The attributable clinical and economic burden of skin and skin structure infections in hospitalized patients: a matched cohort study

The quality of antimicrobial prescribing in skin and soft tissue management in Australian hospitals: an analysis of the National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey data

BACKGROUND

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are among the most common indications for antimicrobial prescribing in hospitals. Inappropriate antimicrobial use can lead to increased morbidity, unnecessary hospital re-admission and increased antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to assess the quality of antimicrobial prescribing practices in SSTI management within Australian hospitals to provide guidance for future practice.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted with data from the National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS). SSTI prescribing data from Hospital NAPS (2013-2022) and surgical site infection data from Surgical NAPS (2016-2022) datasets were analysed. Variables assessed included guideline compliance, appropriateness as per the structured NAPS algorithm, and reasons for inappropriateness.

RESULTS

From the Hospital NAPS dataset, 40,535 antimicrobial prescriptions for SSTIs were analysed. The most common indication was cellulitis (34.1%, N=13,822), and the most prescribed antimicrobial was flucloxacillin (18.8%, N=7,638). SSTI indications had a lower rate of guideline compliance but a higher rate of appropriateness compared with all other indications for antimicrobial prescriptions (guideline compliance 66.3%, N=21,035 vs 67.4%, N=156,285; appropriateness 75.6%, N=30,639 vs 72.7%, N=209,383). The most common reason for inappropriateness was incorrect dose or frequency (29.3%, N=2367). From the Surgical NAPS dataset, 5674 prescriptions for surgical site infections were analysed. Of these, 68.2% (N=3867) were deemed to be appropriate. The most common reason for inappropriateness was incorrect dose or frequency (27.7%, N=350).

CONCLUSIONS

As SSTIs are a common indication for prescribing an antimicrobial in Australian hospitals, identifying effective antimicrobial stewardship strategies to optimize antimicrobial use for SSTI management is recommended to improve patient outcomes.

Spliced-Vein Conduit Offers Better Patency and Limb Salvage Than Prosthetic Graft for Femoral-Tibial Bypasses in Critical Limb-Threatening Ischemia

BACKGROUND

Single-segment great saphenous vein (ssGSV) is the gold standard conduit for femoral-tibial bypasses in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). In the absence of a good single-segment saphenous vein, alternative options are prosthetic grafts or spliced-vein (SpV) conduits. Although SpV conduits may provide better long-term patency/limb salvage, prosthetic grafts are more often the chosen conduit due to shorter operative and presumably better immediate postoperative outcomes; nevertheless, there are little data supporting this practice. In this study, we compared 30-day outcomes between SpV and prosthetic conduits in CLTI bypass using a national registry.

METHODS

CLTI patients who underwent lower extremity bypass using SpV or prosthetic conduits only were selected from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program targeted database. A 1:5 propensity score matching was conducted between SpV and prosthetic groups to address preoperative differences. Thirty-day outcomes, including primary patency, reintervention, major amputation, mortality, major morbidity, transfusion, and wound complications, were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

There were 886 patients who underwent femoral-tibial bypass without ssGSV (104 SpV and 782 prosthetic grafts). All SpV patients were propensity score matched to 445 prosthetic patients. SpV exhibited significantly better 30-day primary patency than prosthetic (87.5% vs 74.38%, P = 0.004). SpV was associated with significantly longer operative time (346 min vs 222 min, P < 0.001) and higher transfusion (43.3% vs 27.87%, P = 0.003), but those did not translate into higher 30-day mortality or major systemic complications. There was no difference in wound complications or 30-day limb loss.

CONCLUSIONS

SpV conduit affords significantly better 30-day primary patency than prosthetic grafts without increased mortality and morbidities. Therefore, despite greater procedural complexity and longer operative time, SpV conduit should be considered when available. Future prospective studies are needed to investigate the long-term outcomes of these 2 conduits.

Cost-minimisation analysis of oritavancin for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections from a United Kingdom perspective

BACKGROUND

Early discharge (ED) from hospital and outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) are effective approaches for the management of a range of infections, including acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). Strategies that facilitate ED, thereby reducing complications such as healthcare-acquired infection whilst enhancing patient quality of life, are being increasingly adopted in line with good antimicrobial stewardship practice. This study presents a cost-minimisation analysis for the use of oritavancin at ED versus relevant comparators from a National Health Service (NHS) and personal and social services United Kingdom perspective.

METHODS

A cost-minimisation model considering adult patients with ABSSSI with suspected or confirmed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, was developed based on publicly available NHS costs, practice guidelines for ABSSSI and clinical expert's opinion. Cost of treatment and treatment days were compared for oritavancin at ED to dalbavancin, teicoplanin, daptomycin and linezolid.

RESULTS

Following the empiric use of either flucloxacillin or vancomycin in the inpatient setting, oritavancin was compared to OPAT with dalbavancin, teicoplanin and daptomycin, and oral linezolid from day 4 of treatment. Oritavancin at ED reduced treatment duration by 0.8 days and led to cost savings of £281 in comparison to dalbavancin. In comparison to teicoplanin, daptomycin and linezolid, oritavancin reduced treatment duration by 5 days, with marginally higher costs (£446, £137, and £1,434, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Oritavancin, used to support ED, is associated with lower costs compared with dalbavancin and reduced treatment duration relative to all comparators. Its use would support an ED approach in MRSA ABSSSI management.

Vacuum-Assisted Incisional Closure Therapy After Groin Reconstruction With Muscle Flap

Background

Groin reconstruction with muscle flap coverage is associated with high wound complication rates. Incisional vacuum-assisted closure (iVAC) therapy may lower wound complications. We evaluated the impact of iVAC on postoperative outcomes in patients following groin reconstruction with muscle flap coverage.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent groin reconstruction with muscle flap coverage in 2012-2018. Patients were divided into those who received iVAC therapy and those who received standard sterile dressings (SSD).

Results

Of the 57 patients included, most received iVAC therapy (71%, n = 41) and the rest received SSD (28%, n = 16). The iVAC group had higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease (p < 0.05). However, iVAC patients had comparable length of hospital stay (12 vs 8.5 days p = 0.0735), reoperations (34% vs 31%, p = 0.8415), and readmissions (32% vs 37%, p = 0.6801) with SSD patients. iVAC placement was less likely in prophylactic flaps (odds ratio 0.08, p = 0.0049).

Conclusion

Patients with a prophylactic flap were less likely to receive vacuum therapy, which may highlight a selection bias where surgeons pre-emptively use iVAC therapy in surgical candidates identified as high risk. The pre-emptive use of iVAC may minimize adverse postoperative outcomes in high-risk patients.

Solubilization, Hansen solubility parameters, and thermodynamic studies of delafloxacin in (transcutol + 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate) mixtures

The solubilization, Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs), and thermodynamic properties of delafloxacin (DLN) in various unique combination of Transcutol-HP® (THP) and 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid (BMIM-PF₆) mixtures were evaluated for the first time in this research. The 'mole fraction solubilities (x₃)' of DLN in different (THP + BMIM-PF₆) compositions were determined at 'T = 298.2-318.2 K' and 'p = 0.1 MPa'. The HSPs of DLN, neat THP, neat BMIM-PF₆, and binary (THP + BMIM-PF₆) compositions free of DLN were also determined. The x₃ data of DLN was regressed using 'van't Hoff, Apelblat, Yalkowsky-Roseman, Jouyban-Acree and Jouyban-Acree-van't Hoff models' with overall error values of less than 3.0%. The highest and lowest x₃ value of DLN was recorded in neat THP (5.48 × 10^-3 at T = 318.2 K) and neat BMIM-PF₆ (6.50 × 10^-4 at T = 298.2 K), respectively. The solubility of DLN was found to be enhanced significantly with an arise in temperature in all (THP + BMIM-PF₆) compositions including pure THP and pure BMIM-PF₆. However, there was slight increase in DLN solubility with increase in THP mass fraction in all (THP + BMIM-PF₆) mixtures. The HSP of pure THP and pure BMIM-PF₆ were found very close to each other, suggesting the great potential of both solvents in DLN solubilization. The maximum solute-solvent interactions at molecular level were recorded in DLN-THP compared to DLN-BMIM-PF₆. An 'apparent thermodynamic analysis' study indicated an 'endothermic and entropy-driven dissolution' of DLN in all (THP + BMIM-PF₆) compositions including neat THP and BMIM-PF₆.

Determination of Delafloxacin in Pharmaceutical Formulations Using a Green RP-HPTLC and NP-HPTLC Methods: A Comparative Study

In this work; delafloxacin (DLFX) was determined using a validated green RP-HPTLC and NP-HPTLC methods in commercial tablets and in-house developed solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). RP-HPTLC determination of DLFX was performed using "RP-18 silica gel 60 F254S HPTLC plates". However; NP-HPTLC estimation of DLFX was performed using "silica gel 60 F254S HPTLC plates". For a green RP-HPTLC method; the ternary combination of ethanol:water:ammonia solution (5:4:2 v/v/v) was used as green mobile phase. However; for NP-HPTLC method; the ternary mixture of ethyl acetate: methanol: ammonia solution (5:4:2 v/v/v) was used as normal mobile phase. The analysis of DLFX was conducted in absorbance/reflectance mode of densitometry at λmax = 295 nm for both methods. RP-HPTLC method was found more accurate, precise, robust and sensitive for the analysis of DLFX compared with the NP-HPTLC method. The % assay of DLFX in commercial tablets and in-house developed SLNs was determined as 98.2 and 101.0%, respectively, using the green RP-HPTLC technique, however; the % assay of DLFX in commercial tablets and in-house developed SLNs was found to be 94.4 and 95.0%, respectively, using the NP-HPTLC method. Overall, the green RP-HPTLC method was found superior over the NP-HPTLC. Therefore, the proposed green RP-HPTLC method can be successfully applied for analysis of DLFX in commercial tablets, SLNs and other formulations containing DLFX.

Early switch/early discharge opportunities for hospitalized patients with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated skin and soft tissue infections: Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

OBJECTIVES

To describe opportunities for early switch (ES) from intravenous (IV) to oral (PO) antibiotics and early discharge (ED) of patients hospitalized in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs).

METHODS

This retrospective medical chart review study enrolled physicians from 16 KSA and UAE sites to collect data for 107 MRSA cSSTI patients.

RESULTS

Actual length of MRSA-active treatment was 13.3±9.3 mean days in KSA and 11.2±3.9 mean days in UAE, with a mean of 11.8±9.3 days of MRSA-targeted IV therapy in KSA and 10.7±4.3 days in UAE. 12.5% in KSA met ES criteria and potentially could have discontinued IV therapy 4.0±2.9 days sooner; 44.0% in UAE could have discontinued 6.6±3.6 days sooner. Patients were hospitalized for a mean 28.6±45.0 days in KSA and 13.1±5.9 days in UAE. 25.0% in KSA and 48.0% in UAE met ED criteria and potentially could have been discharged 6.1±8.0 days earlier in KSA and 7.9±5.0 days earlier in UAE.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of patients hospitalized for MRSA cSSTI could be eligible for ES or ED opportunities, resulting in potential for reductions in IV and bed days.

Simple and Accurate HPTLC-Densitometric Method for Quantification of Delafloxacin (A Novel Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic) in Plasma Samples: Application to Pharmacokinetic Study in Rats

Delafloxacin (DLX) is a recently-approved fluoroquinolone antibiotic, which is recommended for the treatment of "acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections". A thorough literature survey revealed only a single published method for the estimation of DLX using UPLC-MS/MS technique in biological samples. There is no high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method has been reported for the estimation of DLX in dosage forms and/or biological samples. Therefore, a selective, sensitive, rapid and validated HPTLC-densitometry technique has been used for the estimation of DLX in human plasma for the first time. HPTLC quantification of DLX and internal standard (IS; gatifloxacin) was carried out on glass coated silica gel 60 F254 HPTLC plates using the ternary mixture of ethyl acetate:methanol:ammonia solution 5:4:2 (%, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Densitometric detection was done at 344 nm. The Rf values were recorded as 0.43 and 0.27 for the DLX and the IS, respectively. The linearity range of DLX was obtained as 16-400 ng/band. A simple protein precipitation method was used for the extraction of analyte from plasma using methanol. The proposed HPTLC technique was validated for "linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness". The proposed HPTLC technique was successfully utilized for the assessment of pharmacokinetic profile of DLX in rats after oral administration. After oral administration, the peak plasma concentration of DLX was obtained as 194.19 ng/ml in 1 h. The proposed HPTLC method could be applied in study of pharmacokinetic profile and therapeutic drug monitoring of DLX in clinical practice.

Early switch/early discharge opportunities for hospitalized patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated skin and soft tissue infections in Brazil

BACKGROUND

Early antibiotic switch and early discharge protocols have not been widely studied in Latin America. Our objective was to describe real-world treatment patterns, resource use, and estimate opportunities for early switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics and early discharge for patients hospitalized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated skin and soft-tissue infections.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This retrospective medical chart review recruited 72 physicians from Brazil to collect data from patients hospitalized with documented methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated skin and soft tissue infections between May 2013 and May 2015, and discharged alive by June 2015. Data collected included clinical characteristics and outcomes, hospital length of stay, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-targeted intravenous and oral antibiotic use, and early switch and early discharge eligibility using literature-based and expert-validated criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 199 patient charts were reviewed, of which 196 (98.5%) were prescribed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus -active therapy. Only four patients were switched from intravenous to oral antibiotics while hospitalized. The mean length of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-active treatment was 14.7 (standard deviation, 10.1) days, with 14.6 (standard deviation, 10.1) total days of intravenous therapy. The mean length of hospital stay was 22.2 (standard deviation, 23.0) days. The most frequent initial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-active therapies were intravenous vancomycin (58.2%), intravenous clindamycin (19.9%), and intravenous daptomycin (6.6%). Thirty-one patients (15.6%) were discharged with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus -active antibiotics of which 80.6% received oral antibiotics. Sixty-two patients (31.2%) met early switch criteria and potentially could have discontinued intravenous therapy 6.8 (standard deviation, 7.8) days sooner, and 65 patients (32.7%) met early discharge criteria and potentially could have been discharged 5.3 (standard deviation, 7.0) days sooner.

CONCLUSIONS

Only 2% of patients were switched from intravenous to oral antibiotics in our study while almost one-third were early switch eligible. Additionally, one-third of hospitalized patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated skin and soft tissue infections were early discharge eligible indicating opportunity for reducing intravenous therapy and days of hospital stay. These results provide insight into possible benefits of implementation of early switch/early discharge protocols in Brazil.

Trends in NP and RN enrollment, graduation, and practice

The employment outlook for NPs is expected to continue its growth trend in the coming years. This article summarizes graduation and employment trends for nursing students and provides a synopsis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics about the growing demand for NPs and nurses. A brief overview of the history of recent workforce trends is also provided.

Disease-based antimicrobial stewardship: a review of active and passive approaches to patient management

Although new antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) often begin by targeting the reduction of antimicrobial use, an increasing focus of ASPs is to improve the management of specific infectious diseases. Disease-based antimicrobial stewardship emphasizes improving patient outcomes by optimizing antimicrobial use and increasing compliance with performance measures. Directing efforts towards the comprehensive management of specific infections allows ASPs to promote the shift in healthcare towards improving quality, safety and patient outcome metrics for specific diseases. This review evaluates published active and passive disease-based antimicrobial stewardship interventions and their impact on antimicrobial use and associated patient outcomes for patients with pneumonia, acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, asymptomatic bacteriuria, Clostridium difficile infection and intra-abdominal infections. Current literature suggests that disease-based antimicrobial stewardship effects on medical management and patient outcomes vary based on infectious disease syndrome, resource availability and intervention type.

Identification of risk factors for failure in patients with skin and soft tissue infections

PURPOSE

The purpose was to determine significant predictors of treatment failure of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) in the inpatient and outpatient setting.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of patients treated between January 1, 2005 to July 1, 2016 with ICD-9 or ICD-10 code of cellulitis or abscess. The primary outcome was failure defined as an additional prescription or subsequent hospital admission within 30 days of treatment. Risk factors for failure were identified through multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 541 patients were included. Seventeen percent failed treatment. In the outpatient group, 24% failed treatment compared to 9% for inpatients. Overweight/obesity (body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m²) was identified in 80%, with 15% having a BMI >40 kg/m². BMI, heart failure, and outpatient treatment were determined to be significant predictors of failure. The unit odds ratio for failure with BMI was 1.04 (95% [Cl] = 1.01 to 1.1, p = 0.0042). Heart failure increased odds by 2.48 (95% [Cl] = 1.3 to 4.7, p = 0.0056). Outpatients were more likely to fail with an odds ratio of 3.36.

CONCLUSION

Patients with an elevated BMI and heart failure were found to have increased odds of failure with treatment for SSTIs. However, inpatients had considerably less risk of failure than outpatients. These risk factors are important to note when making the decision whether to admit a patient who presents with SSTI in the emergency department. Thoughtful strategies are needed with this at-risk population to prevent subsequent admission.

Hospital costs for patients with lower extremity cellulitis: a retrospective population-based study

OBJECTIVES

Hospital admissions for non-purulent lower extremity cellulitis (NLEC) are common and can be prolonged and costly. Newer treatment options and preventive strategies are expected to result in cost savings before implementation, but few studies have quantified the cost of conventional treatment.

METHODS

Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, the incidence of NLEC in Olmsted County, MN in 2013 was 176.6 per 100,000 persons. The subset of patients who required hospitalization for NLEC in 2013 was determined. Hospital admissions were analyzed retrospectively using standardized cost analysis within several relevant categories.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients had an average hospital length of stay of 4.7 days. The median total inpatient cost was $7,341. The median cost per day was $2,087, with 49% due to room and board. Antibiotics administered for treatment of NLEC contributed a median cost of $75 per day of hospitalization, and laboratory and imaging test costs were $73 and $44, respectively, per day of hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Hospitalizations for NLEC can be costly and prolonged with room and board accounting for much of the cost. Therefore, newer management strategies should seek to reduce hospital length of stay and/or avoid inpatient admission to reduce cost.

Clinical efficacy of piperacillin/tazobactam in the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections

INTRODUCTION

Complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) are skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) that involve deep soft tissue. cSSTIs often require surgical intervention and/or hospitalization. cSSTIs are associated with significant mortality and morbidity, and carry a significant burden on health care systems. Piperacillin/tazobactam has been regarded as a standard treatment for cSSTIs because of its antibiotic spectrum, safety and clinical efficacy. Several antibiotics, as compared to piperacillin/tazobactam, have been evaluated in the treatment of cSSTIs. Areas covered: This review summarizes randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the clinical efficacy of piperacillin/tazobactam for the treatment of cSSTIs. Expert opinion: Piperacillin/tazobactam, which covers most causative organisms in cSSTIs, is the drug of choice for the treatment of cSSTIs. Other options such as ertapenem and moxifloxacin may be reasonable where multiple daily dosing or intravenous administration is inappropriate. But in general, they should be avoided as an empirical treatment because of their highly association with resistant bacteria, which are becoming a global threat. Therefore, piperacilin/tazobactam is appropriate as an empirical therapy for the treatment of SSTIs and should be de-escalated as soon as causative organisms are identified, their drug-sensitivity results are available, and clinical condition becomes stable.

Managing acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections: Focus on new lipoglycopeptides

Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) are some of the most commonly encountered infections worldwide. Hospitalizations as a result of ABSSSI are associated with high mortality. This article discusses the role of oritavancin and dalbavancin, two new lipoglycopeptides, in the context of the other I.V. available standard therapy options.

Effect of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Guidance on the Management of Uncomplicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Hospitalized Adults

Objective

To assess the effect of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP)–bundled initiative on the appropriate use of antibiotics for uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections (uSSTIs) at 2 academic medical centers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective preintervention and postintervention study was conducted to compare management of patients admitted with uSSTIs before and after the implementation of the bundled initiative. The preintervention period was from August 1, 2014, through March 31, 2015, and the postintervention period was from August 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016.

Results

A total of 160 patients were included in the preintervention cohort, and 163 were included in the postintervention cohort. Compared with the preintervention group, the mean duration of therapy decreased (12.5 days vs 8.8 days; P<.001) and an appropriate duration of less than 10 days increased in more patients (20.6% [33 of 160] vs 68.7% [112 of 163]; P<.001) in the postintervention period. Fewer patients were exposed to antimicrobials with extended gram-negative (44.4% [71 of 160] vs 9.2% [15 of 163]; P<.001), anaerobic (39.4% [63 of 160] vs 9.8% [16 of 163]; P<.001), and antipseudomonal (16.3% [26 of 160] vs 1.8% [3 of 163]; P<.001) coverage. The mean length of stay decreased from 3.6 to 2.2 days (P<.001) without an increase in 30-day readmissions (6.3% [10 of 160] vs 4.9% [8 of 163]; P=.64). The ASP made recommendations for 125 patients, and 96% were accepted.

Conclusion

Implementation of an ASP-bundled approach aimed at optimizing antibiotic therapy in the management of uSSTIs led to shorter durations of narrow-spectrum therapy as well as shorter hospital length of stay without adversely affecting hospital readmissions.

Delafloxacin: design, development and potential place in therapy

Delafloxacin (DLX) is a new fluoroquinolone pending approval, which has shown a good in vitro and in vivo activity against major pathogens associated with skin and soft tissue infections and community-acquired respiratory tract infections. DLX also shows good activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including those resistant to other fluoroquinolones, as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Its pharmacokinetic properties and excellent activity in acidic environments make DLX an alternative in the treatment of these and other infections. In this manuscript, a detailed analysis of this new fluoroquinolone is performed, from its chemical structure to its in vivo activity in recently published clinical trials. Its possible place in the current antimicrobial outlook and in other infectious models is also discussed.

Appropriateness of antibiotic management of uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections in hospitalized adult patients

Background

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are a leading cause for hospitalizations in the United States. Few studies have addressed the appropriateness of antibiotic therapy in the management of SSTIs without complicating factors. We aimed to determine the appropriateness of antibiotic treatment duration for hospitalized adult patients with uncomplicated SSTIs.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis performed at two academic medical centers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on patients aged 18 years and older with primary ICD-9 code for SSTIs admitted August 1st, 2014–March 31st, 2015. The primary outcome was the appropriateness of antibiotic treatment duration for uncomplicated SSTIs. Secondary objectives included the appropriateness of antibiotic agent spectrum, duration of inpatient length of stay (LOS), utilization of blood cultures and advanced imaging modalities, and re-hospitalization for SSTI within 30 days of discharge from the index admission.

Results

A total of 163 episodes were included in the cohort. The mean duration of total antibiotic therapy was 12.6 days. Appropriate duration was defined as receipt of total antibiotic duration of less than 10 days and occurred in 20.2% of patients. Twenty eight percent of patients received antibiotics for greater than 14 days. Seventy three (44.8%) patients received greater than 24 h of inappropriate extended spectrum gram-negative coverage; 65 (39.9%) received anaerobic coverage.

Conclusions

In the majority of patients, treatment duration was excessive. Inappropriate broad spectrum antibiotic selection was utilized with regularity for SSTIs without complicating factors. The management of uncomplicated SSTIs represents a significant opportunity for antimicrobial stewardship.

Antimicrobial activity against a global collection of skin and skin structure pathogens: results from the Tigecycline Evaluation and Surveillance Trial (T.E.S.T.), 2010-2014

BACKGROUND

As part of the Tigecycline Evaluation and Surveillance Trial (T.E.S.T.) we report antimicrobial resistance among Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates collected globally from integumentary sources between 2010 and 2014.

METHODS

Minimum inhibitory concentrations and antimicrobial resistance were determined according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines (US Food and Drug Administration breakpoints against tigecycline). The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to identify statistically significant changes in resistance.

RESULTS

Global rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii were 38% and 43%, respectively. No S. aureus isolates were resistant to linezolid or vancomycin; all isolates were susceptible to tigecycline. Two percent of Enterococcus faecalis and 28% of Enterococcus faecium were vancomycin-resistant. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers accounted for 22% of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 16% of Escherichia coli. Resistance to minocycline among E. faecalis, E. faecium, K. pneumoniae, and E. coli decreased significantly (p<0.0001). There were significant increases (p<0.0001) in A. baumannii resistance to cefepime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, levofloxacin, meropenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam.

CONCLUSIONS

Among isolates from integumentary sources, rates of MRSA and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae are stabilizing. Carbapenems and tigecycline have retained their in vitro activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. Few agents were active against A. baumannii; its increasing resistance is cause for concern.

Impact of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) on Outcomes in Patients with Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSIs) in an Acute-Tertiary Care Hospital

INTRODUCTION

Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) are among the most common infections treated in hospitals, but to date, there has been little information with regards to the implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) for patients with ABSSSIs. Hence, we aim to evaluate the impact of ASPs on the following outcomes in patients with ABSSSIs: duration of therapy and hospital stay, 14-day reinfection, infection-related readmissions and mortality.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the ASP database was conducted, focusing on selected outcomes (as above) among all patients in whom the institution's ASP recommended a change in antibiotic regimen-de-escalation of the antibiotic based on culture results; discontinuation of the antibiotic; narrowing of the empirical coverage; and intravenous-to-oral (i.v.-to-p.o.) switch between September 2009 and December 2012. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation for continuous variables, and unpaired Student's t test was performed to determine intergroup differences between mean values. For categorical variables, data were presented as number and percentage and analyzed using the χ (2) test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate.

RESULTS

ASP recommended 407 interventions with an overall acceptance rate of 66.8%. ASP interventions significantly reduced median duration of therapy by 2 [from a median (interquartile range, IQR) of 8 (6-12) days to 6 (4-9) days] and median length of stay by 5 days [from median (IQR) of 12 (5-32) days to 7 (3-18) days]. This led to an estimated total cost avoidance of USD 0.7 million. There were no significant differences in the 14-day reinfection, infection-related readmission and mortality rates between patients whose physicians accepted and those who rejected ASP interventions.

CONCLUSION

Interventions recommended by the ASP in Singapore General Hospital were safe and associated with a significant reduction in duration of therapy and hospital stay. The results of our study have affirmed the role of ASP in optimizing the care of patients with ABSSSI.

Early-switch/early-discharge opportunities for hospitalized patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated skin and soft tissue infections: proof of concept in the United Arab Emirates

Objectives

To describe real-world treatment patterns and health care resource use and to estimate opportunities for early-switch (ES) from intravenous (IV) to oral (PO) antibiotics and early-discharge (ED) for patients hospitalized in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) complicated skin and soft tissue infections.

Methods

This retrospective observational medical chart review study enrolled physicians from four UAE sites to collect data for 24 patients with documented MRSA complicated skin and soft tissue infections, hospitalized between July 2010 and June 2011, and discharged alive by July 2011. Data include clinical characteristics and outcomes, hospital length of stay (LOS), MRSA-targeted IV and PO antibiotic use, and ES and ED eligibility using literature-based and expert-validated criteria.

Results

Five included patients (20.8%) were switched from IV to PO antibiotics while being inpatients. Actual length of MRSA-active treatment was 10.8±7.0 days, with 9.8±6.6 days of IV therapy. Patients were hospitalized for a mean 13.9±9.3 days. The most frequent initial MRSA-active therapies used were vancomycin (37.5%), linezolid (16.7%), and clindamycin (16.7%). Eight patients were discharged with MRSA-active antibiotics, with linezolid prescribed most frequently (n=3; 37.5%). Fifteen patients (62.5%) met ES criteria and potentially could have discontinued IV therapy 8.3±6.0 days sooner, and eight (33.3%) met ED criteria and potentially could have been discharged 10.9±5.8 days earlier.

Conclusion

While approximately one-fifth of patients were switched from IV to PO antibiotics in the UAE, there were clear opportunities for further optimization of health care resource use. Over half of UAE patients hospitalized for MRSA complicated skin and soft tissue infections could be eligible for ES, with one-third eligible for ED opportunities, resulting in substantial potential for reductions in IV days and bed days.

Hospitalist perspective on the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections

The prevalence of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) has been increasing in the United States. These infections are associated with an increase in hospital admissions. Hospitalists play an increasingly important role in the management of these infections and need to use hospital resources efficiently and effectively. When available, observation units are useful for treating low-risk patients who do not require hospital admission. Imaging tools may help to exclude abscesses and necrotizing soft tissue infections; however, surgical exploration remains the principal means of diagnosing necrotizing soft tissue infections. The most common pathogens that cause SSTIs are streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) is a prevalent pathogen, and concerns are increasing regarding the unclear distinctions between community-acquired and hospital-acquired MRSA. Other less frequent pathogens that cause SSTIs include Enterococcus species, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Enterobacter species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cephalexin and clindamycin are suitable options for infections caused by streptococcal species and methicillin-susceptible S aureus. The increasing resistance of S aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes to erythromycin limits its use in these infections, and better alternatives are available. Parenteral cefazolin, nafcillin, or oxacillin can be used in hospitalized patients with nonpurulent cellulitis caused by streptococci and methicillin-susceptible S aureus. When oral MRSA therapy is indicated, clindamycin, doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or linezolid is appropriate. Vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin, tigecycline, telavancin, and ceftaroline fosamil are intravenous options that should be used in MRSA infections that require patient hospitalization. In the treatment of patients with SSTIs, hospitalists are at the forefront of providing proper patient care that reduces hospital costs, duration of therapy, and therapeutic failures. This review updates guidelines on the management of SSTIs with a focus on infections caused by S aureus, particularly MRSA, and outlines the role of the hospitalist in the effective management of SSTIs.

Influence of real-world characteristics on outcomes for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal skin and soft tissue infections: a multi-country medical chart review in Europe

Background

Patient-related (demographic/disease) and treatment-related (drug/clinician/hospital) characteristics were evaluated as potential predictors of healthcare resource use and opportunities for early switch (ES) from intravenous (IV)-to-oral methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-active antibiotic therapy and early hospital discharge (ED).

Methods

This retrospective observational medical chart study analyzed patients (across 12 European countries) with microbiologically confirmed MRSA complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI), ≥3 days of IV anti-MRSA antibiotics during hospitalization (July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011), and discharged alive by July 31, 2011. Logistic/linear regression models evaluated characteristics potentially associated with actual resource use (length of IV therapy, length of hospital stay [LOS], IV-to-oral antibiotic switch), and ES and ED (using literature-based and expert-verified criteria) outcomes.

Results

1542 patients (mean ± SD age 60.8 ± 16.5 years; 61.5% males) were assessed with 81.0% hospitalized for MRSA cSSTI as the primary reason. Several patient demographic, infection, complication, treatment, and hospital characteristics were predictive of length of IV therapy, LOS, IV-to-oral antibiotic switch, or ES and ED opportunities. Outcomes and ES and ED opportunities varied across countries. Length of IV therapy and LOS (r = 0.66, p < 0.0001) and eligibilities for ES and ED (r = 0.44, p < 0.0001) showed relatively strong correlations. IV-to-oral antibiotic switch patients had significantly shorter length of IV therapy (−5.19 days, p < 0.001) and non-significantly shorter LOS (−1.86 days, p > 0.05). Certain patient and treatment characteristics were associated with increased odds of ES (healthcare-associated/ hospital-acquired infection) and ED (patient living arrangements, healthcare-associated/ hospital-acquired infection, initiating MRSA-active treatment 1–2 days post cSSTI index date, existing ED protocol), while other factors decreased the odds of ES (no documented MRSA culture, ≥4 days from admission to cSSTI index date, IV-to-oral switch, IV line infection) and ED (dementia, no documented MRSA culture, initiating MRSA-active treatment ≥3 days post cSSTI index date, existing ES protocol).

Conclusions

Practice patterns and opportunity for further ES and ED were affected by several infection, treatment, hospital, and geographical characteristics, which should be considered in identifying ES and ED opportunities and designing interventions for MRSA cSSTI to reduce IV days and LOS while maintaining the quality of care.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2334-14-476) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Pan-European early switch/early discharge opportunities exist for hospitalized patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated skin and soft tissue infections

The objective of this study was to document pan-European real-world treatment patterns and healthcare resource use and estimate opportunities for early switch (ES) from intravenous (IV) to oral antibiotics and early discharge (ED) in hospitalized patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs). This retrospective observational medical chart review study enrolled 342 physicians across 12 European countries who collected data from 1542 patients with documented MRSA cSSTI who were hospitalized (July 2010 to June 2011) and discharged alive (by July 2011). Data included clinical characteristics and outcomes, hospital length of stay (LOS), MRSA-targeted IV and oral antibiotic use, and ES and ED eligibility according to literature-based and expert-validated criteria. The most frequent initial MRSA-active antibiotics were vancomycin (50.2%), linezolid (15.1%), clindamycin (10.8%), and teicoplanin (10.4%). Patients discharged with MRSA-active antibiotics (n = 480) were most frequently prescribed linezolid (42.1%) and clindamycin (19.8%). IV treatment duration (9.3 ± 6.5 vs. 14.6 ± 9.9 days; p <0.001) and hospital LOS (19.1 ± 12.9 vs. 21.0 ± 18.2 days; p 0.162) tended to be shorter for patients switched from IV to oral treatment than for patients who received IV treatment only. Of the patients, 33.6% met ES criteria and could have discontinued IV treatment 6.0 ± 5.5 days earlier, and 37.9% met ED criteria and could have been discharged 6.2 ± 8.2 days earlier. More than one-third of European patients hospitalized for MRSA cSSTI could be eligible for ES and ED, resulting in substantial reductions in IV days and bed-days, with potential savings of €2000 per ED-eligible patient.

Ceftaroline fosamil for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections

Skin infections have traditionally been classified by the US FDA as uncomplicated and complicated. In August 2010, the FDA released a new guidance document for the development of drugs to treat acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and this was updated in 2013. Several new issues were addressed and henceforth skin infections in clinical trials were termed ABSSSI. In the USA, the annual prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-related skin infections have continuously increased from 32.7% in 1998 to 53.8% in 2007. Ceftaroline fosamil is the only cephalosporin approved in the USA for monotherapy treatment of ABSSSI including infections caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus. The efficacy of ceftaroline fosamil was shown in the CANVAS clinical trials. The CANVAS Day-3 analyses met an earlier, primary efficacy time point requested by the FDA. Ceftaroline has minimal drug-drug interactions, is well tolerated and possesses the safety profile associated with the cephalosporin class.

Economic outcomes of inappropriate initial antibiotic treatment for complicated skin and soft tissue infections: a multicenter prospective observational study

This study examined economic outcomes associated with inappropriate initial antibiotic treatment (IIAT) in complicated skin and soft tissue infections using data from adults hospitalized and treated with intravenous antibiotic therapy. We specifically analyzed for the subsets of patients infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with healthcare-associated (HCA) infections, or both. Data from 494 patients (HCA: 360; MRSA:175; MRSA + HCA: 129) showed the overall mean length of stay (LOS) was 7.4 days and 15.0% had the composite economic outcome of any subsequent hospital admissions, emergency department visits, or unscheduled visits related to the study infection. A total of 23.1% of patients had IIAT; after adjustments, these patients had longer LOS than patients without IIAT in the HCA cohort (marginal LOS = 1.39 days, P = 0.03) and the MRSA + HCA cohort (marginal LOS = 2.43 days, P = 0.01) and were significantly more likely to have the composite economic outcome in all study cohorts (odds ratio: overall = 1.79; HCA = 3.09; MRSA = 3.66; MRSA + HCA = 6.92; all P < 0.05).

Clinical response at Day 3 of therapy and economic outcomes in hospitalized patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI)

OBJECTIVE

The FDA recently issued guidance for the types of infections that should be included in trials to support an indication for antibacterial treatment. The latest FDA guidance recommends assessing response to drug therapy at 48 to 72 hours as the primary endpoint in clinical trials. This study evaluated clinical and economic outcomes among acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) patients hospitalized at a 3000-bed healthcare system in New Jersey.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this retrospective cohort analysis, adult ABSSSI patients hospitalized between July 2010 and December 2011 were stratified based on infection type: cellulitis/erysipelas and major cutaneous abscess, wound infection, and all ABSSSI. Initial antibiotic therapy was assessed by individual agent, regimen, and MRSA coverage. Day 3 response to initial antibiotic therapy was evaluated based on temperature and lesion cessation outcomes; clinical response rates were assessed by initial therapy and pathogen for each cohort. The impact of response on length of stay (LOS), cost of care, and antibiotic treatment duration were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Commonly used antibiotics included vancomycin, cefazolin, piperacillin-tazobactam, and ampicillin-sulbactam; over 40% of patients received empiric therapy with activity against MRSA. Clinical non-response to initial antimicrobial therapy at Day 3 was 39.9%, 30.3%, and 60.7%, for all ABSSSI, cellulitis/abscess, and wound infection patients, respectively. The cost of care among non-responders was over 1.5 times that of responders (p < 0.0001). Non-response to initial therapy was associated with a 3.7 day increase in duration of antibiotic treatment (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study demonstrate that a significant percentage of ABSSSI patients, particularly those with wound infection, were not achieving clinical response at Day 3 of therapy. Failure to respond to drug therapy is associated with substantial increases in LOS, antibiotic treatment duration, and cost of care.

LIMITATIONS

This had the inherent limitations associated with a retrospective chart review; because data was initially collected for clinical rather than research purposes, certain information may have been absent, incomplete, or missed by data abstractors.

Ceftaroline fosamil use in hospitalized patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections: Budget impact analysis from a hospital perspective

PURPOSE

The budgetary impact of adding ceftaroline fosamil to a hospital formulary for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) was evaluated.

METHODS

A three-year hospital budget impact model was constructed with three initial treatment options for ABSSSIs: ceftaroline fosamil, vancomycin plus aztreonam, and other vancomycin-containing regimens. The target population was hospitalized adult patients with an ABSSSI. Clinical cure rates with initial treatment were assumed to be similar to those from ceftaroline fosamil clinical trials. Patients who did not respond to initial treatment were assumed to be treated successfully with second-line antimicrobial therapy. Length of stay and cost per hospital day (by success or failure with initial treatment) were estimated based on a large database from more than 100 U.S. hospitals. Other model inputs included the annual number of ABSSSI admissions, projected annual case growth rate, proportion of ABSSSI target population receiving vancomycin-containing regimen, expected proportion of ABSSSI target population to be treated with ceftaroline fosamil, drug acquisition cost, cost of antibiotic administration, and cost of vancomycin monitoring. Sensitivity analysis using 95% confidence limits of clinical cure rates was also performed.

RESULTS

The estimated total cost of care for treating a patient with an ABSSSI was $395 lower with ceftaroline fosamil ($15,087 versus $15,482) compared with vancomycin plus aztreonam and $72 lower ($15,087 versus $15,159) compared with other vancomycin-containing regimens.

CONCLUSION

Model estimates indicated that adding ceftaroline fosamil to the hospital formulary would not have a negative effect on a hospital's budget for ABSSSI treatment.

Ceftaroline in complicated skin and skin-structure infections

Ceftaroline is an advanced-generation cephalosporin antibiotic recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of complicated skin and skin-structure infections (cSSSIs). This intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotic exerts potent bactericidal activity by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. A high affinity for the penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) makes the drug especially beneficial to patients with MRSA cSSSIs. Ceftaroline has proved in multiple well-conducted clinical trials to have an excellent safety and efficacy profile. In adjusted doses it is also recommended for patients with renal or hepatic impairment. Furthermore, the clinical effectiveness and high cure rate demonstrated by ceftaroline in cSSSIs, including those caused by MRSA and other multidrug-resistant strains, warrants its consideration as a first-line treatment option for cSSSIs. This article reviews ceftaroline and its pharmacology, efficacy, and safety data to further elucidate its role in the treatment of cSSSIs.

Epidemiology and outcomes of complicated skin and soft tissue infections in hospitalized patients

Complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) are among the most rapidly increasing reasons for hospitalization. To describe inpatients with regard to patient characteristics, cSSTI origin, appropriateness of initial antibiotics, and outcomes, we performed a retrospective cohort study in patients hospitalized for cSSTI. To identify independent predictors of outcomes, we performed multivariate analyses. Of 1,096 eligible patients, 48.7% had health care-associated (HCA) cSSTI and 51.3% had community-acquired (CA) cSSTI. After adjustment for baseline variables, hospital length of stay (LOS) was longer for HCA than for CA cSSTI (difference, 2.1 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8 to 3.5; P < 0.05). Other covariates associated with a longer LOS were need for dialysis (regression coefficient ± standard error, 4.5 ± 1.1) and diabetic wound diagnosis (2.6 ± 1.0) (all P < 0.05). In the subset with culture-positive cSSTI within 24 h of admission, the most common pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (298/449 [66.4%]), of which 74.8% (223/298) were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Eighty-three patients (18.5%) received inappropriate initial antibiotics. After adjustment for other variables, the following were associated with inappropriate initial therapy: direct admission to hospital (not via emergency department), cSSTI caused by MRSA or mixed pathogens, and cSSTI caused by pathogens other than S. aureus or streptococci (all P < 0.05). We did not find an association between inappropriate therapy and outcomes, except in the subset with ulcers (adjusted odds ratio, 11.8; 95% CI, 1.3 to 111.1; P = 0.03). More studies are needed to examine the impact of HCA cSSTI and inappropriate initial therapy on outcomes.

Variations in analytical methodology for estimating costs of hospital-acquired infections: a systematic review

Quantifying the additional costs of hospital-acquired infections (COHAI) is essential for developing cost-effective infection control measures. The methodological approaches to estimate these costs include case reviews, matched comparisons and regression analyses. The choice of cost estimation methodologies can affect the accuracy of the resulting estimates, however, with regression analyses generally able to avoid the bias pitfalls of the other methods. The objective of this study was to elucidate the distributions and trends in cost estimation methodologies in published studies that have produced COHAI estimates. We conducted systematic searches of peer-reviewed publications that produced cost estimates attributable to hospital-acquired infection in MEDLINE from 1980 to 2006. Shifts in methodologies at 10-year intervals were analysed using Fisher's exact test. The most frequent method of COHAI estimation methodology was multiple matched comparisons (59.6%), followed by regression models (25.8%), and case reviews (7.9%). There were significant increases in studies that used regression models and decreases in matched comparisons through the 1980s, 1990s and post-2000 (P = 0.033). Whereas regression analyses have become more frequently used for COHAI estimations in recent years, matched comparisons are still used in more than half of COHAI estimation studies. Researchers need to be more discerning in the selection of methodologies for their analyses, and comparative analyses are needed to identify more accurate estimation methods. This review provides a resource for analysts to overview the distribution, trends, advantages and pitfalls of the various existing COHAI estimation methodologies.