Antimicrobial Stewardship in Community Hospitals

A combined strategies intervention on the World Health Organization prescribing indicators: A quasi-randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Irrational medicine use is a global problem that may potentiate antimicrobial resistance.

AIM

This study aims to assess prescribing practices and the effect of a prescription audit and feedback coupled with small-group education intervention on prescribing indicators.

SETTING

The study was conducted in public-sector healthcare facilities in Eswatini.

METHODS

A cluster quasi-randomised controlled study was conducted from 2016 to 2019 using the World Health Organization/ International Network for Rational Use of Drugs (WHO/INRUD) prescribing indicators at baseline, post-intervention and post-follow-up. A 6-month unblinded intervention was tested in 32 healthcare facilities, randomly allocated to intervention (16) and control (16) arms. Prescribing practices were assessed post-intervention, and 6 months after the intervention, through an audit of 100 randomly selected prescriptions from each facility. Comparisons of WHO or INRUD prescribing indicators were conducted using the intention-to-treat analysis at the two times.

RESULTS

At baseline, in both arms, rational prescribing standards were met by the number of medicines per prescription and the use of injections. Antibiotic use was above 50% in both arms. After adjustment for baseline antibiotics use, region and level of care, there were no significant differences in all prescribing indicators between the two arms, post-intervention and at 6 months follow-up.

CONCLUSION

In a lower middle-income setting with a high prevalence of irrational prescribing practices, a prescription audit, feedback and small-group education intervention had no benefits in improving rational prescribing.Contribution: Multifaceted strategies, strengthening of pharmacy and therapeutics committees, and holistic monitoring of medicine use are recommended to promote rational medicine use.

From bottle to bedside: Implementation considerations and antimicrobial stewardship considerations for bloodstream infection rapid diagnostic testing

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs have been quick to adopt novel molecular rapid diagnostic technologies (mRDTs) for bloodstream infections (BSIs) to improve antimicrobial management. As such, most of the literature demonstrating the clinical and economic benefits of mRDTs for BSI is in the presence of active AMS intervention. Leveraging mRDTs to improve antimicrobial therapy for BSI is increasingly integral to AMS program activities. This narrative review discusses available and future mRDTs, the relationship between the clinical microbiology laboratory and AMS programs, and practical considerations for optimizing the use of these tools within a health system. Antimicrobial stewardship programs must work closely with their clinical microbiology laboratories to ensure that mRDTs are used to their fullest benefit while remaining cognizant of their limitations. As more mRDT instruments and panels become available and AMS programs continue to expand, future efforts must consider the expansion beyond traditional settings of large academic medical centers and how combinations of tools can further improve patient care.

Impact of a Primary Care Antimicrobial Stewardship Program on Bacterial Resistance Control and Ecological Imprint in Urinary Tract Infections

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are a central component in reducing the overprescription of unnecessary antibiotics, with multiple studies showing benefits in the reduction of bacterial resistance. Less commonly, ASPs have been performed in outpatient settings, but there is a lack of available data in these settings. We implemented an ASP in a large regional outpatient setting to assess its feasibility and effectiveness. Over a 5-year post-implementation period, compared to the pre-intervention period, a significant reduction in antibiotic prescription occurred, with a reduction in resistance in E. coli urinary isolates. ASP activities also were found to be cost-effective, with a reduction in medication prescription.

Use of leading practices in US hospital antimicrobial stewardship programs

Objective:

To determine the proportion of hospitals that implemented 6 leading practices in their antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs). Design: Cross-sectional observational survey.

Setting:

Acute-care hospitals.

Participants:

ASP leaders.

Methods:

Advance letters and electronic questionnaires were initiated February 2020. Primary outcomes were percentage of hospitals that (1) implemented facility-specific treatment guidelines (FSTG); (2) performed interactive prospective audit and feedback (PAF) either face-to-face or by telephone; (3) optimized diagnostic testing; (4) measured antibiotic utilization; (5) measured C. difficile infection (CDI); and (6) measured adherence to FSTGs.

Results:

Of 948 hospitals invited, 288 (30.4%) completed the questionnaire. Among them, 82 (28.5%) had <99 beds, 162 (56.3%) had 100–399 beds, and 44 (15.2%) had ≥400+ beds. Also, 230 (79.9%) were healthcare system members. Moreover, 161 hospitals (54.8%) reported implementing FSTGs; 214 (72.4%) performed interactive PAF; 105 (34.9%) implemented procedures to optimize diagnostic testing; 235 (79.8%) measured antibiotic utilization; 258 (88.2%) measured CDI; and 110 (37.1%) measured FSTG adherence. Small hospitals performed less interactive PAF (61.0%; P = .0018). Small and nonsystem hospitals were less likely to optimize diagnostic testing: 25.2% (P = .030) and 21.0% (P = .0077), respectively. Small hospitals were less likely to measure antibiotic utilization (67.8%; P = .0010) and CDI (80.3%; P = .0038). Nonsystem hospitals were less likely to implement FSTGs (34.3%; P < .001).

Conclusions:

Significant variation exists in the adoption of ASP leading practices. A minority of hospitals have taken action to optimize diagnostic testing and measure adherence to FSTGs. Additional efforts are needed to expand adoption of leading practices across all acute-care hospitals with the greatest need in smaller hospitals.

Factors Associated with Acceptance of Telehealth-based Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Recommendations in a Community Hospital Health System

Background

Telehealth-based antimicrobial stewardship programs (TeleASPs) have led to reduced broad-spectrum antimicrobial utilization. Data on factors associated with acceptance of stewardship recommendations are limited.

Methods

A TeleASP, facilitated by remote infectious disease physicians and local pharmacists, was implemented in 2 community hospitals from February 2018 through July 2020. Variables potentially affecting acceptance of TeleASP recommendations were tracked. Odds ratios of acceptance were determined utilizing multiple logistic regression.

Results

During the 30-month period, 4863 (91.2%) of the total 5333 recommendations were accepted. Factors associated with a higher odds of acceptance in multivariable analysis were recommendations for antimicrobial dose/frequency adjustment (odds ratio [OR], 2.63; 95% CI, 1.6–4.3) and order for labs/tests (OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 2.1–5.2), while recommendations for antimicrobial de-escalation (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60–0.95) and antimicrobial discontinuation (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.42–0.76) were associated with lower odds of acceptance. Female physicians were more likely to accept recommendations compared with males (93.1% vs 90.3% acceptance; OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.3–2.2). Compared with physicians with <3 years of experience, who had the highest acceptance rate (96.3%), physicians with ≥21 years of experience had the lowest (87.1%; OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.15–0.45).

Conclusions

TeleASP recommendations were accepted at a high rate. Acceptance rates were higher among female physicians, and recommendations to stop or de-escalate antimicrobials led to lower acceptance. Recommendations made to the most experienced physicians were the least accepted, which may be an important factor for stewardship programs to consider in education and intervention efforts.

Guidelines on Implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in Korea

These guidelines were developed as a part of the 2021 Academic R&D Service Project of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in response to requests from healthcare professionals in clinical practice for guidance on developing antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs). These guidelines were developed by means of a systematic literature review and a summary of recent literature, in which evidence-based intervention methods were used to address key questions about the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents and ASP expansion. These guidelines also provide evidence of the effectiveness of ASPs and describe intervention methods applicable in Korea.

Impact of a Telehealth-Based Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in a Community Hospital Health System

BACKGROUND

Data on antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) facilitated via telehealth in the community hospital setting are limited.

METHODS

A telehealth-based ASP was implemented in 2 community hospitals (285 and 176 beds). Local pharmacists without residency or prior antimicrobial stewardship training were trained to conduct prospective audit and feedback. For approximately 60 minutes 3 times weekly at the 285-bed hospital and 2 times weekly at the 176-bed hospital, infectious diseases (ID) physicians remotely reviewed patients on broad-spectrum antibiotics and those admitted with lower respiratory tract infections and skin and soft tissue infections with local pharmacists. Recommendations for ASP interventions made by ID physicians were relayed to primary teams and tracked by local pharmacists. Antimicrobial utilization was collected in days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient-days (PD) for a 12-month baseline and 6-month intervention period, and analyzed with segmented linear regression analysis. Local ID consultations were tracked and antimicrobial cost savings were estimated.

RESULTS

During the 6-month intervention period, 1419 recommendations were made, of which 1262 (88.9%) were accepted. Compared to the baseline period, broad-spectrum antibiotic utilization decreased by 24.4% (342.1 vs 258.7 DOT/1000 PD; P < .001) during the intervention period. ID consultations increased by 40.2% (15.4 consultations per 1000 PD vs 21.5 consultations per 1000 PD; P = .001). Estimated annualized savings on antimicrobial expenditures were $142 629.83.

CONCLUSIONS

An intense ASP model, facilitated in the community hospital setting via telehealth, led to reduced broad-spectrum antimicrobial utilization, increased ID consultations, and reduced antimicrobial expenditures.

Barriers and Facilitators in Perioperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis: A Mixed-Methods Study in a Small Island Setting

Few studies have addressed antibiotic guideline adherence in small island settings, such as Aruba. This study aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) and identify barriers for PAP guideline adherence. A mixed-methods study was carried out at the operating theatre (OT) in the Dr. Horacio E. Oduber Hospital (HOH) in Aruba. First, a prospective audit was performed on the appropriateness of guideline-derived quality indicators (QIs). Then, interviews based on the Flottorp framework were conducted to identify barriers for guideline adherence. Finally, a survey was distributed to verify the outcomes of the interviews. The appropriateness of QIs was measured: correct indication (50.6%); antimicrobial agent (30.8%); dose (94.4%); timing (55.0%); route of administration (100%); duration (89.5%); and redosing (95.7%). The overall appropriateness was 34.9%. The main barriers discovered were poor knowledge about PAP and the guidelines and professional interactions regarding PAP, specifically poor communication and lack of clarity about responsibilities regarding PAP. This study was the first to evaluate the appropriateness and to identify barriers for PAP guideline adherence in a small island hospital. The overall appropriateness of PAP was poor with just 34.9%. Future interventions should be focused on communication, education and awareness of the possibility to consult an ID physician or microbiologist.

Application of Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratio as a Motivational Tool within a Multi-Hospital Healthcare System

The standardized antimicrobial administration ratio (SAAR) is a novel antimicrobial stewardship metric that compares actual to expected antimicrobial use (AU). This prospective cohort study examines the utility of SAAR reporting and inter-facility comparisons as a motivational tool to improve overall and broad-spectrum AU within a three-hospital healthcare system. Transparent inter-facility comparisons were deployed during system-wide antimicrobial stewardship meetings beginning in October 2017. Stakeholders were advised to interpret the results to foster competition and incorporate SAAR data into focused antimicrobial stewardship interventions. Student’s t-test was used to compare mean SAARs in the pre- (July 2017 through October 2017) and post-intervention periods (November 2017 through June 2019). The mean pre-intervention SAARs for hospitals A, B, and C were 0.69, 1.09, and 0.60, respectively. Hospital B experienced significant reductions in SAAR for overall AU (from 1.09 to 0.83; p < 0.001), broad-spectrum antimicrobials used for hospital-onset infections (from 1.36 to 0.81; p < 0.001), and agents used for resistant gram-positive infections in the intensive care units (from 1.27 to 0.72; p < 0.001) after the interventions. The alignment of the SAAR across the health-system and sustained reduction in overall and broad-spectrum AU through implementation of inter-facility comparisons demonstrate the utility in the motivational application of this antimicrobial use metric.

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance and Protecting Global Public Health

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to global public health. It increases morbidity and mortality, and is associated with high economic costs due to its health care burden. Infections with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria also have substantial implications on clinical and economic outcomes. Moreover, increased indiscriminate use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic will heighten bacterial resistance and ultimately lead to more deaths. This review highlights AMR's scale and consequences, the importance, and implications of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) to fight resistance and protect global health. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), an organizational or system-wide health-care strategy, is designed to promote, improve, monitor, and evaluate the rational use of antimicrobials to preserve their future effectiveness, along with the promotion and protection of public health. ASP has been very successful in promoting antimicrobials' appropriate use by implementing evidence-based interventions. The "One Health" approach, a holistic and multisectoral approach, is also needed to address AMR's rising threat. AMS practices, principles, and interventions are critical steps towards containing and mitigating AMR. Evidence-based policies must guide the "One Health" approach, vaccination protocols, health professionals' education, and the public's awareness about AMR.

Assessment of antimicrobial stewardship programs within governmental hospitals in Qatar: a SWOC analysis

OBJECTIVES

Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide public health issue that requires emergent action. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) have been proposed as a strategy to minimise resistance. Although ASPs were implemented in governmental hospitals in Qatar since 2015, a formal evaluation of these programs has not been conducted. We aimed to assess the status of ASPs in Qatar and to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges (SWOC) to further enhance ASPs within Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).

METHODS

Lead stakeholders of ASPs in HMC filled a questionnaire adapted from the 2019 Centers for Disease Control Prevention checklist for ASPs. Notes were taken by research team to assist in formulating a SWOC analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

All hospitals (12/12) had an infectious diseases physician and pharmacist designated as an ASP leader (major strength identified). Almost all hospitals lack a financial statement and information technology resources to support ASPs (major weaknesses identified). Nine hospitals had an antibiotic pre-authorisation policy and adopted a prospective audit with feedback strategy. Among hospitals surveyed, 11 hospitals tracked antibiotic use by measuring the defined daily dose, and only four hospitals tracked rates of Clostridioides difficile infection. Qatar's rich economy supports the allocation of financial resources and budgeting to improve ASPs despite the increased emergence of resistant organisms and the limited resources currently available to expand ASPs across the country's healthcare settings.

CONCLUSIONS

Although ASPs were implemented in all governmental hospitals in Qatar, national efforts and more resources are needed to further develop and improve these programs.

Effectiveness and Acceptance of Multimodal Antibiotic Stewardship Program: Considering Progressive Implementation and Complementary Strategies

Multiple modes of interventions are available when implementing an antibiotic stewardship program (ASP), however, their complementarity has not yet been assessed. In a 938-bed hospital, we sequentially implemented four combined modes of interventions over one year, centralized by one infectious diseases specialist (IDS): (1) on-request infectious diseases specialist consulting service (IDSCS), (2) participation in intensive care unit meetings, (3) IDS intervention triggered by microbiological laboratory meetings, and (4) IDS intervention triggered by pharmacist alert. We assessed the complementarity of the different cumulative actions through quantitative and qualitative analysis of all interventions traced in the electronic medical record. We observed a quantitative and qualitative complementarity between interventions directly correlating to a decrease in antibiotic use. Quantitatively, the number of interventions has doubled after implementation of IDS intervention triggered by pharmacist alert. Qualitatively, these kinds of interventions led mainly to de-escalation or stopping of antibiotic therapy (63%) as opposed to on-request IDSCS (32%). An overall decrease of 14.6% in antibiotic use was observed (p = 0.03). Progressive implementation of the different interventions showed a concrete complementarity of these actions. Combined actions in ASPs could lead to a significant decrease in antibiotic use, especially regarding critical antibiotic prescriptions, while being well accepted by prescribers.

A Narrative Review of Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions within In-patient Settings and Resultant Patient Outcomes

The overuse of antibiotics has led to various healthcare problems such as the emergence of resistance in infectious microbes and mortality due to antibiotic resistant healthcare associated infections (HAIs). An antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) program is the set of interventions used worldwide to enhance the rational use of antibiotics especially for the hospitalized patients. This review aimed to describe the characteristics of the implemented AMS programs in various hospitals of the world mainly focusing on the interventions and patients outcomes. The literature about AMS program was searched through various databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Cochran Library, Ovid (Medline), Web of Science and Scopus. In this review the literature pertaining to the AMS programs for hospitalized patients is sorted on the basis of various interventions that are categorized as formulary restriction (pre-authorization), guideline development, clinical pathway development, educative interventions and prospective audit. Moreover a clear emphasis is laid on the patient outcomes obtained as a result of these interventions namely the infection control, drop in readmission rate, mortality control, resistance control and the control of an overall cost of antibiotic treatment obtained mainly by curbing the overuse of antibiotics within the hospital wards. AMS program is an efficient strategy of pharmacovigilance to rationalize the antimicrobial practice for hospitalized patients as it prevents the misuse of antibiotics, which ultimately retards the health threatening effects of various antibiotics.

Community-level consumption of antibiotics according to the AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification in rural Vietnam

Objectives

To review community-level consumption of antibiotics in rural Vietnam, according to the WHO Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) classification of 2019, and identify factors associated with the choice of these antibiotics.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, data on antibiotic purchases were collected through a customer exit survey of 20 community antibiotic suppliers in Ba Vi District, Hanoi, between September 2017 and July 2018. Antibiotic consumption was estimated through the number of antibiotic encounters, the number of DDDs supplied and the number of treatment days (DOTs) with antibiotics, and analysed according to the AWaRe classification. The factors associated with watch-group antibiotic supply were identified through multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

In total, there were 1342 antibiotic encounters, with access-group antibiotics supplied in 792 encounters (59.0%), watch-group antibiotics supplied in 527 encounters (39.3%) and not-recommended antibiotics supplied in 23 encounters (1.7%). No reserve-group antibiotics were supplied. In children, the consumption of watch-group antibiotics dominated in all three measures (54.8% of encounters, 53.0% of DOTs and 53.6% of DDDs). Factors associated with a higher likelihood of watch-group antibiotic supply were: private pharmacy (OR, 4.23; 95% CI, 2.8–6.38; P < 0.001), non-prescription antibiotic sale (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.78–3.87; P < 0.001) and children (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.84–3.55; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

High consumption of watch-group antibiotics was observed, especially for use in children. The frequent supply of watch-group antibiotics at private pharmacies reconfirms the need for implementing pharmacy-targeted interventions in Vietnam.

A Baker's Dozen of Top Antimicrobial Stewardship Intervention Publications in 2019

Staying current on literature related to antimicrobial stewardship can be challenging given the ever-increasing number of published articles. The Southeastern Research Group Endeavor (SERGE-45) identified antimicrobial stewardship–related peer-reviewed literature that detailed an actionable intervention for 2019. The top 13 publications were selected using a modified Delphi technique. These manuscripts were reviewed to highlight the actionable intervention used by antimicrobial stewardship programs to provide key stewardship literature for teaching and training and to identify potential intervention opportunities within one’s institution.

The Mbeya Antimicrobial Stewardship Team: Implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship at a Zonal-Level Hospital in Southern Tanzania

Background: In 2017, Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital (MZRH) and the University of South Carolina (UofSC) agreed to collaboratively strengthen antimicrobial prescribing in the southern highlands of Tanzania and train a new generation of clinicians in responsible antimicrobial use. Methods: Key stakeholders and participants were identified and the Mbeya Antimicrobial Stewardship Team (MAST) was created. The team identified assets brought by the collaborators, and four investigations of baseline needs were developed. These investigations included (a) a baseline clinician survey regarding antimicrobial resistance and stewardship, (b) a serial chart review of inpatient antimicrobial prescribing practices, (c) an investigation of antimicrobial resistance rates using existing isolates at the MZRH laboratory, and (d) a survey of antimicrobial availability at community pharmacies in the city. Results: 91% of physicians believe antimicrobial resistance is problem in Tanzania, although only 29% of physicians were familiar with the term “antimicrobial stewardship”. Escherichia coli isolates had resistance rates of over 60% to the commonly used agents ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ceftriaxone. Thirteen out of 14 community pharmacies offered over-the-counter antibiotics for upper respiratory symptoms. Conclusions: International antimicrobial stewardship collaborations can successfully identify opportunities and needs. Evaluating the team’s efforts to improve patient outcomes will be essential.

Adherence to Guideline-Based Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Gynecology among Alabama Providers

OBJECTIVES

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a preventable cause of postoperative morbidity. The appropriate use of perioperative antibiotics for prevention of SSIs is a well-established quality metric. Little is known about the adherence to guidelines-based antibiotic prophylaxis among Alabama obstetricians and gynecologists. Our aims were to determine their adherence to guidelines-based antibiotic prophylaxis and identify the factors that are predictive of nonadherence.

METHODS

Online, self-administered survey of Alabama obstetricians and gynecologists.

RESULTS

Providers reported not providing the indicated antibiotics and/or giving nonindicated antibiotics in almost all surgical scenarios. The exceptions included hysterectomies, in which almost all (96%) providers routinely gave indicated antibiotics. No providers reported giving antibiotics during intrauterine device placement or endometrial biopsies, which is appropriate. The only factor predictive of inappropriate antibiotic use was the absence of a standing antibiotic protocol.

CONCLUSIONS

Alabama gynecologic surgeons can and should improve their compliance with guidelines-based antibiotic prophylaxis. More research is needed to determine which interventions would improve adherence in this provider population; our study suggests that the implementation of a standing antibiotic protocol may be a reasonable first step.

Antimicrobial stewardship program at a tertiary care academic medical hospital: Clinical, microbiological and economic impact. A 5-year temporary descriptive study

Introduction

Few prospective studies analyze, with sufficient duration, the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program (AMSP) carried out entirely in a hospital.

Methods

Descriptive study evaluating the consumption of antimicrobials expressed in defined daily doses (DDD) per 100 hospital occupied bed-days (OBDs) stratified in medical, surgical and intensive care unit (ICU) and the incidence of densities (ID) per 1,000 hospital OBDs of the prevalent multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in a tertiary hospital, over a period of 5 years before and after the implementation of an AMSP. Analysis of direct costs and those associated with hospital stay and mortality.

Results

A total of 32,802 patients with antibiotic treatment were included in the intervention period (2013–2017). Non-imposed advice was exercised in 14.9%. The degree of adherence to recommendation was 87.9%, direct treatment and de-escalation being the most frequently admitted interventions (P<0.001). Overall hospital consumption of antibacterials in DDD/100s decreased by 5.7% (77.04 vs. 71.33) between 2008 and 2017. In ICU, the average DDD/100s showed a reduction from 155 to 113 (mean difference -18, P=0.005). There was a decrease in the DI/1000 OBDs of MDROs in the post-intervention period (RR 0.78; CI 95% [0.73, 0.84], P<0.001). The average annual cost of antibacterials declined from €1,435,048 to €955,805 (mean difference -€469,243; P=0.001).

Conclusion

Long-term maintenance of a hospital AMSP was associated with a reduction in antibiotic consumption, especially in ICU, as well as a beneficial ecological impact and economic savings.

Antimicrobial stewardship staffing: How much is enough?

Antimicrobial stewardship improves patient care and reduces antimicrobial resistance, inappropriate use, and adverse outcomes. Despite high-profile mandates for antimicrobial stewardship programs across the healthcare continuum, descriptive data, and recommendations for dedicated resources, including appropriate physician, pharmacist, data analytics, and administrative staffing support, are not robust. This review summarizes the current literature on antimicrobial stewardship staffing and calls for the development of minimum staffing recommendations.

Diagnostic Bacteriology in District Hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa: At the Forefront of the Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance

This review provides an update on the factors fuelling antimicrobial resistance and shows the impact of these factors in low-resource settings. We detail the challenges and barriers to integrating clinical bacteriology in hospitals in low-resource settings, as well as the opportunities provided by the recent capacity building efforts of national laboratory networks focused on vertical single-disease programmes. The programmes for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria have considerably improved laboratory medicine in Sub-Saharan Africa, paving the way for clinical bacteriology. Furthermore, special attention is paid to topics that are less familiar to the general medical community, such as the crucial role of regulatory frameworks for diagnostics and the educational profile required for a productive laboratory workforce in low-resource settings. Traditionally, clinical bacteriology laboratories have been a part of higher levels of care, and, as a result, they were poorly linked to clinical practices and thus underused. By establishing and consolidating clinical bacteriology laboratories at the hospital referral level in low-resource settings, routine patient care data can be collected for surveillance, antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control. Together, these activities form a synergistic tripartite effort at the frontline of the emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant bacteria. If challenges related to staff, funding, scale, and the specific nature of clinical bacteriology are prioritized, a major leap forward in the containment of antimicrobial resistance can be achieved. The mobilization of resources coordinated by national laboratory plans and interventions tailored by a good understanding of the hospital microcosm will be crucial to success, and further contributions will be made by market interventions and business models for diagnostic laboratories. The future clinical bacteriology laboratory in a low-resource setting will not be an "entry-level version" of its counterparts in high-resource settings, but a purpose-built, well-conceived, cost-effective and efficient diagnostic facility at the forefront of antimicrobial resistance containment.

Perspective of Pakistani Physicians towards Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs: A Multisite Exploratory Qualitative Study

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat and the antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is a globally used tool to combat AMR. There is little information on the views among Pakistani physicians regarding AMR and the benefits of hospital antimicrobial stewardship implementation. This study was designed to explore the physicians’ views about ASP. Methods: Qualitative face-to-face and telephonic interviews were conducted by using purposive sampling method with 22 physicians working in seven tertiary care public hospitals of Punjab, Pakistan. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative software was used, and a thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Three broad themes were identified: (1) the growing concern of antimicrobial resistance in Pakistan, (2) the role(s) of healthcare professionals in antibiotic prescribing, and (3) managing antibiotic resistance in hospitals. Inadequate resources, poor healthcare facilities, and insufficiently trained medical staff were the major hurdles in ASP implementation in Pakistan. Conclusions: Our study found a poor familiarity of hospital ASP among physicians working in public sector tertiary care teaching hospitals, and a number of distinct themes emerged during this study that could be helpful in establishing the concept of hospital ASP in Pakistan. Overall, physicians showed a positive attitude towards the enforcement of ASP in all healthcare settings, including teaching hospitals.