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Ivosevic M, Overbeck G, Holm A, Waldemar G, Janbek J. Detection and management of suspected infections in people with dementia - A scoping review of current practices. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 101:102520. [PMID: 39321880 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 09/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
People with dementia have an increased risk of hospitalization and mortality due to infections. We aimed to explore decision-making processes and interventions for detecting and managing suspected infections in people with dementia and involved actors and determinants. We conducted a scoping review, searching CINAHL and PubMed, and synthesized data through mapping and narratively. We identified 22 studies, based mostly on nursing homes and US data. Decision-making processes included recognition of infections based on observations of early signs and symptoms, actions when suspecting infections, and proxy/family involvement. Interventions included antimicrobial stewardship and other decision-support tools. Determinants included healthcare staff perceptions, and other system/person-related factors. Healthcare staff were the main actors, proxy/family were mentioned scarcely, and people with dementia only once. Our findings show scarcity of evidence on people with dementia and outside of the nursing homes. We highlight knowledge gaps and inform research shaping interventions for improving infection detection and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Ivosevic
- Danish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Gritt Overbeck
- Research Unit for General Practice, Section of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen K 1353, Denmark
| | - Anne Holm
- Research Unit for General Practice, Section of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen K 1353, Denmark
| | - Gunhild Waldemar
- Danish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, Copenhagen N 2200, Denmark
| | - Janet Janbek
- Danish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark; Research Unit for General Practice, Section of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen K 1353, Denmark.
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Soraci L, Cherubini A, Paoletti L, Filippelli G, Luciani F, Laganà P, Gambuzza ME, Filicetti E, Corsonello A, Lattanzio F. Safety and Tolerability of Antimicrobial Agents in the Older Patient. Drugs Aging 2023; 40:499-526. [PMID: 36976501 PMCID: PMC10043546 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-023-01019-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Older patients are at high risk of infections, which often present atypically and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Antimicrobial treatment in older individuals with infectious diseases represents a clinical challenge, causing an increasing burden on worldwide healthcare systems; immunosenescence and the coexistence of multiple comorbidities determine complex polypharmacy regimens with an increase in drug-drug interactions and spread of multidrug-resistance infections. Aging-induced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes can additionally increase the risk of inappropriate drug dosing, with underexposure that is associated with antimicrobial resistance and overexposure that may lead to adverse effects and poor adherence because of low tolerability. These issues need to be considered when starting antimicrobial prescriptions. National and international efforts have been made towards the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions to help clinicians improve the appropriateness and safety of antimicrobial prescriptions in both acute and long-term care settings. AMS programs were shown to decrease consumption of antimicrobials and to improve safety in hospitalized patients and older nursing home residents. With the abundance of antimicrobial prescriptions and the recent emergence of multidrug resistant pathogens, an in-depth review of antimicrobial prescriptions in geriatric clinical practice is needed. This review will discuss the special considerations for older individuals needing antimicrobials, including risk factors that shape risk profiles in geriatric populations as well as an evidence-based description of antimicrobial-induced adverse events in this patient population. It will highlight agents of concern for this age group and discuss interventions to mitigate the effects of inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Soraci
- Unit of Geriatric Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, 87100, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Antonio Cherubini
- Geriatria, Accettazione geriatrica e Centro di ricerca per l'invecchiamento, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Luca Paoletti
- Geriatria, Accettazione geriatrica e Centro di ricerca per l'invecchiamento, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Filippo Luciani
- Infectious Diseases Unit of Annunziata Hospital, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Pasqualina Laganà
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Bravo G, Van den Block L, Downie J, Arcand M, Trottier L. Attitudes toward withholding antibiotics from people with dementia lacking decisional capacity: findings from a survey of Canadian stakeholders. BMC Med Ethics 2021; 22:119. [PMID: 34488722 PMCID: PMC8420012 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-021-00689-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Healthcare professionals and surrogate decision-makers often face the difficult decision of whether to initiate or withhold antibiotics from people with dementia who have developed a life-threatening infection after losing decisional capacity. Methods We conducted a vignette-based survey among 1050 Quebec stakeholders (senior citizens, family caregivers, nurses and physicians; response rate 49.4%) to (1) assess their attitudes toward withholding antibiotics from people with dementia lacking decisional capacity; (2) compare attitudes between dementia stages and stakeholder groups; and (3) investigate other correlates of attitudes, including support for continuous deep sedation (CDS) and medical assistance in dying (MAID). The vignettes feature a woman moving along the dementia trajectory, who has refused in writing all life-prolonging interventions and explicitly requested that a doctor end her life when she no longer recognizes her loved ones. Two stages were considered after she had lost capacity: the advanced stage, where she likely has several more years to live, and the terminal stage, where she is close to death. Results Support for withholding antibiotics ranged from 75% among seniors and caregivers at the advanced stage, to 98% among physicians at the terminal stage. Using the generalized estimating equation approach, we found stakeholder group, religiosity, and support for CDS and MAID, to be associated with attitudes toward antibiotics. Conclusions Findings underscore the importance for healthcare professionals of discussing underlying values and treatment goals with people at an early stage of dementia and their relatives, to help them anticipate future care decisions and better prepare surrogates for their role. Findings also have implications for the scope of MAID laws, in particular in Canada where the extension of MAID to persons lacking decisional capacity is currently being considered. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12910-021-00689-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Bravo
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada. .,Research Centre On Aging, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, 1036 South Belvedere Street, Sherbrooke, J1H 4C4, Canada.
| | - Lieve Van den Block
- VUB-UGhent End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jocelyn Downie
- Schulich School of Law and Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Marcel Arcand
- Research Centre On Aging, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, 1036 South Belvedere Street, Sherbrooke, J1H 4C4, Canada.,Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Lise Trottier
- Research Centre On Aging, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, 1036 South Belvedere Street, Sherbrooke, J1H 4C4, Canada
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Cohen CC, Dick AW, Agarwal M, Gracner T, Mitchell S, Stone PW. Trends in antibiotics use among long-term US nursing-home residents. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2021; 42:311-317. [PMID: 32935657 PMCID: PMC7960578 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2020.422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Antibiotics are overly prescribed in nursing homes. Recent antibiotic stewardship efforts attempt to reduce inappropriate use. Our objective was to describe antibiotic use from 2012 to 2016 among nursing-home residents with various health conditions. DESIGN Retrospective, repeated cross-sectional analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS All long-term residents in a random 10% sample of national nursing homes: 2,092,809 assessments from 319,615 nursing-home residents in 1,562 nursing homes. MEASUREMENTS We calculated a 1-day antibiotic prevalence using all annual and quarterly clinical assessments in the Minimum Data Set (MDS) from April 2012 through December 2016. We calculated prevalence of antibiotic use overall and within conditions of interest: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), advanced cognitive impairment (ACI), and infections likely to be treated with antibiotics. We applied logistic regressions with nursing-home cluster, robust standard errors to assess changes in conditions and antibiotic use 2012-2016. RESULTS Overall, antibiotic use did not change (2012 vs 2016, adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.00; 95% CI, 0.97-1.03). Antibiotic use was higher in 2016 versus 2012 among assessments with any infection (AOR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04-1.16), urinary tract infection (AOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.12-1.25), and no infection (AOR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.09-1.17). Results were similar by cognitive status. CONCLUSIONS The increased proportion of assessments recording antibiotics but no infection may not be clinically appropriate. Higher antibiotic use among infected residents with advanced cognitive impairment is also concerning. Further efforts to understand mechanisms driving these trends and to promote antibiotic stewardship in nursing homes are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine C Cohen
- Behavioral & Policy Sciences, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California
| | - Andrew W Dick
- Economics, Sociology & Statistics, RAND Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mansi Agarwal
- Center for Health Policy, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York
| | - Tadeja Gracner
- Economics, Sociology & Statistics, RAND Corporation, Washington, DC
| | - Susan Mitchell
- Hebrew SeniorLife, Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Patricia W Stone
- Center for Health Policy, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York
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Janbek J, Frimodt-Møller N, Laursen TM, Waldemar G. Dementia identified as a risk factor for infection-related hospital contacts in a national, population-based and longitudinal matched-cohort study. NATURE AGING 2021; 1:226-233. [PMID: 37118634 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-020-00024-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between incident dementia and rates of infection-related hospital contacts. We conducted a registry- and population-based matched-cohort study of all Danish residents who were born in or before 1950, included from 1 January 2000 or their 65th birthday (whichever came later), who were alive and resided in Denmark at the start of the study, excluding those who had received a dementia diagnosis before 1 January 2000 or their 65th birthday (n = 1,712,100). A total of 129,660 people (403,744 person years) with incident dementia were matched with 297,476 people (1,918,784 person years) without dementia. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of infection-related hospital contacts were calculated using Poisson regression, by infection type, sex and age. The IRR for any infection-related contact in dementia was 1.5, was highest for nervous and urinary system infections and sepsis, decreased with increasing age and was higher in men. More people with than without dementia had contacts five years before the index date. Our findings show that dementia is a risk factor for infection-related hospital contacts and infections might be an early sign of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Janbek
- Danish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Niels Frimodt-Møller
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Munk Laursen
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Gunhild Waldemar
- Danish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Tark A, Estrada LV, Tresgallo ME, Quigley DD, Stone PW, Agarwal M. Palliative care and infection management at end of life in nursing homes: A descriptive survey. Palliat Med 2020; 34:580-588. [PMID: 32153248 PMCID: PMC7405898 DOI: 10.1177/0269216320902672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infections are common occurrences at end of life that are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality among frail elderly individuals. The problem of infections in nursing homes has led to a subsequent overuse and misuse of antibiotics in this already-frail population. Improving palliative care in nursing homes has been proposed as a key strategy to reduce the use of antibiotics. AIM The aim of this study was to describe the current status of how nursing homes integrates palliative care and infection management at end of life across the nation. DESIGN This is a cross-sectional survey of nationally representative US nursing homes. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS Between November 2017 and October 2018, a survey was conducted with a nationally representative random sample of nursing homes and 892 surveys were completed (49% response rate). The weighted study sample represented 15,381 nursing homes across the nation. RESULTS Most nursing homes engaged in care plan documentation on what is important to residents (90.43%) and discussed spiritual needs of terminally ill residents (89.50%). In the event of aspiration pneumonia in terminally ill residents, 59.43% of nursing homes responded that resident would be transferred to the hospital. In suspected urinary tract infection among terminally ill residents, 66.62% of nursing homes responded that the resident will be treated with antibiotics. CONCLUSION The study found wide variations in nursing home palliative care practices, particularly for timing of end-of-life care discussions, and suboptimal care reported for antibiotic usage. Further education for nursing home staff on appropriate antibiotic usage and best practices to integrate infection management in palliative care at the end of life is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aluem Tark
- School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leah V Estrada
- School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mansi Agarwal
- School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Tay RY, Hum AYM, Ali NB, Leong IYO, Wu HY, Chin JJ, Lee AOK, Koh MYH. Comfort and Satisfaction With Care of Home-Dwelling Dementia Patients at the End of Life. J Pain Symptom Manage 2020; 59:1019-1032.e1. [PMID: 31837451 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Despite the preference to pass away at home, many dementia patients die in institutions, resulting in a paucity of studies examining end-of-life care outcomes in the home setting. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to identify modifiable factors associated with the comfort of dementia patients dying at home and families' satisfaction with care. METHODS This is a prospective cohort study conducted from October 2014 to April 2019 in Singapore. Dementia patients at Stage 7 on the Functional Assessment Staging Scale, with albumin <35 g/L, enteral feeding, or pneumonia, were recruited from a palliative homecare program. Independent variables included demographics, medical information, and care preferences. The Comfort Assessment in Dying with Dementia scale assessed dying patients' comfort, whereas the Satisfaction with Care at the End-of-Life in Dementia scale evaluated family caregivers' satisfaction two months after bereavement. Gamma regression identified factors independently associated with comfort and satisfaction. RESULTS The median age of 202 deceased patients whose comfort was assessed was 88 years. Anti-cholinergic prescription (60.4% of patients) [β (95% CI) = 1.823 (0.660-2.986), P = 0.002] was positively associated with comfort, whereas opioid prescription (89.6%) [β (95% CI) = -2.179 (-4.107 to -0.251), P = 0.027] and >1 antibiotic courses used in the last two weeks of life (77.2%) [β (95% CI) = -1.968 (-3.196 to -0.740), P = 0.002] were negatively associated. Independent factors associated with families' satisfaction with care were comfort [β (95% CI) = 0.149 (0.012-0.286), P = 0.033] and honoring of medical intervention preferences (96.0%) [β (95% CI) = 3.969 (1.485-6.453), P = 0.002]. CONCLUSION Achieving comfort and satisfaction with care for dementia patients dying at home involves an interplay of modifiable factors. Honoring medical intervention preferences, such as those with palliative intent associated with patients' comfort, determined families' satisfaction with care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ri Yin Tay
- Dover Park Hospice, The Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education, Singapore.
| | - Allyn Y M Hum
- Dover Park Hospice, The Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | | | | | - Huei Yaw Wu
- The Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | | | | | - Mervyn Y H Koh
- The Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
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Datta R, Juthani-Mehta M. Burden and Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Palliative Care. Palliat Care 2017; 10:1178224217749233. [PMID: 29317826 PMCID: PMC5753884 DOI: 10.1177/1178224217749233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Palliative care includes comprehensive strategies to optimize quality of life for patients and families confronting terminal illness. Infections are a common complication in terminal illness, and infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are particularly challenging to manage in palliative care. Limited data suggest that palliative care patients often harbor MDRO. When MDROs are present, distinguishing colonization from infection is challenging due to cognitive impairment or metastatic disease limiting symptom assessment and the lack of common signs of infection. Multidrug-resistant organisms also add psychological burden through infection prevention measures including patient isolation and contact precautions which conflict with the goals of palliation. Moreover, if antimicrobial therapy is indicated per goals of care discussions, available treatment options are often limited, invasive, expensive, or associated with adverse effects that burden patients and families. These issues raise important ethical considerations for managing and containing MDROs in the palliative care setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupak Datta
- Rupak Datta, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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