Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

The Antibiotic Resistance and Multidrug Resistance Pattern of Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli at Soba University Hospital: A Descriptive Retrospective Survey

Background: The irrational use of antibiotics for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) may lead to increased antimicrobial resistance among uropathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli), as well as multidrug resistance worldwide, which will limit available treatment options for UTIs caused by these organisms. This study aimed to determine the resistance pattern of E. coli causing UTIs in out-patients and in-patients of Soba University Hospital. Methods: Data were collected from the laboratory records in the Department of Microbiology in Soba Teaching Hospital by using a predesigned checklist and then analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences. Bivariate analysis (Chi-square test) was used to compare between variables. Results: Out of the 231 E. coli urine cultures, 160 (69.3%) were collected from females. The results showed high resistance to ampicillin (92.4%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (83.3%), cephalexin (90.6%), cefuroxime (72%), ceftazidime (71%), ceftriaxone (72%), ciprofloxacin (68%), and co-trimoxazole (75.3%). Collectively, around 188 (81.4%) were multidrug-resistant. On the other hand, the sensitivities of E. coli isolates were 68.8%, 93.1%, 89.4%, and 100% to gentamicin, amikacin, and carbapenems, respectively.  Conclusion: The rate of E. coli resistance was observed to be high to the commonly prescribed drugs for UTIs, including ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, different cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and co-trimoxazole. However, E. coli showed lower resistance rates to nitrofurantoin, amikacin, and carbapenems. Thus, these drugs can be reserved for the empirical treatment of UTIs caused by E. coli

Evaluation of the Adherence of Obstetricians to International Guidelines for Dispensing Misoprostol and Oxytocin in Saad Abu Ella Maternity Hospital: A Retrospective Study

Background: Misoprostol and oxytocin are commonly prescribed drugs by obstetricians to induce labor and prevent postpartum hemorrhage. In Sudan, there is no national guideline for prescribing these drugs. Thus, the prescribers follow the International guidelines. Hence, our study aimed to evaluate the adherence of Sudanese obstetricians to the International guidelines for dispensing misoprostol and oxytocin. Methods: A retrospective descriptive hospital-based study was performed at Saad Abu Ella hospital through their medical files archived in 2018 using a checklist designed by the researcher. Collected data were analyzed and presented in frequency tables using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Results: A total of 357 medical files were evaluated, about 50% of cases examined was in the 25–35 years age range, multigravida pregnant ladies were 62%. General indications of oxytocin and/or misoprostol were induction of labor (17%), postpartum hemorrhage prevention (PPH) after normal vaginal delivery (NVD) (30%) and cesarean sections (32%), evacuation of incomplete miscarriage (20%), and termination of pregnancy (1%). Compared to the guidelines, only 14% were given the recommended regimens for labor induction; 9.4% of women who had undergone NVD were given the recommended regimen to prevent PPH. While, 57% and 43% of the cases with incomplete miscarriage and termination of pregnancy were given the recommended regimens, respectively. Based on the correct indication, total adherence was estimated to be 17%. Conclusions: Higher percentages of cases with incomplete miscarriage and intrauterine fetal death were given the recommended regimens to manage them. While, lower percentages of the participants were given the recommended regimens for labor induction and to prevent PPH.  Key words: misoprostol, oxytocin, obstetricians, adherence, International guideline