An evaluation of antipseudomonal dosing on the incidence of treatment failure

Introduction: Significant mortality is associated with delays in appropriate antibiotic therapy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. The impact of empiric dosing on clinical outcomes has been largely unreported. Methods: This retrospective cohort compared treatment failure in patients receiving guideline-concordant or guideline-discordant empiric therapy with cefepime, meropenem, or piperacillin/tazobactam. Patients with culture-positive P. aeruginosa between 1 July 2013 and 31 July 2019 were eligible for inclusion. Patients with cystic fibrosis, polymicrobial infection, and urinary or pulmonary colonization were excluded. The composite primary outcome was treatment failure, defined as (1) therapy modification due to resistance/perceived treatment failure, (2) increased/unchanged qSOFA, or (3) persistent fever 48 h after initiating appropriate therapy. Secondary outcomes included rate of infectious diseases consultation, all-cause inpatient mortality, mechanical ventilation requirement, and infection-related intensive care unit and hospital lengths of stay. Results: In total, 198 patients were included: 90 guideline-concordant and 108 guideline-discordant. Baseline characteristics were balanced. Treatment failure was more common in the guideline-discordant than the guideline-concordant group (62% versus 48%; p = 0.04). This remained significant when adjusting for supratherapeutic dosing (p = 0.02). Infectious diseases consultation was higher in the guideline-discordant group (46% versus 29%, p = 0.01), while intensive care unit length of stay was longer in the guideline-concordant group (4.5 versus 3 days, p = 0.03). Additional secondary outcomes were similar. Conclusion: Treatment failure was significantly higher in patients receiving guideline-discordant empiric antipseudomonal dosing. Guideline-directed dosing, disease states, and patient-specific factors should be assessed when considering empiric antipseudomonal dosing

Antibiotic De-Escalation in Critically Ill Patients with Negative Clinical Cultures

(1) Background: Antibiotics are received by a majority of adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Guidelines recommend antibiotic de-escalation (ADE) when culture results are available; however, there is less guidance for patients with negative cultures. The purpose of this study was in investigate ADE rates in an ICU population with negative clinical cultures. (2) Methods: This single-center, retrospective, cohort study evaluated ICU patients who received broad-spectrum antibiotics. The definition of de-escalation was antibiotic discontinuation or narrowing of the spectrum within 72 h of initiation. The outcomes evaluated included the rate of antibiotic de-escalation, mortality, rates of antimicrobial escalation, AKI incidence, new hospital acquired infections, and lengths of stay. (3) Results: Of the 173 patients included, 38 (22%) underwent pivotal ADE within 72 h, and 82 (47%) had companion antibiotics de-escalated. Notable differences in patient outcomes included shorter durations of therapy (p = 0.003), length of stay (p p = 0.031) in those that underwent pivotal ADE; no difference in mortality was found. (4) Conclusions: The results from this study show the feasibility of ADE in patients with negative clinical cultures without a negative impact on the outcomes. However, further investigation is needed to determine its effect on the development of resistance and adverse effects

Strategies for Clarifying Penicillin Allergies When Skin Testing Is Not an Option

Patients with reported penicillin allergies have been proven to experience negative health consequences, such as increased cost, suboptimal antimicrobial therapy, and adverse reactions. Though skin testing has been proposed as a method to clarify penicillin allergies, many institutions may lack the resources to perform skin testing on a wide scale. This literature review describes the current literature surrounding the use of penicillin allergy interviews when skin testing is not an option. Specifically, the review highlights the steps in carrying out a successful antibiotic allergy patient interview, summarizes the clinical evidence surrounding antibiotic allergy clarifications, and addresses key advantages and disadvantages of clarifying antibiotic allergies without the availability of skin testing

Evaluation of a Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia Antimicrobial Stewardship Intervention at an Academic Medical Center

(1) Background: Pneumonia is the leading diagnosis associated with antibiotic use in hospitalized children. The Infectious Diseases Society of America published pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) guidelines in 2011, but adherence to recommendations varies across institutions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship intervention on antibiotic prescribing in pediatric patients admitted to an academic medical center. (2) Methods: This single-center pre/post-intervention evaluation included children admitted for CAP during three time periods (pre-intervention and post-intervention groups 1 and 2). The primary outcomes were changes in inpatient antibiotic selection and duration following the interventions. Secondary outcomes included discharge antibiotic regimens, length of stay, and 30-day readmission rates. (3) Results: A total of 540 patients were included in this study. Most patients were under five years of age (69%). Antibiotic selection significantly improved, with prescriptions for ceftriaxone decreasing (p p < 0.001) following the interventions. Antibiotic duration decreased from a median of ten days in the pre-intervention group and post-intervention group 1 to eight days in post-intervention group 2. (4) Conclusions: Our antibiotic stewardship intervention directed at pediatric CAP treatment resulted in improved antibiotic prescriptions and provides data that can be used to further educate providers at our institution

Analysis of the Clinical Impact of the BioFire FilmArray Meningitis Encephalitis Panel on Antimicrobial Use and Duration of Therapy at an Academic Medical Center

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical impact of the BioFire FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) panel on antimicrobial use and clinical outcomes. This retrospective, quasi-experiment evaluated adult and pediatric patients with suspected ME, evidenced by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture. Hospital-acquired meningitis patients and patients who received antimicrobials &gt;48 h prior to lumbar puncture were excluded. The primary endpoint was days of antimicrobial therapy pre- and post-implementation of the ME panel. Secondary endpoints included total length of stay, 30-day readmission, and individual days of antimicrobial therapy. Two hundred and sixty-four total adult and pediatric patients were included. Antimicrobial days of therapy had a median of 3 days (IQR 0&ndash;5) in the pre vs. post group with a median of 2 days (2&ndash;5) (p = 0.099). Days of therapy for acyclovir were significantly decreased in the post group (median 2 days [IQR 1&ndash;3] vs. 3 days [IQR 2.5&ndash;4.5], p = 0.0002). There were no significant differences in the secondary endpoints. Overall, implementation of the ME panel impacted the duration of antimicrobials, particularly acyclovir; however, opportunities for further education regarding antimicrobial de-escalation and utilization of the panel were identified. Antimicrobial stewardship program intervention is critical to maximize benefit of this rapid diagnostic test

Intravenous versus Oral Step-Down for the Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia in a Pediatric Population

Limited data are available regarding optimal antimicrobial therapy for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) in pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical characteristics and outcomes associated with intravenous (IV) versus oral step-down treatment of pediatric SAB. This study evaluated patients aged 3 months to 18 years that received at least 72 h of inpatient treatment for SAB. The primary endpoint was 30-day readmission. Secondary endpoints included hospital length of stay and inpatient mortality. One hundred and one patients were included in this study. The median age was 7.9 years. Patients who underwent oral step-down were less likely to be immunocompromised and more likely to have community-acquired SAB from osteomyelitis or skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI). More patients in the IV therapy group had a 30-day readmission (10 (25.6%) vs. 3 (5.3%), p = 0.006). Mortality was low (5 (5%)) and not statistically different between groups. Length of stay was greater in patients receiving IV therapy only (11 vs. 7 days, p = 0.001). In this study, over half of the patients received oral step-down therapy and 30-day readmission was low for this group. Oral therapy appears to be safe and effective for patients with SAB from osteomyelitis or SSTIs

Evaluation of an Antifungal Stewardship Initiative Targeting Micafungin at an Academic Medical Center

Delays in the treatment of proven invasive fungal disease have been shown to be harmful. However, empiric treatment for all patients at risk of infection has not demonstrated benefit. This study evaluates the effects of a micafungin stewardship initiative on the duration of therapy and clinical outcomes at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. This single-center quasi-experiment evaluated patients who received micafungin. Adult inpatients who received at least one treatment dose of micafungin in the pre-intervention (1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021) or post-intervention (1 October 2021 to 30 April 2022) groups were included. Patients were placed on micafungin for prophylaxis and those who required definitive micafungin therapy were excluded. An algorithm was used to provide real-time recommendations in order to assess change in the treatment days of micafungin therapy. A total of 282 patients were included (141 pre-group versus 141 post-group). Over 80% of the patients included in the study were in an intensive care unit, and other baseline characteristics were similar. The median number of treatment days with micafungin was 4 [IQR 3-6] in the pre-group and 3 [IQR 2-6] in the post-group (p = 0.005). Other endpoints, such as time to discontinuation or de-escalation, hospital mortality, and hospital length of stay, were not significantly different between the groups. An antifungal stewardship initiative can be an effective way to decrease unnecessary empiric antifungal therapy for patients who are at risk of invasive fugal disease

Evaluation of an Antifungal Stewardship Initiative Targeting Micafungin at an Academic Medical Center

Delays in the treatment of proven invasive fungal disease have been shown to be harmful. However, empiric treatment for all patients at risk of infection has not demonstrated benefit. This study evaluates the effects of a micafungin stewardship initiative on the duration of therapy and clinical outcomes at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. This single-center quasi-experiment evaluated patients who received micafungin. Adult inpatients who received at least one treatment dose of micafungin in the pre-intervention (1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021) or post-intervention (1 October 2021 to 30 April 2022) groups were included. Patients were placed on micafungin for prophylaxis and those who required definitive micafungin therapy were excluded. An algorithm was used to provide real-time recommendations in order to assess change in the treatment days of micafungin therapy. A total of 282 patients were included (141 pre-group versus 141 post-group). Over 80% of the patients included in the study were in an intensive care unit, and other baseline characteristics were similar. The median number of treatment days with micafungin was 4 [IQR 3-6] in the pre-group and 3 [IQR 2-6] in the post-group (p = 0.005). Other endpoints, such as time to discontinuation or de-escalation, hospital mortality, and hospital length of stay, were not significantly different between the groups. An antifungal stewardship initiative can be an effective way to decrease unnecessary empiric antifungal therapy for patients who are at risk of invasive fugal disease