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Llor C, Benkő R, Bjerrum L. Global restriction of the over-the-counter sale of antimicrobials: does it make sense? Front Public Health 2024; 12:1412644. [PMID: 39022420 PMCID: PMC11251895 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1412644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carl Llor
- University Institute in Primary Care Research Jordi Gol, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Madrid, Spain
- Research Unit for General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Ria Benkő
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Lars Bjerrum
- Section and Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Abdellatife OE, Makowsky MJ. Factors influencing Implementation of point-of-care testing for acute respiratory infectious diseases in community pharmacies: A scoping review using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation research. Res Social Adm Pharm 2024; 20:1-24. [PMID: 38431516 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2024.02.009] [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] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests pharmacy-based point-of-care (POC) testing for acute respiratory infectious diseases is beneficial, but not widely implemented. A theory-informed review to understand the factors influencing service Implementation is lacking. OBJECTIVE To examine the extent, range, and nature of research available on enablers and barriers to POC testing Implementation for infectious respiratory diseases in community pharmacies and identify their underpinning theoretical constructs using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). METHODS Scoping review guided by the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. A comprehensive search from inception to June 28th, 2022 was conducted using Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest dissertations without date or language restriction. Eligible articles investigated barriers and/or facilitators to strep throat, influenza, C-reactive protein, and COVID-19 POC testing in community pharmacies. Two reviewers independently performed title & abstract screening, full-text screening, and data extraction. Content analysis was conducted according to a pre-established Framework and concepts were mapped to the CFIR. RESULTS Forty-three studies were included. Most originated from the USA (n = 24; 56%) and investigated strep throat. The majority were testing/initial Implementation projects (n = 23; 54%) conducted in urban centers (n = 17; 40%). Thirty-six (84%) studies used quantitative methodology, while 6 (14%) were qualitative. Only four studies (9%) used theory to guide their inquiry. The 124 identified Implementation factors mapped onto 21 CFIR constructs, covering all 5 domains. The domain "Outer setting" (n = 35/43; 81%) was most prevalent as were the constructs "Patient needs and resources," (n = 21/43; 49%) "External policy & incentives," (n = 17/43; 40%) and "Relative advantage" (n = 17/43; 40%). CONCLUSION A large volume of research explores factors influencing the Implementation of pharmacy-based respiratory infectious disease POC testing services, but few studies use qualitative or theory-informed methods. Knowledge of the wide range of facilitators and barriers identified can help pharmacy managers and researchers design strategies to support successful service Implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar E Abdellatife
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 1C9
| | - Mark J Makowsky
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 1C9.
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Gu X, Watson C, Agrawal U, Whitaker H, Elson WH, Anand S, Borrow R, Buckingham A, Button E, Curtis L, Dunn D, Elliot AJ, Ferreira F, Goudie R, Hoang U, Hoschler K, Jamie G, Kar D, Kele B, Leston M, Linley E, Macartney J, Marsden GL, Okusi C, Parvizi O, Quinot C, Sebastianpillai P, Sexton V, Smith G, Suli T, Thomas NPB, Thompson C, Todkill D, Wimalaratna R, Inada-Kim M, Andrews N, Tzortziou-Brown V, Byford R, Zambon M, Lopez-Bernal J, de Lusignan S. Postpandemic Sentinel Surveillance of Respiratory Diseases in the Context of the World Health Organization Mosaic Framework: Protocol for a Development and Evaluation Study Involving the English Primary Care Network 2023-2024. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2024; 10:e52047. [PMID: 38569175 PMCID: PMC11024753 DOI: 10.2196/52047] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prepandemic sentinel surveillance focused on improved management of winter pressures, with influenza-like illness (ILI) being the key clinical indicator. The World Health Organization (WHO) global standards for influenza surveillance include monitoring acute respiratory infection (ARI) and ILI. The WHO's mosaic framework recommends that the surveillance strategies of countries include the virological monitoring of respiratory viruses with pandemic potential such as influenza. The Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioner Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has provided sentinel surveillance since 1967, including virology since 1993. OBJECTIVE We aim to describe the RSC's plans for sentinel surveillance in the 2023-2024 season and evaluate these plans against the WHO mosaic framework. METHODS Our approach, which includes patient and public involvement, contributes to surveillance objectives across all 3 domains of the mosaic framework. We will generate an ARI phenotype to enable reporting of this indicator in addition to ILI. These data will support UKHSA's sentinel surveillance, including vaccine effectiveness and burden of disease studies. The panel of virology tests analyzed in UKHSA's reference laboratory will remain unchanged, with additional plans for point-of-care testing, pneumococcus testing, and asymptomatic screening. Our sampling framework for serological surveillance will provide greater representativeness and more samples from younger people. We will create a biomedical resource that enables linkage between clinical data held in the RSC and virology data, including sequencing data, held by the UKHSA. We describe the governance framework for the RSC. RESULTS We are co-designing our communication about data sharing and sampling, contextualized by the mosaic framework, with national and general practice patient and public involvement groups. We present our ARI digital phenotype and the key data RSC network members are requested to include in computerized medical records. We will share data with the UKHSA to report vaccine effectiveness for COVID-19 and influenza, assess the disease burden of respiratory syncytial virus, and perform syndromic surveillance. Virological surveillance will include COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and other common respiratory viruses. We plan to pilot point-of-care testing for group A streptococcus, urine tests for pneumococcus, and asymptomatic testing. We will integrate test requests and results with the laboratory-computerized medical record system. A biomedical resource will enable research linking clinical data to virology data. The legal basis for the RSC's pseudonymized data extract is The Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002, and all nonsurveillance uses require research ethics approval. CONCLUSIONS The RSC extended its surveillance activities to meet more but not all of the mosaic framework's objectives. We have introduced an ARI indicator. We seek to expand our surveillance scope and could do more around transmissibility and the benefits and risks of nonvaccine therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinchun Gu
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Conall Watson
- Immunisation and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Utkarsh Agrawal
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Heather Whitaker
- Statistics, Modelling and Economics Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - William H Elson
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sneha Anand
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ray Borrow
- Vaccine Evaluation Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Elizabeth Button
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lottie Curtis
- Royal College of General Practitioners, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic Dunn
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alex J Elliot
- Real-time Syndromic Surveillance Team, UK Health Security Agency, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Filipa Ferreira
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rosalind Goudie
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Uy Hoang
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Katja Hoschler
- Respiratory Virus Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin Jamie
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Debasish Kar
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Beatrix Kele
- Respiratory Virus Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Meredith Leston
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ezra Linley
- Vaccine Evaluation Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Macartney
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma L Marsden
- Royal College of General Practitioners, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cecilia Okusi
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Omid Parvizi
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Respiratory Virus Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Quinot
- Immunisation and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Vanashree Sexton
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian Smith
- Real-time Syndromic Surveillance Team, UK Health Security Agency, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Timea Suli
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Catherine Thompson
- Respiratory Virus Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Todkill
- Real-time Syndromic Surveillance Team, UK Health Security Agency, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rashmi Wimalaratna
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Nick Andrews
- Immunisation and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Rachel Byford
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Zambon
- Virus Reference Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie Lopez-Bernal
- Immunisation and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon de Lusignan
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Mantzourani E, Ahmed H, Evans A, Gunnarsson R, Cannings-John R. A pharmacy-led sore throat test and treat (STTT) service: antigen testing and antibiotic supply rates during the period of heightened public awareness of Group A Streptococcus infections. J Antimicrob Chemother 2024; 79:354-359. [PMID: 38134314 PMCID: PMC10832601 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community pharmacies in Wales delivered an NHS-funded sore throat test and treat (STTT) service during the period of increased invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS) incidents in winter 2022-23. Service users were screened using FeverPAIN/CENTOR scores, offered GAS rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) if appropriate, and antibiotics if indicated. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the service's response to a substantial rise in sore throat presentations during a period of heightened public anxiety. METHODS Cross-sectional study with anonymized individual-level data from electronic pharmacy records of all eligible STTT service users, between January 2022 and March 2023. RESULTS Antibiotics were supplied to 24% (95% CI: 23-24) of people who used the STTT service and 31% (95% CI: 31-32) of those who met the threshold for an RADT. Of 27 441 STTT consultations, 9308 (33.9%) occurred during December 2022. In the week commencing 2 December 2022, following the announcements of increased iGAS incidents, we observed a statistically significant increase of 1700 consultations (95% CI: 924-2476) and a statistically significant decrease in supply rate of 13.9 antibiotics per 100 RADT (95% CI: -18.40 to -9.40). Antibiotic supply rates increased thereafter to those observed before the announcements of iGAS incidents. Referral rates to other primary care or emergency settings remained below 10% throughout the study period. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that, despite a dramatic increase in sore throat consultation rates in response to media reports, the pre-specified pathway followed by pharmacists ensured appropriate use of antibiotics, and absorbed a substantial workload that would otherwise end up in other healthcare settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efi Mantzourani
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK
- Clinical Informatics, Digital Health and Care Wales, NHS Wales, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Haroon Ahmed
- Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Andrew Evans
- Primary Care Services, Welsh Government, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Ronny Gunnarsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Region Västra Götaland, Research, Development, Education and Innovation, Primary Health Care, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Peiter T, Haering M, Bradic S, Coutinho G, Kostev K. Reducing Antibiotic Misuse through the Use of Point-of-Care Tests in Germany: A Survey of 1257 Medical Practices. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2466. [PMID: 37685500 PMCID: PMC10487863 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11172466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Though more than 80% of acute pharyngitis (AP) cases have a viral etiology, it remains one of the most common causes for the unnecessary prescription of antibiotics (ABs). Half of patients receive antibiotics in general practice. Point-of-Care Tests (POCTs) distinguish between bacterial and viral pharyngitis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of POCTs using throat swabs to detect β-Streptococcus pyogenes Group A (strep A) infection among patients with sore throat/acute pharyngitis in primary care practices across Germany. A study was conducted in 1257 primary care practices. Two questionnaires were administered concerning frequency, POCT results and whether antibiotics were prescribed. Of the 1257 physicians, 60% used POCTs. Of these, 25% used a POCT before prescribing an antibiotic, 39% in cases of severe sore throat, 40% in cases of long-lasting pharyngitis and 25% in other cases. In total, 83% considered the adoption of POCTs in everyday practice to be important or very important for the diagnosis of strep A, 90% considered it important or very important for achieving a more sensible use of antibiotics and the prevention of bacterial resistance and 80% considered it important or very important for justifying to patients whether or not an antibiotic is needed. POCT results and information on AB prescriptions were available for 583 patients. Of these, 22.5% tested positive for strep A, and 21.8% were prescribed antibiotics. Our study shows that the use of swab tests in patients with sore throat in primary care practices results in high levels of physician satisfaction and can strongly reduce the misuse of antibiotics in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Peiter
- Reckitt Benckiser Deutschland GmbH, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany; (M.H.)
| | - Monika Haering
- Reckitt Benckiser Deutschland GmbH, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany; (M.H.)
| | - Spasenija Bradic
- Reckitt Benckiser Deutschland GmbH, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany; (M.H.)
| | | | - Karel Kostev
- University Hospital, Philipps-University, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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Jawad S, Buckingham A, Richardson C, Molloy A, Owolabi B, Inada-Kim M. Acute Respiratory Infection Hubs: A Service Model with Potential to Optimise Infection Management. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12050819. [PMID: 37237721 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12050819] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with acute respiratory infections (ARI)-including those with upper and lower respiratory infections from both bacterial and viral pathogens-are one of the most common reasons for acute deterioration, with large numbers of potentially avoidable hospital admissions. The acute respiratory infection hubs model was developed to improve healthcare access and quality of care for these patients. This article outlines the implementation of this model and its potential impacts in a number of areas. Firstly, by improving healthcare access for patients with respiratory infections by increasing the capacity for assessment in community and non-emergency department settings and also by providing flexible response to surges in demand and reducing primary and secondary care demand. Secondly, by optimising infection management (including the use of point-of-care diagnostics and standardised best practise guidance to improve appropriate antimicrobial usage) and reducing nosocomial transmission by cohorting those with suspected ARI away from those with non-infective presentations. Thirdly, by addressing healthcare inequalities; in areas of greatest deprivation, acute respiratory infection is strongly linked with increased emergency department attendance. Fourthly, by reducing the National Health Service's (NHS) carbon footprint. Finally, by providing a wonderful opportunity to gather community infection management data to enable large-scale evaluation and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jawad
- Department of Infection Sciences, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | | | - Charlotte Richardson
- Department of Infection Sciences, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK
- NHS England, Wellington House, London SE1 8UG, UK
| | - Aoife Molloy
- NHS England, Wellington House, London SE1 8UG, UK
- Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust, London NW3 2QG, UK
| | - Bola Owolabi
- NHS England, Wellington House, London SE1 8UG, UK
- Institute of Applied Health Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2SQ, UK
| | - Matt Inada-Kim
- NHS England, Wellington House, London SE1 8UG, UK
- Clinical & Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Wessex Academic Health Science Network, Chilworth, Southampton SO16 7NP, UK
- Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hampshire, UK
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Rayan RA. Flare of the silent pandemic in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: Obstacles and opportunities. World J Clin Cases 2023; 11:1267-1274. [PMID: 36926133 PMCID: PMC10013119 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i6.1267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
A noteworthy public health problem, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been impeded in many ways by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This narrative review discusses the two-sided impact of COVID-19 on the magnitude of AMR. The pandemic has put tremendous strain on healthcare systems, diverting resources, personnel, and attention away from AMR diagnosis and management toward COVID-19 diagnosis and contact tracking and tracing. AMR research has been severely hampered, and surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs have been de-emphasized, delayed, or halted. Antibiotics, particularly broad-spectrum, were prescribed more frequently without diagnostic confirmation of bacterial infection than before the pandemic. Nonetheless, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of healthcare systems in controlling infectious disease threats and raised awareness of the importance of infection prevention and control. Yet, the pandemic has created opportunities to capitalize on positive effects on AMR management. The review concludes that it is now more important than ever to focus on AMR and strengthen AMS programs to ensure appropriate antibiotic use and other AMR prevention measures in healthcare. We must ensure that one of the COVID-19 legacies is increased support for AMR research, diagnostic implementation, appropriate diagnostic stewardship, and the strengthening of our health systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that prevention is better than cure. Countries will need to step up their efforts to combat AMR as a multidisciplinary community. We must prepare our public health systems to combat multiple threats at the same time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehab A Rayan
- Department of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria 55555, Egypt
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Mantzourani E, Wasag D, Cannings-John R, Ahmed H, Evans A. Characteristics of the sore throat test and treat service in community pharmacies (STREP) in Wales: cross-sectional analysis of 11 304 consultations using anonymized electronic pharmacy records. J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 78:84-92. [PMID: 36272134 PMCID: PMC9780525 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An NHS-funded sore throat test and treat (STTT) service was introduced in selected community pharmacies in Wales. Service users were screened using FeverPAIN/Centor scores, offered rapid antigen detection testing (RADT) to detect group A Streptococcus if appropriate, and supplied with antibiotics (by the pharmacist) if indicated. Following an initial evaluation, the service was rolled out nationally. OBJECTIVES This study forms part of the long-term STTT evaluation. The aim was to describe characteristics of the service and service users, the delivery, service outcomes, patient safety and antibiotic prescribing. METHODS Cross-sectional descriptive study using anonymized individual-level data from electronic pharmacy records of all eligible STTT service users between November 2018 and February 2020. RESULTS We identified 11 304 pharmacy STTT consultations in service users aged 6 years and over, with a median age of 25 years (IQR: 12 to 44). RADT was undertaken in 8666 (76.7%) consultations with 2503 (28.9% of RADT) positive tests. In total, 2406 (21.3%) service users were supplied with antibiotics. Pharmacists managed 91% of consultations in the pharmacy and referred only 937 (9.3%) service users to a GP and 27 (0.2%) to the Emergency Department. Higher rates of antibiotic supply were observed in out-of-hours consultations when compared with in-hours (24.9% versus 20.9%). CONCLUSIONS This is the largest description of a pharmacy-led STTT service to date and suggests it can be delivered at scale to align with a pre-specified pathway that promotes appropriate use of RADT and antibiotics. The service could substantially reduce workload from a common illness in other heavily pressurized areas of primary and emergency care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diana Wasag
- Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | | | - Haroon Ahmed
- Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Andrew Evans
- Primary Care Services, Welsh Government, Cardiff, Wales, UK
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Fredrick D. Acute conjunctivitis in children: a sticky issue itching for some answers. J AAPOS 2022; 26:107-108. [PMID: 35430384 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Fredrick
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
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