Association of US Food and Drug Administration Removal of Indications for Use of Oral Quinolones With Prescribing Trends

Association of outpatient fluoroquinolone prescribing with the National Medical Products Administration announcements of label changes in China

BACKGROUND

In 2017 and 2021, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced to revise the drug label of fluoroquinolones. We aimed to evaluate the association of fluoroquinolone prescribing with the NMPA announcements of label changes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Monthly prevalence of fluoroquinolone prescriptions for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTI), acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB), and acute sinusitis (AS) between 2016 and 2022 was calculated, and interrupted time series analysis was applied to assess the impacts of NMPA label changes on fluoroquinolone use.

RESULTS

Prevalence of fluoroquinolone prescriptions decreased by 2.39% (95% CI, -4.72% to -0.07%) for uUTI but increased by 3.02% (95% CI, 1.71% to 4.34%) for AS immediately after the 2017 label change. Moreover, after the 2021 label change, fluoroquinolone use decreased shortly in all the three indications. However, a significant increasing trend was observed in fluoroquinolone use for AECB episodes, and fluoroquinolons were used for 61.4% of treated uUTI, 31.6% of treated AECB, and 5.42% of treated AS at the end of 2022, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The label changes issued by the NMPA had no substantial impacts on fluoroquinolone prescribing in the study region in China. Fluoroquinolone prescribing was still highly prevalent for uUTI and AECB and thus requiring further antimicrobial stewardship.

Antibiotic Use in Hospital Urinary Tract Infections After FDA Regulation

BACKGROUND

The FDA issued a "black box" warning regarding risks of fluoroquinolones in 2008 with updates in 2011, 2013, and 2016.

OBJECTIVE

To examine antimicrobial use in hospital-treated UTIs from 2000 to 2020.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study with interrupted time series analysis.

PARTICIPANTS

Patient encounters with a diagnosis of UTI from January 2000 to March 2020, excluding diagnoses of renal abscess, chronic cystitis, and infection of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, or prostate.

MAIN MEASURES

Monthly use of fluoroquinolone and non-fluoroquinolone antibiotics were assessed. Fluoroquinolone resistance was assessed in available cultures. Interrupted time series analysis examined level and trend changes of antimicrobial use with each FDA label change.

KEY RESULTS

A total of 9,950,790 patient encounters were included. From July 2008 to March 2020, fluoroquinolone use declined from 61.7% to 11.7%, with similar negative trends observed in inpatients and outpatients, age ≥ 60 and < 60 years, males and females, patients with and without pyelonephritis, and across physician specialties. Ceftriaxone use increased from 26.4% encounters in July 2008 to 63.6% of encounters in March 2020. Among encounters with available culture data, fluoroquinolone resistance declined by 28.9% from 2009 to 2020. On interrupted time series analysis, the July 2008 FDA warning was associated with a trend change (-0.32%, < 0.001) and level change (-5.02%, p < 0.001) in monthly fluoroquinolone use.

CONCLUSIONS

During this era of "black box" warnings, there was a decline in fluoroquinolone use for hospital-treated UTI with a concomitant decline in fluoroquinolone resistance and rise in ceftriaxone use. Efforts to restrict use of a medication class may lead to compensatory increases in use of a single alternative agent with changes in antimicrobial resistance profiles.

Utilization of broad- versus narrow-spectrum antibiotics for the treatment of outpatient community-acquired pneumonia among adults in the United States

PURPOSE

To characterize antibiotic utilization for outpatient community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the United States.

METHODS

We conducted a cohort study among adults 18-64 years diagnosed with outpatient CAP and a same-day guideline-recommended oral antibiotic fill in the MarketScan® Commercial Database (2008-2019). We excluded patients coded for chronic lung disease or immunosuppressive disease; recent hospitalization or frequent healthcare exposure (e.g., home wound care, patients with cancer); recent antibiotics; or recent infection. We characterized utilization of broad-spectrum antibiotics (respiratory fluoroquinolone, β-lactam + macrolide, β-lactam + doxycycline) versus narrow-spectrum antibiotics (macrolide, doxycycline) overall and by patient- and provider-level characteristics. Per 2007 IDSA/ATS guidelines, we stratified analyses by otherwise healthy patients and patients with comorbidities (coded for diabetes; chronic heart, liver, or renal disease; etc.).

RESULTS

Among 263 914 otherwise healthy CAP patients, 35% received broad-spectrum antibiotics (not recommended); among 37 161 CAP patients with comorbidities, 44% received broad-spectrum antibiotics (recommended). Ten-day antibiotic treatment durations were the most common for all antibiotic classes except macrolides. From 2008 to 2019, broad-spectrum antibiotic use substantially decreased from 45% to 19% in otherwise healthy patients (average annual percentage change [AAPC], -7.5% [95% CI -9.2%, -5.9%]), and from 55% to 29% in patients with comorbidities (AAPC, -5.8% [95% CI -8.8%, -2.6%]). In subgroup analyses, broad-spectrum antibiotic use varied by age, geographic region, provider specialty, and provider location.

CONCLUSIONS

Real-world use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for outpatient CAP declined over time but remained common, irrespective of comorbidity status. Prolonged duration of therapy was common. Antimicrobial stewardship is needed to aid selection according to comorbidity status and to promote shorter courses.

Discovery of benzopyridone cyanoacetates as new type of potential broad-spectrum antibacterial candidates

Unique benzopyridone cyanoacetates (BCs) as new type of promising broad-spectrum antibacterial candidates were discovered with large potential to combat the lethal multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Many prepared BCs showed broad antibacterial spectrum with low MIC values against the tested strains. Some highly active BCs exhibited rapid sterilization capacity, low resistant trend and good predictive pharmacokinetic properties. Furthermore, the highly active sodium BCs (NaBCs) displayed low hemolysis and cytotoxicity, and especially octyl NaBC 5g also showed in vivo potent anti-infective potential and appreciable pharmacokinetic profiles. A series of preliminary mechanistic explorations indicated that these active BCs could effectively eliminate bacterial biofilm and destroy membrane integrity, thus resulting in the leakage of bacterial cytoplasm. Moreover, their unique structures might further bind to intracellular DNA, DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV through various direct noncovalent interactions to hinder bacterial reproduction. Meanwhile, the active BCs also induced bacterial oxidative stress and metabolic disturbance, thereby accelerating bacterial apoptosis. These results provided a bright hope for benzopyridone cyanoacetates as potential novel multitargeting broad-spectrum antibacterial candidates to conquer drug resistance.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular disease prevention and corresponding geographical inequalities in England: interrupted time series analysis

BACKGROUND

There has been disruption to the detection and management of those with hypertension and atrial fibrillation (AF) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is likely to vary geographically and could have implications for future mortality and morbidity. We aimed to estimate the change in diagnosed prevalence, treatment and prescription indicators for AF and hypertension and assess corresponding geographical inequalities.

METHODS

Using the Quality and Outcomes Framework (2016/17 to 2021/22) and the English Prescribing Datasets (2018 to 2022), we described age standardised prevalence, treatment and prescription item rates for hypertension and AF by geography and over time. Using an interrupted time-series (ITS) analysis, we estimated the impact of the pandemic (from April 2020) on missed diagnoses and on the percentage change in medicines prescribed for these conditions. Finally, we described changes in treatment indicators against Public Health England 2029 cardiovascular risk targets.

RESULTS

We observed 143,822 fewer (-143,822, 95%CI:-226,144, -61,500, p = 0.001) diagnoses of hypertension, 60,330 fewer (-60,330, 95%CI: -83,216, -37,444, p = 0.001) diagnoses of AF and 1.79% fewer (-1.79%, 95%CI: -2.37%, -1.22%), p < 0.0001) prescriptions for these conditions over the COVID-19 impact period. There was substantial variation across geography in England in terms of the indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, prescription, and treatment rates of hypertension and AF. 20% of Sub Integrated Care Boards account for approximately 62% of all missed diagnoses of hypertension. The percentage of individuals who had their hypertension controlled fell from 75.8% in 2019/20 to 64.1% in 2021/22 and the percentage of individuals with AF who were risk assessed fell from 97.2% to 90.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertension and AF detection and management were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The disruption varied considerably across diseases and geography. This highlights the utility of administrative and geographically granular datasets to inform targeted efforts to mitigate the indirect impacts of the pandemic through applied secondary prevention measures.

Evaluation of healthcare professionals' understanding of fluoroquinolones' safety profile, usage, and boxed warnings in Pakistan

INTRODUCTION

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) is a distinct class of antibiotics which are prescribed and used quite frequently worldwide, despite the box warnings (BW) issued by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Literature has shown in spite of BWs related to FQs there is minimal impact on health care professionals (HCPs) prescribing habits, potentially attributing towards limited and insufficient awareness. In Pakistan, FQs are mostly prescribed antibiotics for microbial treatments, therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge about the safety profile, use, and BW of FQs among HCPs working in Pakistan.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was undertaken among the HCPs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan from October 2022 to December 2022. A validated questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of HCPs regarding FQs, its safety profile and BW. A random convenient sample technique was used while recruiting HCPs in this study. As the HCPs comprised physicians, dentists, pharmacist and nurses, all were approached in person and the study objective was fully elaborated and explained to them. The statistic test like: one-way ANOVA, independent-t test, multivariate logistic regression were used keeping the p-value < 0.05 as statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of n = 250 HCPs were approached, of which n = 186 HCPs completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 74.4%. FQs prescribing pattern was only assessed among the prescribers, i.e., physicians and dentists (39/186). The mean knowledge score for indications was 5.29 ± 3.05, while for the adverse effects was 7.70 ± 2.61. The highest score for knowledge for indications and adverse effect score was achieved by physicians followed by dentist. The mean knowledge score for the BW was 3.46 ± 2.93 and among the HCPs for the BW of FQs, 20.4% of the HCPs had appropriate knowledge score (score ≥ 50%). The knowledge score was significantly higher in males (p = 0.039), dentists (p = 0.001), HCPs having master/specialization level of education (p = 0.003), HCPs working in government sector hospitals (p = 0.010) and secondary care hospitals (p = 0.001) while the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HCPs working in primary care hospital (OR: 6.2) and secondary care hospital (OR: 20.3) were associated with the tendency to achieve 50% or above knowledge score.

CONCLUSION

 Findings of this study reveals the unsatisfactory knowledge of HCPs regarding the safety profile, use, and BW of FQs putting patients at heightened risks of FQs associated AEs. Therefore, it is crucial to implement a national antimicrobial stewardship program, seminars and lectures aimed at continuously updating the knowledge of HCPs, regardless of their specialties, and effectively restrict the misuse of antimicrobial and disseminate FDA BWs in clinical practice.

Lack of association between fluoroquinolone and aortic aneurysm or dissection

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

An increased risk of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection (AA/AD) has been reported with fluoroquinolone (FQ) use. However, recent studies suggested confounding factors by indication. This study aimed to investigate the risk of AA/AD associated with FQ use.

METHODS

This nationwide population-based study included adults aged ≥20 years who received a prescription of oral FQ or third-generation cephalosporins (3GC) during outpatient visits from 2005 to 2016. Data source was the National Health Insurance Service reimbursement database. The primary outcome was hospitalization or in-hospital death with a primary diagnosis of AA/AD. A self-controlled case series (SCCS) and Cox proportional hazards model were used. Self-controlled case series compared the incidence of the primary outcome in the risk period vs. the control periods.

RESULTS

A total of 954 308 patients (777 109 with FQ and 177 199 with 3GC use) were included. The incidence rate ratios for AA/AD between the risk period and the pre-risk period were higher in the 3GC group [11.000; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.420-85.200] compared to the FQ group (2.000; 95% CI 0.970-4.124). The overall incidence of AA/AD among the patients who received FQ and 3GC was 5.40 and 8.47 per 100 000 person-years. There was no significant difference in the risk between the two groups (adjusted hazard ratio 0.752; 95% CI 0.515-1.100) in the inverse probability of treatment-weighted Cox proportional hazards model. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis showed consistent results.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant difference in the risk of AA/AD in patients who were administered oral FQ compared to those administered 3GC. The study findings suggest that the use of FQ should not be deterred when clinically indicated.

Impact of Fluoroquinolone Susceptibility Suppression on Discharge Prescribing for Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis

Background

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are associated with adverse effects and increasing resistance. However, uncomplicated cystitis remains a frequent reason for FQ use. Selective reporting involves withholding susceptibilities for select antimicrobial agents on microbiology reports, in hopes of dissuading use by providers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of FQ susceptibility suppression on discharge prescribing for hospitalized patients with uncomplicated cystitis.

Methods

This retrospective quasi-experimental analysis was conducted among adult patients at a 350-bed academic medical center. Its aim was to compare the incidence of FQ prescribing for cystitis at hospital discharge, one year before and after implementation (1 March 2017-31 March 2019) of a policy to suppress FQ urinary susceptibility results for pansusceptible Klebsiella spp and Escherichia coli. FQ appropriateness and risk factors for FQ use were also examined.

Results

There was a relative risk reduction of 39% in discharge FQ prescribing when adjusted for discharge team (adjusted risk ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, .40-.93). Almost all FQ use was inappropriate, largely due to organisms' susceptibility to a guideline-preferred agent (n = 61). In multivariate analysis, odds ratios of discharge FQ prescribing were 0.22 (95% CI, .12-.39) for insured patients, 0.43 (95% CI, .21-.86) for patients with antibiotic allergy, and 57.8 (95% CI, 13.7-244) for those receiving inpatient FQ. Discharge from a medicine team was protective against discharge FQ prescribing.

Conclusions

With multidisciplinary inpatient medicine services and avoidance of inpatient FQ use, suppression of FQ susceptibilities on pansusceptible urine isolates for Klebsiella spp and E coli may represent an attractive strategy for antibiotic stewardship at hospital discharge.

A multimodal intervention to decrease inappropriate outpatient antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in a large integrated healthcare system

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of Carolinas Healthcare Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship Empowerment Network (CHOSEN), a multicomponent outpatient stewardship program to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory infections by 20% over 2 years.

DESIGN

Before-and-after interrupted time series of antibiotics prescribed between 2 periods: April 2016-October 2017 and May 2018-March 2020.

SETTING

The study included 162 primary-care practices within a large healthcare system in the greater Charlotte, North Carolina region.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult and pediatric patients with encounters for upper respiratory infections for which an antibiotic is inappropriate.

METHODS

Patient and provider educational materials, along with a web-based provider prescribing dashboard aimed at reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing were developed and distributed. Monthly antibiotic prescribing rates were calculated as the number of eligible encounters with an antibiotic prescribed divided by the total number of eligible encounters. A segmented regression analysis compared monthly antibiotic prescribing rates before versus after CHOSEN implementation, while also accounting for practice type and seasonal trends in prescribing.

RESULTS

Overall, 286,580 antibiotics were prescribed during 704,248 preintervention encounters and 277,177 during 832,200 intervention encounters. Significant reductions in inappropriate prescribing rates were observed in all outpatient specialties: family medicine (relative difference before and after the intervention, -20.4%), internal medicine (-19.5%), pediatric medicine (-17.2%), and urgent care (-16.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

A robust multimodal intervention that combined a provider prescribing dashboard with a targeted education campaign demonstrated significant decreases in inappropriate outpatient antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in a large integrated ambulatory network.

Mistakes in the diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in daily clinical practice

BACKGROUND

An adequate diagnostic and therapeutic approach to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the cornerstone to avoid overdiagnosis, overuse of health resources, and increase in antibiotic resistances. The aim of the study was to evaluate the most common errors in clinical practice and the associated risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective observational study including patients with H. pylori infection and no previous treatment belonging to two defined areas of the National Health System in Spain; some of them were enrolled in the European Registry on H. pylori management (Hp-EuReg). Patients were attended by gastroenterologists between 2010 and 2019. According to current guidelines, we evaluated indications for H. pylori investigation, appropriateness of diagnostic test used in dyspeptic patients and discontinuation of surveillance after treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 1730 patients were included, receiving 2260 eradication regimens. H. pylori infection was investigated in 1.7% cases in absence of a formal indication. Oral endoscopy was incorrectly used in 56% of patients with dyspepsia under 55 years without alarm signs, and urea breath test (UBT) was incorrectly used in 22.4% of patients with dyspepsia ≥55 years or red flags. Levofloxacin containing regimens were used as first-line therapy in 7.5% of non-allergic to penicillin patients. After first-line failure, clarithromycin was repeated in 2.6% of the patients who received second-line therapy. Confirmatory test of H. pylori status was absent in 2.5% cases. Men, patients under 55 years, and patients diagnosed by UBT had a higher risk of not undergoing a confirmatory test.

CONCLUSIONS

Investigation of H. pylori infection by gastroenterologists is rare in absence of a formal indication; however, endoscopy is commonly used for dyspeptic patients <55 years without red flags and non-invasive tests are still used for dyspeptic patients ≥55 years or presenting alarm signs. Men, patients under 55 years, and patients diagnosed by UBT have an increased risk of being lost to follow-up after eradication treatment.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Urinary Tract Infections: Is There an Issue and Does It Matter?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has increased substantially among community-acquired uropathogens that cause urinary tract infections (UTI), limiting the availability of effective oral antibiotic treatments. This review includes coverage of an expert-led Learning Lounge, symposium session, and several poster presentations, that took place between 20th–22nd October 2022 as part of IDWeek2022 in Washington, D.C., USA. An immersive Learning Lounge, sponsored by GSK, opened with Keith Kaye, Department of Medicine, Rutgers–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, who illuminated the concerns of AMR in community-acquired UTIs, delivering contemporary surveillance data, and outlined how in vitro data may translate into practical advice. This led fittingly to Erin McCreary, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA, who enquired whether enough is being done in clinical practice regarding community-acquired infections, highlighting the importance of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), and galvanising the audience to adapt healthcare settings to the changing landscape. The scientific programme also included three data-rich posters that showcased Kaye’s surveillance data on Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae co-resistance, along with the geographical distribution of K. pneumoniae. An insightful poster by Claire Trennery, Value Evidence Outcomes, GSK, Brentford, UK, considered the patient perspective of UTI symptoms in defining antibiotic treatment success, and two posters presented by Rodrigo Mendes, JMI Laboratories, North Liberty, Iowa, USA, examined in vitro global surveillance data of emerging antimicrobial treatments.

New Efforts toward Aminothiazolylquinolones with Multitargeting Antibacterial Potential

New antibacterial 3-(aminothiazolyl)quinolones (ATQs) were designed and efficiently synthesized to counteract the growing multidrug resistance in animal husbandry. Bioactive assays manifested that N,N-dicyclohexylaminocarbonyl ATQ 10e and methyl ATQ 17a, respectively, showed better antibacterial behavior against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa than reference drug norfloxacin. Notably, highly active ATQ 17a with low hemolysis, negligible mammalian cytotoxicity, and good pharmacokinetic properties displayed low trends to induce resistance and synergistic combinations with norfloxacin. Preliminary mechanism exploration implied that representative ATQ 17a could inhibit the formation of biofilms and destroy bacterial membrane integrity, further binding to intracellular DNA and DNA gyrase to hinder bacterial DNA replication. ATQ 17a could also induce the production of excess reactive oxygen species and reduce bacterial metabolism to accelerate bacterial death. These results provided a promise for 3-(aminothiazolyl)quinolones as new potential multitargeting antibacterial agents to treat bacterial infection of animals.

Quinolone Ear Drops and Achilles Tendon Rupture

BACKGROUND

Delayed eardrum healing has been observed in the ear opposite to the ear treated with otic quinolones (OQ) in rats. Case reports describe tendinopathies after OQ treatment, suggesting adverse systemic effects.

METHODS

We studied patients aged 19 to 64 years with diagnosis of otitis externa or media in private insurance between 2005 and 2015. We compared OQ treatment against otic neomycin, oral amoxicillin, or azithromycin. Outcomes included Achilles tendon rupture (ATR), Achilles tendinitis (AT), and all-type tendon rupture (ATTR). We applied an active comparator, new-user design with 1-year look-back and ceased follow-up at initiation of systemic steroids or oral quinolones, external injury, hospitalization, and after 35 days. We used trimmed stabilized inverse probability of treatment weights to balance comparison groups in a survival framework. Negative outcomes (clavicle fractures or sports injuries) were examined to rule out differences from varied physical activity (unmeasured confounding).

RESULTS

We examined 1 501 009 treated otitis episodes. Hazard ratios (HR) for OQ exposure associated with ATR were 4.49 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83-11.02), AT 1.04 (95% CI, 0.73-1.50), and ATTR 1.71 (95% CI, 1.21-2.41). Weighted risk differences (RD) per 100 000 episodes for OQ exposure were ATR 7.80 (95% CI, 0.72-14.89), AT 1.01 (95% CI, -12.80 to 14.81), and ATTR 18.57 (95% CI, 3.60-33.53). Corresponding HRs for clavicle fractures and sports injuries were HR,1.71 (95% CI, 0.55-5.27) and HR,1.45 (95% CI, 0.64-3.30), suggesting limited residual confounding.

CONCLUSIONS

OQ exposure may lead to systemic consequences. Clinicians should consider this potential risk and counsel patients accordingly. Risk factors and mechanisms for this rare, adverse effect deserve further evaluation. Mechanistic and other clinical studies are warranted to corroborate this finding.

Outpatient fluoroquinolone use in relation to European Medicines Agency's recommendation: An Estonian nationwide drug utilization study

PURPOSE

To determine possible changes in prescribing of fluoroquinolones in relation to the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) recommendation in October 2018.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide time-series study on outpatient use of fluoroquinolones during January 2016-June 2021 in Estonia. Joinpoint regression was used to identify change points over time. Several subgroup analyses by prescriber specialty, indication group, risk factors for tendon injury, aortic aneurysm/dissection or heart valve regurgitation/incompetence and the prescribing of other antibiotics were performed.

RESULTS

During the study period 236 989 prescriptions of fluoroquinolones were dispensed to 142 659 persons. The number of episodes per month declined from 3780 (2.9/1000 inhabitants) to 2570 (1.9/1000 inhabitants). We identified three change points with four different trend segments: from January 2016 to November 2018 monthly percent change (MPC) -0.4%, from November 2018 to June 2019 MPC -2.5%, from June 2019 to July 2020 MPC 1.7% and from July 2020 to June 2021 MPC -3.3%. Prescribing for indications which were removed or restricted by EMA's recommendation comprised a small proportion of all fluoroquinolone episodes -2.8% and 6.3%, respectively. The risk factors for tendon injury and for cardiac disorders (aortic aneurysm/dissection or heart valve regurgitation/incompetence) were present in 46.4% and 57.8% episodes of fluoroquinolone users, respectively. No changes in the trend of prescribing to users with risk factors was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

The EMA's recommendation may have contributed to the greater decline in the use of fluoroquinolones. However, there is still a high proportion of users with predisposing factors for tendon injury and serious cardiac disorders.

Assessment of Knowledge Regarding Safety Profile, Use, and Boxed Warnings of Fluoroquinolones Among Healthcare Professionals in Saudi Arabia: A Potential Implication for Drug Regulatory Authorities

Background

Despite a series of “boxed warnings” (BWs) issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), fluoroquinolones (FQs) are among the most prescribed antibiotics across the world. Moreover, few studies demonstrated that BW of FQs had less or no impact on prescribing patterns among healthcare professionals (HCPs), which might be attributed to the lack of knowledge toward such warnings. Since FQs contribute to a major proportion of antimicrobial prescriptions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), this study aimed to ascertain the extent of knowledge toward safety profile, use, and BW of FQs among HCPs working in the KSA.

Methods

This cross-sectional study (May–August 2021) was conducted among HCPs working in KSA through a validated questionnaire. The HCPs were requested to identify the indications, adverse effects (AEs), and BW of FQs. The knowledge score (out of 40) was estimated among participants, and its association with demographics was ascertained through the chi-square test, Student's t-test, or Mann-Whitney U-test and one-way ANOVA, or Kruskal-Wallis test, where appropriate.

Results

Of the 573 participants (age: 36.1 ± 10.6 years, men: 59.7%), 262 (45.8%) were prescribers reporting frequent use of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and ofloxacin. One-fourth (25.6%) of the prescribers did not recognize nalidixic acid as an agent from FQs class. About 60% of participants correctly identified the mechanism of action of FQs. The average knowledge score was 14.8 ± 6.4, where only 21.5% of respondents scored ≥50%. The average knowledge score for indications, AEs, and BW domains was 5.29 ± 3.05, 6.17 ± 4.05, and 2.3 ± 1.5, respectively. Only 75 (13.1%) participants recognized half of the BW, and 38.6% of participants identified at least one warning. The HCPs aged >40 years (p = 0.043), having non-Saudi's nationality (p < 0.001), working in Riyadh and Eastern regions (p < 0.001), having pharmacy and medicine disciplines (p < 0.001), practicing in public sectors (p = 0.004), and having more than 10 years of experience (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with high knowledge score.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the unsatisfactory knowledge toward safety profile, use, and BW of FQs among HCPs which may put patients at increased risks of AEs. The knowledge score differed among various socio-demographic groups. There is a dire need to initiate the antimicrobial-focused educational campaigns among HCPs regardless of their specialties and methods to improve education and disseminate FDA warnings in practice.

Association of Fluoroquinolone Prescribing Rates With Black Box Warnings from the US Food and Drug Administration

IMPORTANCE

In 2013 and 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warnings and recommended limited use of fluoroquinolones for patients with certain acute conditions. It is not clear how prescribers have responded to these warnings.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze changes in prescribing of fluoroquinolones after the 2013 and 2016 FDA warnings and to examine the physician characteristics associated with these changes.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cross-sectional study used Medicare administrative claims data on Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries and OneKey data on physicians and their organizations from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2017. The sample was restricted to outpatient visits for sinusitis, bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections. An interrupted time series approach was used to analyze the changes in the prescription rate after each FDA warning. Data analysis was performed between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2017.

INTERVENTIONS

Two FDA black box warnings released in August 2013 and July 2016.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The main outcome was an indicator for fluoroquinolone prescriptions in 3 periods: before the 2013 warning (baseline period), after the 2013 warning but before the 2016 warning (postwarning period 1), and after the 2016 warning (postwarning period 2).

RESULTS

The sample comprised 1 238 397 unique patients with a total of 2 720 071 outpatient acute care visits. Of this sample, 848 360 were women (68.5%), and the mean (SD) age was 69.7 (12.6) years. The immediate prescribing levels of fluoroquinolones in postwarning period 1 increased by 3.42 percentage points (95% CI, 3.23-3.62; P < .001) and declined by -0.77 percentage points (95% CI, -1.00 to -0.54; P < .001) in postwarning period 2. The prescribing trend increased by 0.08 percentage points per month (95% CI, 0.08-0.10; P < .001) in postwarning period 1 and 0.06 percentage points per month (95% CI, 0.04-0.08; P < .001) in postwarning period 2. In postwarning period 1, the prescribing levels for physicians who were affiliated with hospitals with a top 10th percentile case mix index vs those without such affiliation decreased by -1.13 percentage points (95% CI, -1.92 to -0.34; P = .005), whereas the levels for primary care physicians declined by -1.34 percentage points (95% CI, -1.78 to -0.88; P < .001) compared with non-primary care physicians in postwarning period 2. Physicians at teaching hospitals were the only ones who showed a decline in prescribing trend in postwarning period 1.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This cross-sectional study found an overall decline in prescribing of fluoroquinolones after the release of FDA warnings. Understanding the association of physician and organizational characteristics with fluoroquinolone prescribing behavior may ultimately help to identify mechanisms to improve de-adoption.

Antibiotic use and associated factors in adult outpatients from 2000 to 2019

The aims of the study were to assess the changes in 19-years use of antibiotics (overall, by age, sex and geographical area) and of those classes deemed to be quality indicators for their consumption and to evaluate factors associated to antibiotic use. We analyzed drug prescription data collected in the administrative database of the Lombardy Region (Northern Italy) for outpatients aged 40+ years from 2000 to 2019. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between receiving at least one antibiotic prescription and year of observation, gender, age groups, area of residence, polypharmacy and hospitalizations in the index year. The prevalence of patients prescribed with antibiotics remained high from 2000 (33.8%) to 2019 (32.6%). Prevalence of use of second-line choice antibiotics (penicillin combinations with beta-lactamase inhibitors, third and fourth generation cephalosporins, macrolides) continued to increase, only fluoroquinolones decreased in 2019 (19%) comparing to 2018 (26%), at the time when the Italian Medicines Agency promulgated safety warnings. Females (OR 1.28, 95%CI 1.27-1.28), people living in Brescia (OR 1.24, 95%CI 1.24-1.25), those exposed to polypharmacy (OR 2.57, 95%CI 2.56-2.57) and those hospitalized 1 to 3 (OR 1.86, 95%CI 1.85-1.86) or more than 3 (OR 2.02, 95%CI 2.01-2.03) times a year had a statistically significant higher risk of receiving antibiotics. The high use of antibiotics over the study period further reinforces the need of impactful interventions, in order to improve the rational use of antibiotics and to reduce the risks of antimicrobial resistance. The differences outlined should be considered when monitoring and planning these interventions.

Trends in Outpatient Antibiotic Prescriptions in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020

This cross-sectional study examines the prescription fills of commonly prescribed outpatient antibiotics in the US through the end of 2020.

Quality Appraisal of Ambulatory Oral Cephalosporin and Fluoroquinolone Use in the 16 German Federal States from 2014-2019

BACKGROUND

Despite concerns about causing bacterial resistance and serious side effects, oral cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones are still frequently prescribed in Germany. We aimed to test a method for the detection of regional quality differences in the use of oral cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones and to apply this to the German federal states.

METHODS

Use of antibiotics from 2014-2019 was analyzed using dispensing data from community pharmacies claimed to the statutory health insurance (SHI) funds. Quality of regional antibiotic use in 2019 was assessed by calculating indicators based on defined daily doses per 1000 SHI-insured persons per day (DID). Oral cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone use was followed by linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

The method used was suitable to find meaningful quality differences in ambulatory oral cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone use between the German federal states. In 2019, DID varied from 1.62 in Brandenburg to 3.17 in Rhineland-Palatinate for cephalosporins and from 0.47 in Brandenburg to 0.89 in Saarland for fluoroquinolones. The city-states Hamburg, Bremen, and Berlin showed highest quality with the applied indicator set. From 2014-2019, a significant decrease in utilization of oral cephalosporins was found in all federal states. During 2017-2019, all states showed a significant decline of fluoroquinolone use.