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Xu L, Ceolotto N, Jagadeesan K, Standerwick R, Robertson M, Barden R, Kasprzyk-Hordern B. Antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance genes in the shadow of COVID-19 pandemic: A wastewater-based epidemiology perspective. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 257:121665. [PMID: 38692256 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Higher usage of antimicrobial agents in both healthcare facilities and the communities has resulted in an increased spread of resistant bacteria. However, the improved infection prevention and control practices may also contribute to decreasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In the present study, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) approach was applied to explore the link between COVID-19 and the community usage of antimicrobials, as well as the prevalence of resistance genes. Longitudinal study has been conducted to monitor the levels of 50 antimicrobial agents (AAs), 24 metabolites, 5 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and class 1 integrons (intI 1) in wastewater influents in 4 towns/cities over two years (April 2020 - March 2022) in the South-West of England (a total of 1,180 samples collected with 87,320 individual AA measurements and 8,148 ARG measurements). Results suggested higher loads of AAs and ARGs in 2021-22 than 2020-21, with beta-lactams, quinolones, macrolides and most ARGs showing statistical differences. In particular, the intI 1 gene (a proxy of environmental ARG pollution) showed a significant increase after the ease of the third national lockdown in England. Positive correlations for all quantifiable parent AAs and metabolites were observed, and consumption vs direct disposal of unused AAs has been identified via WBE. This work can help establish baselines for AMR status in communities, providing community-wide surveillance and evidence for informing public health interventions. Overall, studies focused on AMR from the start of the pandemic to the present, especially in the context of environmental settings, are of great importance to further understand the long-term impact of the pandemic on AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Like Xu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Nicola Ceolotto
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; Institute for Sustainability, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | | | | | | | - Ruth Barden
- Wessex Water Service Ltd., Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7WW, UK
| | - Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; Institute for Sustainability, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
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de Pando T, Grau S, Almendral A, Echeverría-Esnal D, Hernández S, Limon E, Pontes C. Long-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic use in primary care: lessons to optimize antimicrobial use. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38465485 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2024.2328333] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with changes in the pattern of use of antimicrobials, but persistence of changes after lockdowns has not been described. The objective was to describe the number of patients with dispensed antibiotic treatment and consumption of antibiotics in outpatients from primary care in Catalonia 18 months after the end of the emergency period. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Data for the COVID-19 pandemic period was obtained from March 2020 to December 2021. Four high transmission rate (Rt > 100) periods were established. To compare data, a simple Bayesian structural time series model was used. RESULTS The observed number of patients with dispensed antibiotics decreased respect to the estimated, especially during the four high transmission rate periods: April-May 2020 (lockdown period) (-42.57% and -42.68%); December 2020-February 2021 (-41.65%, -49.97% and -43.64%); October 2021 (-16.23%), and December 2021 (-20.16%). Overall antibiotic consumption was reduced by 23.37% (p = 0.002). These differences were mainly observed in those ≤ 15 years. CONCLUSIONS We describe the reduction in the number of patients with dispensed antibiotics and antibiotic consumption after the COVID-19 lockdown persisted in a period of recovery of healthcare accessibility. This information may help to improve antimicrobial use at the primary care level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais de Pando
- Gerència del Medicament, Servei Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
- Digitalization for the Sustainability of the Healthcare System (DS3), Servei Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Santiago Grau
- Department of Pharmacy, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Infectious Pathology and Antimicrobials Research Group (IPAR), Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Daniel Echeverría-Esnal
- Department of Pharmacy, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Infectious Pathology and Antimicrobials Research Group (IPAR), Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Hernández
- VINCat Program Surveillance of Healthcare Related Infections in Catalonia
| | - Enric Limon
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- VINCat Program Surveillance of Healthcare Related Infections in Catalonia
- Department of Public Health, Mental Health & Mother-Infant Nursing, School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Caridad Pontes
- Gerència del Medicament, Servei Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
- Digitalization for the Sustainability of the Healthcare System (DS3), Servei Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
- Department de Farmacologia, de Terapèutica i de Toxicologia, Sabadell (Barcelona), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
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Kovacevic A, Smith DRM, Rahbé E, Novelli S, Henriot P, Varon E, Cohen R, Levy C, Temime L, Opatowski L. Exploring factors shaping antibiotic resistance patterns in Streptococcus pneumoniae during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. eLife 2024; 13:e85701. [PMID: 38451256 PMCID: PMC10923560 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented to block SARS-CoV-2 transmission in early 2020 led to global reductions in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). By contrast, most European countries reported an increase in antibiotic resistance among invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from 2019 to 2020, while an increasing number of studies reported stable pneumococcal carriage prevalence over the same period. To disentangle the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on pneumococcal epidemiology in the community setting, we propose a mathematical model formalizing simultaneous transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant strains of S. pneumoniae. To test hypotheses underlying these trends five mechanisms were built into the model and examined: (1) a population-wide reduction of antibiotic prescriptions in the community, (2) lockdown effect on pneumococcal transmission, (3) a reduced risk of developing an IPD due to the absence of common respiratory viruses, (4) community azithromycin use in COVID-19 infected individuals, (5) and a longer carriage duration of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal strains. Among 31 possible pandemic scenarios involving mechanisms individually or in combination, model simulations surprisingly identified only two scenarios that reproduced the reported trends in the general population. They included factors (1), (3), and (4). These scenarios replicated a nearly 50% reduction in annual IPD, and an increase in antibiotic resistance from 20% to 22%, all while maintaining a relatively stable pneumococcal carriage. Exploring further, higher SARS-CoV-2 R0 values and synergistic within-host virus-bacteria interaction mechanisms could have additionally contributed to the observed antibiotic resistance increase. Our work demonstrates the utility of the mathematical modeling approach in unraveling the complex effects of the COVID-19 pandemic responses on AMR dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Kovacevic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Modelling of Antibiotic Evasion (EMAE) unitParisFrance
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm U1018, CESP, Anti-infective evasion and pharmacoepidemiology teamMontigny-Le-BretonneuxFrance
| | - David RM Smith
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Modelling of Antibiotic Evasion (EMAE) unitParisFrance
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm U1018, CESP, Anti-infective evasion and pharmacoepidemiology teamMontigny-Le-BretonneuxFrance
- Modélisation, épidémiologie et surveillance des risques sanitaires (MESuRS), Conservatoire national des arts et métiersParisFrance
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Health, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Eve Rahbé
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Modelling of Antibiotic Evasion (EMAE) unitParisFrance
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm U1018, CESP, Anti-infective evasion and pharmacoepidemiology teamMontigny-Le-BretonneuxFrance
| | - Sophie Novelli
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm U1018, CESP, Anti-infective evasion and pharmacoepidemiology teamMontigny-Le-BretonneuxFrance
| | - Paul Henriot
- Modélisation, épidémiologie et surveillance des risques sanitaires (MESuRS), Conservatoire national des arts et métiersParisFrance
- PACRI unit, Institut Pasteur, Conservatoire national des arts et métiersParisFrance
| | - Emmanuelle Varon
- Centre National de Référence des Pneumocoques, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de CréteilCréteilFrance
| | - Robert Cohen
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale-Groupe de Recherche Clinique Groupe d’Etude des Maladies Infectieuses Néonatales et Infantiles (IMRB-GRC GEMINI), Université Paris Est, 94000CréteilFrance
- Groupe de Pathologie Infectieuse Pédiatrique (GPIP), 06200NiceFrance
- Unité Court Séjour, Petits Nourrissons, Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier, Intercommunal de CréteilCréteilFrance
- Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val-de-Marne (ACTIV), 94000CréteilFrance
- Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (AFPA), 45000OrléansFrance
| | - Corinne Levy
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale-Groupe de Recherche Clinique Groupe d’Etude des Maladies Infectieuses Néonatales et Infantiles (IMRB-GRC GEMINI), Université Paris Est, 94000CréteilFrance
- Groupe de Pathologie Infectieuse Pédiatrique (GPIP), 06200NiceFrance
- Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val-de-Marne (ACTIV), 94000CréteilFrance
- Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (AFPA), 45000OrléansFrance
| | - Laura Temime
- Modélisation, épidémiologie et surveillance des risques sanitaires (MESuRS), Conservatoire national des arts et métiersParisFrance
- PACRI unit, Institut Pasteur, Conservatoire national des arts et métiersParisFrance
| | - Lulla Opatowski
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Modelling of Antibiotic Evasion (EMAE) unitParisFrance
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm U1018, CESP, Anti-infective evasion and pharmacoepidemiology teamMontigny-Le-BretonneuxFrance
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Read B, McLeod M, Tonkin-Crine S, Ashiru-Oredope D, Quigley A, Brown CS, Lecky DM. Changes in public health-seeking behaviours for self-limiting respiratory tract infections across England during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eur J Public Health 2023; 33:987-993. [PMID: 37561411 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND National Health Service (NHS) guidance for acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs) advocates self-care, encourages utilization of local pharmacies and recommends consulting general practitioners (GPs) primarily for the vulnerable or those with persistent symptoms. Coronavirus disease 2019 exerted substantial strain on the English NHS, affecting public access to primary care services. METHODS For 3 years, public surveys assessed RTI incidences in the previous 12 months and associated health-seeking behaviours. Telephone surveys of 1676 respondents across England were conducted in March 2021 and 1663 respondents in March 2022. Findings were compared with a face-to-face baseline survey of 2022 respondents from March 2020. Key demographics were representative of the population. RESULTS In 2021, the proportion of respondents who reported an RTI (51%) significantly declined from 2020 (70%, P < 0.05), then returned to pre-pandemic rates in 2022 (67%). Respondents reported more proactive symptom management in both 2021 and 2022 from 2020: there were greater reports of seeking over-the-counter treatments (55%, 55% vs. 35%, P < 0.05) and use of alternative remedies (38%, 38% vs. 21%, P < 0.05). 2022 observed a reduction in those who reported consulting their GP for their most recent RTI (15%) compared to 2021 (25%, P < 0.05) and 2020 (23%), which was not accounted for through greater consultation rates with other healthcare services. CONCLUSIONS Public health bodies should consider how pandemic-related changes may have facilitated increased self-care for self-limiting infections such as RTIs. Resources and support must include safety-netting advice to safeguard against unintentional consequences of increased self-care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brieze Read
- Healthcare-Associated Infection, Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial Use & Sepsis Division, United Kingdom Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Monsey McLeod
- Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah Tonkin-Crine
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Diane Ashiru-Oredope
- Healthcare-Associated Infection, Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial Use & Sepsis Division, United Kingdom Health Security Agency, London, UK
- Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Anna Quigley
- Social Research Institute, Ipsos MORI UK Ltd, London, UK
| | - Colin S Brown
- Healthcare-Associated Infection, Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial Use & Sepsis Division, United Kingdom Health Security Agency, London, UK
- Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Donna M Lecky
- Healthcare-Associated Infection, Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial Use & Sepsis Division, United Kingdom Health Security Agency, London, UK
- Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Blair PS, Young GJ, Clement C, Dixon P, Seume P, Ingram J, Taylor J, Horwood J, Lucas PJ, Cabral C, Francis NA, Beech E, Gulliford M, Creavin S, Lane JA, Bevan S, Hay AD. A multifaceted intervention to reduce antibiotic prescribing among CHIldren with acute COugh and respiratory tract infection: the CHICO cluster RCT. Health Technol Assess 2023; 27:1-110. [PMID: 38204218 PMCID: PMC11017154 DOI: 10.3310/ucth3411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Clinical uncertainty in primary care regarding the prognosis of children with respiratory tract infections contributes to the unnecessary use of antibiotics. Improved identification of children at low risk of future hospitalisation might reduce clinical uncertainty. A National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded 5-year programme (RP-PG-0608-10018) was used to develop and feasibility test an intervention. Objectives The aim of the children with acute cough randomised controlled trial was to reduce antibiotic prescribing among children presenting with acute cough and respiratory tract infection without increasing hospital admission. Design An efficient, pragmatic open-label, two-arm trial (with embedded qualitative and health economic analyses) using practice-level randomisation using routinely collected data as the primary outcome. Setting General practitioner practices in England. Participants General practitioner practices using the Egton Medical Information Systems® patient-record system for children aged 0-9 years presenting with a cough or upper respiratory tract infection. Recruited by Clinical Research Networks and Clinical Commissioning Groups. Intervention Comprised: (1) elicitation of parental concerns during consultation; (2) a clinician-focused prognostic algorithm to identify children with acute cough and respiratory tract infection at low, average or elevated risk of hospitalisation in the next 30 days accompanied by prescribing guidance, (3) provision of a printout for carers including safety-netting advice. Main outcome measures Co-primaries using the practice list-size for children aged 0-9 years as the denominator: rate of dispensed amoxicillin and macrolide items at each practice (superiority comparison) from NHS Business Services Authority ePACT2 and rate of hospital admission for respiratory tract infection (non-inferiority comparison) from Clinical Commissioning Groups, both routinely collected over 12 months. Results Of the 310 practices required, 294 (95%) were recruited (144 intervention and 150 controls) with 336,496 registered 0-9-year-olds (5% of all 0-9-year-old children in England) from 47 Clinical Commissioning Groups. Included practices were slightly larger than those not included, had slightly lower baseline dispensing rates and were located in more deprived areas (reflecting the distribution for practice postcodes nationally). Twelve practices (4%) subsequently withdrew (six related to the pandemic). The median number of times the intervention was used was 70 per practice (by a median of 9 clinicians) over 12 months. There was no evidence that the antibiotic dispensing rate in the intervention practices [0.155 (95% confidence interval 0.135 to 0.179)] differed to controls [0.154 (95% confidence interval 0.130 to 0.182), relative risk= 1.011 (95% confidence interval 0.992 to 1.029); p = 0.253]. There was, overall, a reduction in dispensing levels and intervention usage during the pandemic. The rate of hospitalisation for respiratory tract infection in the intervention practices [0.019 (95% confidence interval 0.014 to 0.026)] compared to the controls [0.021 (95% confidence interval 0.014 to 0.029)] was non-inferior [relative risk = 0.952 (95% confidence interval 0.905 to 1.003)]. The qualitative evaluation found the clinicians liked the intervention, used it as a supportive aid, especially with borderline cases but that it, did not always integrate well within the consultation flow and was used less over time. The economic evaluation found no evidence of a difference in mean National Health Service costs between arms; mean difference -£1999 (95% confidence interval -£6627 to 2630). Conclusions The intervention was feasible and subjectively useful to practitioners, with no evidence of harm in terms of hospitalisations, but did not impact on antibiotic prescribing rates. Future work and limitations Although the intervention does not appear to change prescribing behaviour, elements of the approach may be used in the design of future interventions. Trial registration This trial is registered as ISRCTN11405239 (date assigned 20 April 2018) at www.controlled-trials.com (accessed 5 September 2022). Version 4.0 of the protocol is available at: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/ (accessed 5 September 2022). Funding This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (NIHR award ref: 16/31/98) programme and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 27, No. 32. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Blair
- Centre for Academic Child Health, University of Bristol, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Grace J Young
- Bristol Trials Centre (Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration), Bristol Medical School, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Clare Clement
- Bristol Trials Centre (Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration), Bristol Medical School, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Padraig Dixon
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Penny Seume
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jenny Ingram
- Centre for Academic Child Health, University of Bristol, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Jodi Taylor
- Bristol Trials Centre (Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration), Bristol Medical School, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jeremy Horwood
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Christie Cabral
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Nick A Francis
- Primary Care and Population Sciences, University of Southampton, Aldermoor Health Centre, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Martin Gulliford
- School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sam Creavin
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Janet A Lane
- Bristol Trials Centre (Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration), Bristol Medical School, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Scott Bevan
- Bristol Trials Centre (Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration), Bristol Medical School, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Alastair D Hay
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Yang YT, Zhong X, Fahmi A, Watts S, Ashcroft DM, Massey J, Fisher L, MacKenna B, Mehrkar A, Bacon SCJ, Goldacre B, Hand K, van Staa T, Palin V. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of common infections in primary care and the change to antibiotic prescribing in England. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2023; 12:102. [PMID: 37717030 PMCID: PMC10504725 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-023-01280-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is concern that the COVID-19 pandemic altered the management of common infections in primary care. This study aimed to evaluate infection-coded consultation rates and antibiotic use during the pandemic and how any change may have affected clinical outcomes. METHODS With the approval of NHS England, a retrospective cohort study using the OpenSAFELY platform analysed routinely collected electronic health data from GP practices in England between January 2019 and December 2021. Infection coded consultations and antibiotic prescriptions were used estimate multiple measures over calendar months, including age-sex adjusted prescribing rates, prescribing by infection and antibiotic type, infection consultation rates, coding quality and rate of same-day antibiotic prescribing for COVID-19 infections. Interrupted time series (ITS) estimated the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on infection-coded consultation rates. The impact of the pandemic on non- COVID-19 infection-related hospitalisations was also estimated. RESULTS Records from 24 million patients were included. The rate of infection-related consultations fell for all infections (mean reduction of 39% in 2020 compared to 2019 mean rate), except for UTI which remained stable. Modelling infection-related consultation rates highlighted this with an incidence rate ratio of 0.44 (95% CI 0.36-0.53) for incident consultations and 0.43 (95% CI 0.33-0.54) for prevalent consultations. Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) saw the largest reduction of 0.11 (95% CI 0.07-0.17). Antibiotic prescribing rates fell with a mean reduction of 118.4 items per 1000 patients in 2020, returning to pre-pandemic rates by summer 2021. Prescribing for LRTI decreased 20% and URTI increased 15.9%. Over 60% of antibiotics were issued without an associated same-day infection code, which increased during the pandemic. Infection-related hospitalisations reduced (by 62%), with the largest reduction observed for pneumonia infections (72.9%). Same-day antibiotic prescribing for COVID-19 infection increased from 1 to 10.5% between the second and third national lockdowns and rose again during 2022. CONCLUSIONS Changes to consultations and hospital admissions may be driven by reduced transmission of non-COVID-19 infections due to reduced social mixing and lockdowns. Inconsistencies in coding practice emphasises the need for improvement to inform new antibiotic stewardship policies and prevent resistance to novel infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ting Yang
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Xiaomin Zhong
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Ali Fahmi
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Simon Watts
- Health Education England, Manchester, M1 3BN, UK
| | - Darren M Ashcroft
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jon Massey
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX26GG, UK
| | - Louis Fisher
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX26GG, UK
| | - Brian MacKenna
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX26GG, UK
| | - Amir Mehrkar
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX26GG, UK
| | - Sebastian C J Bacon
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX26GG, UK
| | - Ben Goldacre
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX26GG, UK
| | - Kieran Hand
- NHS England, Wellington House, Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, UK
| | - Tjeerd van Staa
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Victoria Palin
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.
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7
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Aldeyab MA, Crowe W, Karasneh RA, Patterson L, Sartaj M, Ewing J, Lattyak WJ, Al-Azzam S, Araydah M, Darwish Elhajji F, Kabbaha S, Conway BR, Conlon-Bingham G, Farren D, Scott M. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic consumption and prevalence of pathogens in primary and secondary healthcare settings in Northern Ireland. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2023; 89:2851-2866. [PMID: 37160725 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.15778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the patterns of antimicrobial use and the incidence of pathogens in primary and secondary healthcare settings in Northern Ireland. METHODS Data were collected on antibiotic use and Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens from primary and secondary healthcare settings in Northern Ireland for the period before (January 2015-March 2020) and during (April 2020-December 2021) the pandemic. Time series intervention analysis methods were utilized. RESULTS In the hospital setting, the mean total hospital antibiotic consumption during the pandemic was 1864.5 defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1000 occupied-bed days (OBD), showing no significant change from pre-pandemic (P = .7365). During the pandemic, the use of second-generation cephalosporins, third-generation cephalosporins, co-amoxiclav and levofloxacin increased, there was a decrease in the percentage use of the hospital Access group (P = .0083) and an increase in the percentage use of Watch group (P = .0040), and the number of hospital Klebsiella oxytoca and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus cases increased. In primary care, the mean total antibiotic consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic was 20.53 DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID), compared to 25.56 DID before the COVID-19 pandemic (P = .0071). During the pandemic, there was a decrease in the use of several antibiotic classes, an increase in the percentage use of the Reserve group (P = .0032) and an increase in the number of community-onset Pseudomonas aeruginosa cases. CONCLUSION This study provides details of both changes in antibiotic consumption and the prevalence of infections in hospitals and primary care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic that emphasize the importance of antimicrobial stewardship in pandemic situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamoon A Aldeyab
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK
| | - William Crowe
- Public Health Agency, Health Protection Service, Belfast, UK
| | - Reema A Karasneh
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Lynsey Patterson
- Public Health Agency, Health Protection Service, Belfast, UK
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Muhammad Sartaj
- Global Health Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Judith Ewing
- Public Health Agency, Health Protection Service, Belfast, UK
| | | | - Sayer Al-Azzam
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | | | - Feras Darwish Elhajji
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Suad Kabbaha
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Barbara R Conway
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK
- Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK
| | | | - David Farren
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Antrim Area Hospital, Antrim, UK
| | - Michael Scott
- Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre, Northern Health Social Care Trust, Antrim, UK
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8
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Zhong X, Pate A, Yang YT, Fahmi A, Ashcroft DM, Goldacre B, MacKenna B, Mehrkar A, Bacon SCJ, Massey J, Fisher L, Inglesby P, Hand K, van Staa T, Palin V. Impact of COVID-19 on broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing for common infections in primary care in England: a time-series analyses using OpenSAFELY and effects of predictors including deprivation. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE 2023; 30:100653. [PMID: 37363797 PMCID: PMC10186397 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the healthcare systems, adding extra pressure to reduce antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate changes in antibiotic prescription patterns after COVID-19 started. Methods With the approval of NHS England, we used the OpenSAFELY platform to access the TPP SystmOne electronic health record (EHR) system in primary care and selected patients prescribed antibiotics from 2019 to 2021. To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing, we evaluated prescribing rates and its predictors and used interrupted time series analysis by fitting binomial logistic regression models. Findings Over 32 million antibiotic prescriptions were extracted over the study period; 8.7% were broad-spectrum. The study showed increases in broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing (odds ratio [OR] 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-1.38) as an immediate impact of the pandemic, followed by a gradual recovery with a 1.1-1.2% decrease in odds of broad-spectrum prescription per month. The same pattern was found within subgroups defined by age, sex, region, ethnicity, and socioeconomic deprivation quintiles. More deprived patients were more likely to receive broad-spectrum antibiotics, which differences remained stable over time. The most significant increase in broad-spectrum prescribing was observed for lower respiratory tract infection (OR 2.33; 95% CI 2.1-2.50) and otitis media (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.80-2.13). Interpretation An immediate reduction in antibiotic prescribing and an increase in the proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing in primary care was observed. The trends recovered to pre-pandemic levels, but the consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic on AMR needs further investigation. Funding This work was supported by Health Data Research UK and by National Institute for Health Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Zhong
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Alexander Pate
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Ya-Ting Yang
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Ali Fahmi
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Darren M. Ashcroft
- Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Ben Goldacre
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Brian MacKenna
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
- NHS England, Wellington House, Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, UK
| | - Amir Mehrkar
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Sebastian CJ. Bacon
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Jon Massey
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Louis Fisher
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Peter Inglesby
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - the OpenSAFELY collaborative
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Kieran Hand
- Pharmacy Department, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK
- NHS England, Wellington House, Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, UK
| | - Tjeerd van Staa
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Victoria Palin
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Maternal and Fetal Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, the University of Manchester, St Marys Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
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9
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Leis JA. Judicious antibiotic prescribing in primary care. BMJ 2023; 381:846. [PMID: 37100450 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jerome A Leis
- Divsion of Infectious Diseases, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine and Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, University of Toronto, ON, Canada
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10
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Blair PS, Young G, Clement C, Dixon P, Seume P, Ingram J, Taylor J, Cabral C, Lucas PJ, Beech E, Horwood J, Gulliford M, Francis NA, Creavin S, Lane JA, Bevan S, Hay AD. Multi-faceted intervention to improve management of antibiotics for children presenting to primary care with acute cough and respiratory tract infection (CHICO): efficient cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2023; 381:e072488. [PMID: 37100446 PMCID: PMC10131137 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-072488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess whether an easy-to-use multifaceted intervention for children presenting to primary care with respiratory tract infections would reduce antibiotic dispensing, without increasing hospital admissions for respiratory tract infection. DESIGN Two arm randomised controlled trial clustered by general practice, using routine outcome data, with qualitative and economic evaluations. SETTING English primary care practices using the EMIS electronic medical record system. PARTICIPANTS Children aged 0-9 years presenting with respiratory tract infection at 294 general practices, before and during the covid-19 pandemic. INTERVENTION Elicitation of parental concerns during consultation; a clinician focused prognostic algorithm to identify children at very low, normal, or elevated 30 day risk of hospital admission accompanied by antibiotic prescribing guidance; and a leaflet for carers including safety netting advice. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Rate of dispensed amoxicillin and macrolide antibiotics (superiority comparison) and hospital admissions for respiratory tract infection (non-inferiority comparison) for children aged 0-9 years over 12 months (same age practice list size as denominator). RESULTS Of 310 practices needed, 294 (95%) were randomised (144 intervention and 150 controls) representing 5% of all registered 0-9 year olds in England. Of these, 12 (4%) subsequently withdrew (six owing to the pandemic). Median intervention use per practice was 70 (by a median of 9 clinicians). No evidence was found that antibiotic dispensing differed between intervention practices (155 (95% confidence interval 138 to 174) items/year/1000 children) and control practices (157 (140 to 176) items/year/1000 children) (rate ratio 1.011, 95% confidence interval 0.992 to 1.029; P=0.25). Pre-specified subgroup analyses suggested reduced dispensing in intervention practices with fewer prescribing nurses, in single site (compared with multisite) practices, and in practices located in areas of lower socioeconomic deprivation, which may warrant future investigation. Pre-specified sensitivity analysis suggested reduced dispensing among older children in the intervention arm (P=0.03). A post hoc sensitivity analysis suggested less dispensing in intervention practices before the pandemic (rate ratio 0.967, 0.946 to 0.989; P=0.003). The rate of hospital admission for respiratory tract infections in the intervention practices (13 (95% confidence interval 10 to 18) admissions/1000 children) was non-inferior compared with control practices (15 (12 to 20) admissions/1000 children) (rate ratio 0.952, 0.905 to 1.003). CONCLUSIONS This multifaceted antibiotic stewardship intervention for children with respiratory tract infections did not reduce overall antibiotic dispensing or increase respiratory tract infection related hospital admissions. Evidence suggested that in some subgroups and situations (for example, under non-pandemic conditions) the intervention slightly reduced prescribing rates but not in a clinically relevant way. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN11405239ISRCTN registry ISRCTN11405239.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Blair
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Grace Young
- Bristol Trials Centre, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Clare Clement
- Bristol Trials Centre, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - P Dixon
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Penny Seume
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jenny Ingram
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jodi Taylor
- Bristol Trials Centre, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Christie Cabral
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | | | - Jeremy Horwood
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Martin Gulliford
- King's College London, School of Population and Life Course Sciences London, UKPrimary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care Population Sciences and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Sam Creavin
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Janet A Lane
- Bristol Trials Centre, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Scott Bevan
- Bristol Trials Centre, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Alistair D Hay
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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11
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Yang Z, Bou-Antoun S, Gerver S, Cowling TE, Freeman R. Sustained increases in antibiotic prescriptions per primary care consultation for upper respiratory tract infections in England during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAC Antimicrob Resist 2023; 5:dlad012. [PMID: 36789176 PMCID: PMC9921722 DOI: 10.1093/jacamr/dlad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The responsible use of existing antimicrobials is essential in reducing the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With the introduction of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial reduction in face-to-face appointments in general practice was observed. To understand if this shift in healthcare provision has impacted on prescribing practices, we investigated antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) consultations. Methods We conducted an interrupted time-series analysis using patient-level primary care data to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consultations and antibiotic prescribing for URTI in England. Results We estimated an increase of 105.7 antibiotic items per 1000 URTI consultations (95% CI: 65.6-145.8; P < 0.001) after national lockdown measures in March 2020, with increases mostly sustained to May 2022. Conclusions Overuse of antibiotics is known to be a driver of resistance and it is essential that efforts to reduce inappropriate prescribing continue subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further work should examine drivers of increased antibiotic prescribing for URTI to inform the development of targeted antibiotic stewardship interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheyuan Yang
- Real World Solutions, IQVIA, 37 North Wharf Road, London W2 1AF, UK,Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Sabine Bou-Antoun
- HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Sarah Gerver
- HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Thomas E Cowling
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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