Sustained reductions in unnecessary antimicrobial administration and hospital Clostridioides difficile rates via stewardship in a nonacademic setting

A large community hospital sought to reduce its burden of hospital-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). We implemented an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP), resulting in marked reductions in unnecessary antimicrobial use, CDI rates, antimicrobial acquisition costs, with preservation of gram-negative susceptibilities. ASP programs are effective in a community setting.

The Impact of the SARS-Cov2 Pandemic on a Persuasive Educational Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in a University Hospital in Southern Italy: A Pre-Post Study

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of the pandemic on the disruption of a persuasive educational antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) conducted in a university hospital in southern Italy. Methods: In March 2020, the ASP, which began in January 2017 and was carried out at different times in 10 wards, was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an observational study with interrupted time series analysis to compare the antibiotic consumption and costs, average length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality between 12 months before and 9 months after the interruption. Results: Four medical, four surgical wards and two ICUs were included in the study, for a total of 35,921 patient days. Among the medical wards we observed after the interruption a significant increase in fluoroquinolone use, with a change in trend (CT) of 0.996, p = 0.027. In the surgical wards, we observed a significant increase in the overall consumption, with a change in level (CL) of 24.4, p = 0.005, and in the use of third and fourth generation cephalosporins (CL 4.7, p = 0.003). In two ICUs, we observed a significant increase in piperacillin/tazobactam and fluoroquinolone consumption (CT 9.28, p = 0.019, and 2.4, p = 0.047). In the wards with a duration of ASP less than 30 months, we observed a significant increase in antibiotic consumption in the use of piperacillin/tazobactam and fluoroquinolones (CT 12.9, p = 0.022: 4.12, p = 0.029; 1.004, p = 0.011). Conclusions: The interruption of ASP during COVID-19 led to an increase in the consumption of broad-spectrum antibiotics, particularly in surgical wards and in those with a duration of ASP less than 30 months.

Second-year Outcomes of Implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital

Background: The increasing use of antimicrobial agents and resistance is becoming a serious problem in pediatric patients. Hence, antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is implemented to lessen the consequences. Objectives: This report aimed to demonstrate the impact of ASP on antimicrobials utilization in a referral and tertiary pediatric hospital in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: We launched an ASP for inpatients in March 2018 at the Imam Hussain Hospital, which is a 186-bed pediatrics hospital. Data was collected by ASP multidisciplinary team and using hospital records during February 2017-January 2018 (pre-intervention) and February 2019-January 2020 (post-intervention) periods. Consumption data were expressed as defined daily doses (DDDs) per 100 patient-days (PD). Independent sample t-test and paired t-test were used to assess the significance of differences. The rates of antimicrobials resistance for the most common hospital pathogens were also tracked. Results: Utilization of total antimicrobials decreased meaningfully by 12.41% (from 62.11 DDDs/100 PD in February 2017-January 2018 to 54.40 DDDs/100 PD in February 2019-January 2020; P = 0.024). The results showed that the reduction in non-restricted antimicrobials was less (5.43%) than restricted antimicrobials (27.6%). Conclusions: According to our results, the use of antimicrobials, especially the broad-spectrum ones, and the health burden costs significantly decreased after implementing ASP. Thus, continuous monitoring and educational programs are recommended to reduce the negative effects of using antimicrobials.

43. Impact of a Five-Year Intervention of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program on the Optimal Antibiotic Prophylaxis Selection in Surgery in a Hospital without Restrictions on Antibiotics Prescription in Costa Rica

Background In a private hospital without restrictions on antibiotic prescription, the success of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) depends mainly on prospective feedback and education. Previously, the ASP of this hospital (PROA-HCB) managed to achieve a positive impact on the antibiotic prophylaxis in cesarean delivery. The purpose of this study is to characterize the impact after implementing the PROA-HCB on the optimal prophylaxis selection of all the procedures included in the clinical guideline for surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in adult patients. Methods A retrospective observational study that compares the selection, duration, antibiotic consumption, bacterial resistance profiles and patient’s safety outcomes regarding antibiotic use for all surgical prophylaxis prescription over six months for the periods before (pre-ASP) and after a five-year intervention of PROA-HCB (post-ASP). Results After a five-year intervention, the percentage of optimal selection of antibiotic prophylaxis in Surgery was 21.0% (N=1598) in the pre-ASP period and 80.0% (N=841) in the post-ASP period (59% absolute improvement, p < 0.001). Percentage of optimal duration was 69,1% (N=1598) in the pre-ASP period and 78.0% (N=841) in the post-ASP period (8.9% absolute improvement, p < 0.001). Mean ceftriaxone utilization was 217.7 defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 patient days DDD for the pre-ASP period and 139.8 DDD per 1,000 patient days for the ASP period (35.8% decrease; p = 0.019). Mean cefazolin utilization was 14.9 DDD per 1,000 patient days for the pre-ASP period and 153.3 DDD per 1,000 patient days for the ASP period (928.6% increase; p = 0.021). Regarding percentage of bacterial resistance, there was detected an improvement in some isolates like Escherichia coli with a decrease of ESBL detection (11% decrease; p = 0.007). In addition, no serious adverse reactions or an increase in surgical site infections were detected after the intervention. Conclusion The implementation of an ASP in the surgical ward showed an overall positive impact on selection and duration of antibiotic prophylaxis. Furthermore, this intervention could have had a positive impact on antimicrobial resistance and at the same time had no negative effects on the patients. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures