

Before And After ◽

The Mean

Abstract Purpose A novel automatic discontinuation policy implemented within an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is described, and results of an evaluation of the policy’s effects on antibiotic usage are reported. Methods A retrospective, before-and-after study was conducted at an 800-bed, tertiary care, academic teaching hospital to evaluate selected antibiotic usage outcomes in both intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU adult patients targeted for ASP interventions before and after implementation of an automatic discontinuation of antibiotics policy (ADAP) authorizing the ASP team to automatically halt antibiotic therapy in cases involving inappropriate duplicate antimicrobial coverage or excess duration of therapy. The primary outcome was total days of antibiotic therapy. Secondary outcomes included excess days of therapy and rates of 30-day readmission, Clostridioides difficile infection, and multidrug-resistant infection. Results There were no statistically significant differences in group demographics or clinical characteristics. The most common indication for antibiotics was hospital-acquired pneumonia, and the most common reason for ASP intervention was excess duration of therapy. The mean total number of antibiotic days per patient was reduced from 7.6 days in the pre-ADAP group to 6.6 days in the post-ADAP group (p < 0.05). The mean number of excess days of antibiotics was similarly reduced, from 2.3 days to 1.5 days, after implementation of the ADAP (p < 0.05). Conclusion Adoption of an ADAP—a more active approach to ASP interventions—was effective in reducing overall antibiotic usage and improving the efficiency of the ASP.

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Show Me the Money: Long-Term Financial Impact of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/664922 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 398-400 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

James R. Beardsley ◽

John C. Williamson ◽

James W. Johnson ◽

Vera P. Luther ◽

Rebekah H. Wrenn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Average Cost ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Financial Impact ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program ◽

Labor Costs ◽

Stewardship Program

The financial impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program in operation for more than 11 years was determined by calculating the reduction in antimicrobial expenditures minus program labor costs. Depending on the method of inflation adjustment used, the program was associated with average cost savings of $920,070 to $2,064,441 per year.

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45. Significantly Decreased Broad Spectrum Antimicrobial Use (Carbapenems And Fluoroquinolones) with Implementation of Antibiotic Stewardship Program (ASP) and Pharmacist Interventions

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofab466.247 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S144-S144

Author(s):

Ashlesha Kaushik ◽

Sandeep Gupta ◽

Corey Thieman ◽

Michael Padomek

Keyword(s):

Care Center ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Intervention Period ◽

Hospital Units ◽

Carbapenem Resistant ◽

Pharmacist Interventions ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Days Of Therapy ◽

Discontinue Therapy

Abstract Background According to the WHO, carbapenems and fluoroquinolones (FQ) should be key targets for stewardship programs. Methods A multifaceted antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) was implemented in July 2018 at a 160-bed tertiary care center serving the tristate area of Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska. Carbapenem and FQ use during pre-ASP intervention period (P1: 12/01/2016-6/30/2018) was compared with ASP-intervention period (P2: 07/01/2018-1/31/2020). ASP interventions included: stewardship educational pearls in monthly physician newsletters; educational posters in provider areas; suppression of carbapenem results on microbiology susceptibility reports; provider counseling for appropriate ordering; creating carbapenem alternative alert in order-entry software; removing FQ and carbapenems from order-sets where appropriate; default antibiotic stop dates changed to 7 days in EMR (Epic); adverse effects warning fired as an alert when ordering FQ. Pharmacist interventions: procalcitonin protocol allowing pharmacists to reorder follow-up procalcitonin and make recommendations to discontinue therapy where appropriate. Results FQ use declined significantly from a mean of 133 days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 days to 46 DOT per 1000 patient days during P2 (p< 0.0001). Carbapenem use declined significantly from a mean of 65 DOT per 1000 patient days during P1 to 9 DOT per 1000 patient days in P2 (p< 0.001). All hospital units showed a significant decrease in use, with intensive care units (ICUs) noting 56% reduction (p< 0.00001) during P2 compared to P1. During P2, 55% of orders for carbapenems and FQ during P2 were found to be appropriate compared to 39% in P1 (p< 0.0001). Sensitivity profile for Pseudomonas aeruginosa improved from 86% carbapenem sensitivity during P1 to 89% in P2 and no Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates were identified during the study period; FQ sensitivity remained stable at 81%. Cost savings of &757 per 1000 patient days were recognized in P2 as a result of reduced use. Conclusion With ASP and pharmacist interventions, a significant decline in total utilization of carbapenem and FQ, considerable cost savings and an increase in proportion of appropriate use were observed. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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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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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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