Towards understanding global patterns of antimicrobial use and resistance in neonatal sepsis: insights from the NeoAMR network.

OBJECTIVE: To gain an understanding of the variation in available resources and clinical practices between neonatal units (NNUs) in the low-income and middle-income country (LMIC) setting to inform the design of an observational study on the burden of unit-level antimicrobial resistance (AMR). DESIGN: A web-based survey using a REDCap database was circulated to NNUs participating in the Neonatal AMR research network. The survey included questions about NNU funding structure, size, admission rates, access to supportive therapies, empirical antimicrobial guidelines and period prevalence of neonatal blood culture isolates and their resistance patterns. SETTING: 39 NNUs from 12 countries. PATIENTS: Any neonate admitted to one of the participating NNUs. INTERVENTIONS: This was an observational cohort study. RESULTS: The number of live births per unit ranged from 513 to 27 700 over the 12-month study period, with the number of neonatal cots ranging from 12 to 110. The proportion of preterm admissions <32 weeks ranged from 0% to 19%, and the majority of units (26/39, 66%) use Essential Medicines List 'Access' antimicrobials as their first-line treatment in neonatal sepsis. Cephalosporin resistance rates in Gram-negative isolates ranged from 26% to 84%, and carbapenem resistance rates ranged from 0% to 81%. Glycopeptide resistance rates among Gram-positive isolates ranged from 0% to 45%. CONCLUSION: AMR is already a significant issue in NNUs worldwide. The apparent burden of AMR in a given NNU in the LMIC setting can be influenced by a range of factors which will vary substantially between NNUs. These variations must be considered when designing interventions to improve neonatal mortality globally

Challenges in the Implementation of the NeoOBS Study, a Global Pragmatic Observational Cohort Study, to Investigate the Aetiology and Management of Neonatal Sepsis in the Hospital Setting.

Neonatal sepsis is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries. To deliver high-quality data studies and inform future trials, it is crucial to understand the challenges encountered when managing global multi-centre research studies and to identify solutions that can feasibly be implemented in these settings. This paper provides an overview of the complexities faced by diverse research teams in different countries and regions, together with actions implemented to achieve pragmatic study management of a large multi-centre observational study of neonatal sepsis. We discuss specific considerations for enrolling sites with different approval processes and varied research experience, structures, and training. Implementing a flexible recruitment strategy and providing ongoing training were necessary to overcome these challenges. We emphasize the attention that must be given to designing the database and monitoring plans. Extensive data collection tools, complex databases, tight timelines, and stringent monitoring arrangements can be problematic and might put the study at risk. Finally, we discuss the complexities added when collecting and shipping isolates and the importance of having a robust central management team and interdisciplinary collaborators able to adapt easily and make swift decisions to deliver the study on time and to target. With pragmatic approaches, appropriate training, and good communication, these challenges can be overcome to deliver high-quality data from a complex study in challenging settings through a collaborative research network

Plasma and intracellular pharmacokinetics of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg every 48 hours vs 150 mg once daily in hiv-infected adults with moderate renal function impairment

Background. The approved tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) dose of 300 mg every 48 hours for adults with moderate renal impairment is often confusing and inconvenient. Using a new TDF formulation, we compared the pharmacokinetics of the standard dose with a dose of 150 mg once daily in HIV-infected adults. Methods. This was an open-label pharmacokinetic study. Virologically suppressed HIV-infected adults with a creatinine clearance 30 to <50 mL/minute receiving TDF 300 mg every 48 hours as part of a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)- or lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-based regimen were enrolled. Intensive 48-hour blood sampling for pharmacokinetic assessment was performed at enrollment, after which the TDF dose was changed to 150 mg once daily. Two weeks later, 24-hour blood sampling was performed; subjects then returned to the standard dose. Tenofovir (TFV) pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a noncompartmental analysis. Results. Forty adults (55% female) were enrolled: 20 receiving NNRTI-based and 20 receiving LPV/r-based treatment. Median age was 56 years (range, 44-65 years), weight 51 kg (range, 38-80 kg), and creatinine clearance 43.9 mL/minute (range, 30.9-49.7 mL/minute). The TFV geometric mean ratio of the area under the curve (AUC(0-48h)) for every 24 hours vs every 48 hours was 1.09 (90% confidence interval [ CI],.98-1.22) and 1.00 (90% CI,.92-1.09) for patients receiving NNRTI- and LPV/r-based treatment, respectively. Concomitant LPV/r use markedly increased TFV plasma concentrations, and AUC(0-48h) was 67% higher with the standard dose, whereas no differences in intracellular TFV diphosphate concentrations were observed. All subjects remained virologically suppressed, and no drug-related adverse events were reported. Conclusions. TDF 150 mg every 24 hours provides comparable systemic exposure to the standard dose of 300 mg every 48 hours in patients with moderate renal impairment

Assessment of nevirapine prophylactic and therapeutic dosing regimens for neonates

Background: Nevirapine (NVP) is a key component of antiretroviral prophylaxis and treatment for neonates. We evaluated current World Health Organization (WHO) weight-band NVP prophylactic dosing recommendations and investigated optimal therapeutic NVP dosing for neonates. Methods: The PHPT-5 study in Thailand assessed the efficacy of "Perinatal Antiretroviral Intensification" to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in women with 0.10 mg/L) and for therapeutic efficacy (>3.0 mg/L) using different infant dosing strategies. Results: Sixty infants (55% male) were included. At birth, median (range) weight was 2.9 (2.3-3.6) kg. NVP concentrations were best described by a 1-compartment PK model. Infant weight and postnatal age influenced NVP PK parameters. Based on simulations for a 3-kg infant, >= 92% would have an NVP trough >0.1 mg/L after 48 hours through 2 weeks using the PHPT-5 and WHO-dosing regimens. For NVP-based therapy, a 6-mg/kg twice daily dose produced a trough >3.0 mg/L in 87% of infants at 48 hours and 80% at 2 weeks. Conclusion: WHO weight-band prophylactic guidelines achieved target concentrations. Starting NVP 6 mg/kg twice daily from birth is expected to achieve therapeutic concentrations during the first 2 weeks of life

Towards understanding global patterns of antimicrobial use and resistance in neonatal sepsis: Insights from the NeoAMR network

Objective To gain an understanding of the variation in available resources and clinical practices between neonatal units (NNUs) in the low-income and middle-income country (LMIC) setting to inform the design of an observational study on the burden of unit-level antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Design A web-based survey using a REDCap database was circulated to NNUs participating in the Neonatal AMR research network. The survey included questions about NNU funding structure, size, admission rates, access to supportive therapies, empirical antimicrobial guidelines and period prevalence of neonatal blood culture isolates and their resistance patterns. Setting 39 NNUs from 12 countries. Patients Any neonate admitted to one of the participating NNUs. Interventions This was an observational cohort study. Results The number of live births per unit ranged from 513 to 27 700 over the 12-month study period, with the number of neonatal cots ranging from 12 to 110. The proportion of preterm admissions &lt;32 weeks ranged from 0% to 19%, and the majority of units (26/39, 66%) use Essential Medicines List &apos;Access&apos; antimicrobials as their first-line treatment in neonatal sepsis. Cephalosporin resistance rates in Gram-negative isolates ranged from 26% to 84%, and carbapenem resistance rates ranged from 0% to 81%. Glycopeptide resistance rates among Gram-positive isolates ranged from 0% to 45%. Conclusion AMR is already a significant issue in NNUs worldwide. The apparent burden of AMR in a given NNU in the LMIC setting can be influenced by a range of factors which will vary substantially between NNUs. These variations must be considered when designing interventions to improve neonatal mortality globally. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ