Implementing an antimicrobial stewardship program in out-patient dialysis units

Intermittent hemodialysis: a review of the top antimicrobial stewardship practices to be employed

The vulnerability of patients on hemodialysis (HD) to infections is evident by their increased susceptibility to infections in general and to resistant organisms in particular. Unnecessary, inappropriate, or suboptimal antimicrobial prescribing is common in dialysis units. This underscores the need for dedicated antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions that can be implemented both in the inpatient and outpatient settings. In this review, we provide a comprehensive approach for clinicians with the most updated coordinated AMS principles in HD setting in six areas: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, education and empowerment, monitoring, and research.

Assessment of drug utilization and potentially inappropriate medications in hemodialysis patients with end-stage renal dysfunction: A study in a tertiary care hospital in Bahrain

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing dialysis pose therapeutic challenges in terms of polypharmacy, administration of potentially inappropriate drugs, and drugs with the potential risk of toxicity.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the use of drugs, potentially inappropriate medicines (PIM), drugs with risk of Torsades de Pointes (TdP), and the complexity of the prescribed regimen using the medication regimen complexity index scale in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was carried out amongst patients receiving hemodialysis. Drugs were classified into one of four classes: (i) drugs used in managing renal complications, (ii) cardiovascular drugs, (iii) anti-diabetic drugs, (iv) drugs for symptomatic management, and (v) others. Drugs were considered as PIM according to the Can-SOLVE CKD working group from a network of Canadian nephrology health professionals. The study adhered to the CredibleMeds classification of drugs with known, possible, and conditional risk of TdP and the complexity of prescribed medicines was evaluated based on the pre-validated medication regimen complexity index scale based on form/route, frequency of dosing, and requirement of special instructions.

RESULTS

Sixty-three participants were included in the study (49 males and 14 females) with the median (range) age of 45 (21-66) years. Cardiovascular drugs followed by drugs used for managing renal complications were the most common classes administered. Notably, 12 (19.1%) patients received one of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 21 (33.3%) received a proton pump inhibitor, three (4.8%) received pregabalin, two (3.2%) received opioid drugs, and one (1.6%) was administered celecoxib. Atorvastatin, furosemide, omeprazole, and allopurinol were the most common PIM drugs administered to the study participants followed by others. Drugs used for symptomatic management had significantly more PIM compared to other classes (p < 0.0001). Six (9.5%) patients received drugs with known TdP risk, one with possible TdP risk, and 61 with conditional risk. Median (range) medical regimen complexity index score was 26.5 (2-62.5).

CONCLUSION

A huge burden of drug therapy was observed in the hemodialysis patients in terms of higher proportions of PIM, complex medical regimen, and prescription of drugs with risk of TdP. Implementation of clinical decision support tools enhancing rational prescription and identification of drugs with TdP risk, introducing antimicrobial stewardship, and stepwise deprescription of the drugs with the least benefit-risk ratio are warranted.

Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy in Older Adults

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) for older adults is a complex process that involves multiple stakeholders and care coordination, but it is a useful and patient-centered tool with opportunities for the treatment of complicated infections, improved patient satisfaction, and reduced health-care costs. Older age should not be an exclusion for OPAT but rather prompt the OPAT provider to thoroughly evaluate candidacy and safety. Amid the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, innovations in OPAT are needed to shepherd OPAT care into a more patient-centered, thoughtful practice, whereas minimizing harm to older patients from unnecessary health-care exposure and thus health-care associated infections.

Study of the Antimicrobial Activity of the Chinese Dong Ethnic Minority Medicine, Madeng’ai

The overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, which poses a challenging task for clinical therapy. Thus, new agents with antibiotic efficacy against multidrug-resistant infections are needed. The traditional Dong ethnic minority medicines have emerged as a new source for prodrug selection. Among them, Madeng'ai (PotentillafreynianaBornm) is widely used by the folk for anti-infection and wound healing, although the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the antimicrobial activities of Dong medicine Madeng'ai were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. S. aureus, E. coli, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and A. baumannii were cultured in LB media, different concentrations of Madeng'ai powder solution were added to the LB agar plates to evaluate minimal inhibitory concentration. An animal study was performed on a mouse excisional wound model combined with bacterial solution injection in the wound area. After Madeng'ai or PBS treatment, hematoxylin and eosin analysis were used for pathological analysis of skin tissues from the infected area. Madeng'ai powder solution over 2 mg/mL concentration completely inhibited E. coli growth. At 4.0 mg/mL, Madeng'ai significantly inhibited the growth of E. faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAE), Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii. The mouse model revealed that Madeng'ai could suppress the growth of MRSA and PAE and accelerate healing of cutaneous wounds. Madeng'ai, a newly discovered Dong ethnic minority medicine possesses considerable antimicrobial activity against both human normal pathogenic bacteria and multiresistance bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S. aureus, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Therefore, Madeng'ai has great potential for further study and clinical application.

Patterns of Antimicrobial Use in an Outpatient Hemodialysis Unit

BACKGROUND

Patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) are at high risk of infections, including those caused by multidrug-resistant organisms. Given that antimicrobial exposure is a major risk factor for the emergence of these resistant organisms, minimizing inappropriate use is imperative. To optimize use, it is important to understand patterns of antimicrobial prescribing in this setting.

OBJECTIVES

To measure antimicrobial use and to describe prescribing patterns among patients receiving outpatient HD.

METHODS

A retrospective observational case series study was performed in an outpatient HD unit from February to April 2017. Adults for whom at least 1 antimicrobial was prescribed were included. The primary outcome was total antimicrobial days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient-days. Secondary outcomes were the characteristics of the antimicrobial prescriptions, in terms of antimicrobial class, indication, purpose, route, and prescriber group.

RESULTS

Antimicrobials were prescribed for 53 (16%) of the 330 patients treated in the HD unit during the study period; the total number of prescriptions was 75. Antimicrobial use was 27.5 DOTs/1000 patient-days. Fluoroquinolones were the most frequently prescribed type of antimicrobial (n = 17, 23%), whereas the second most frequently prescribed were first-generation cephalosporins (n = 16, 21%). The most common indication was skin or soft-tissue infection (n = 14, 19%), followed by bloodstream infection (n = 13, 17%). Of the 75 antimicrobials, 48 (64%) were prescribed for empiric therapy, 19 (25%) for targeted therapy, and 8 (11%) for prophylaxis. Two-thirds of the antimicrobials prescribed (n = 50, 67%) were oral medications, and most (n = 72, 96%) were ordered by hospital prescribers.

CONCLUSIONS

Antimicrobial use was common in this study setting, with 1 in 6 HD patients receiving this type of medication. The findings of this study create opportunities to standardize antimicrobial prescribing at the local level for common infections that occur in patients receiving outpatient HD.

Prevenção e controle de resistência aos antimicrobianos na Atenção Primária à Saúde: evidências para políticas

Resumo A resistência aos antimicrobianos é um problema mundial que põe em risco a segurança da saúde da população. O objetivo deste artigo é identificar e avaliar estratégias para prevenção e controle de resistência microbiana, bem como barreiras para sua implementação em serviços de Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). Realizou-se uma síntese de evidências para políticas. As buscas de evidências foram realizadas entre novembro/dezembro de 2018, em 13 bases de dados. Um diálogo deliberativo foi realizado para validação dos resultados e levantamento de barreiras e facilitadores para implementação das estratégias. As 13 revisões sistemáticas incluídas mostraram que intervenções com foco em educação, uso de sistemas eletrônicos e biomarcadores reduziram o consumo e prescrição de antimicrobianos. É um obstáculo à implementação a expectativa de usuários/cuidadores em receber prescrição de antibióticos, e são facilitadores as ações educativas que envolvem profissionais de saúde. O uso racional de medicamentos se impõe na APS com vistas à prevenção da resistência dos microrganismos aos antibióticos. As intervenções identificadas neste estudo podem ser implementadas isoladamente ou em conjunto, conforme o contexto local.

Opportunities to Improve Antibiotic Prescribing in Outpatient Hemodialysis Facilities: A Report From the American Society of Nephrology and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Antibiotic Stewardship White Paper Writing Group

Antibiotic use is necessary in the outpatient hemodialysis setting because patients receiving hemodialysis are at increased risk for infections and sepsis. However, inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to adverse drug events, including adverse drug reactions and infections with Clostridioides difficile and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Optimizing antibiotic use can decrease adverse events and improve infection cure rates and patient outcomes. The American Society of Nephrology and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created the Antibiotic Stewardship in Hemodialysis White Paper Writing Group, comprising experts in antibiotic stewardship, infectious diseases, nephrology, and public health, to highlight strategies that can improve antibiotic prescribing for patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Based on existing evidence and the unique patient and clinical setting characteristics, the following strategies for improving antibiotic use are reviewed: expanding infection and sepsis prevention activities, standardizing blood culture collection processes, treating methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infections with β-lactams, optimizing communication between nurses and prescribing providers, and improving data sharing across transitions of care. Collaboration among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; American Society of Nephrology; other professional societies such as infectious diseases, hospital medicine, and vascular surgery societies; and dialysis provider organizations can improve antibiotic use and the quality of care for patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis.

2018 Infectious Diseases Society of America Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy

A panel of experts was convened by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) to update the 2004 clinical practice guideline on outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) [1]. This guideline is intended to provide insight for healthcare professionals who prescribe and oversee the provision of OPAT. It considers various patient features, infusion catheter issues, monitoring questions, and antimicrobial stewardship concerns. It does not offer recommendations on the treatment of specific infections. The reader is referred to disease- or organism-specific guidelines for such support.

Antimicrobial resistance in nephrology

The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among many common bacterial pathogens is increasing. The emergence and global dissemination of these antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) is fuelled by antibiotic selection pressure, inter-organism transmission of resistance determinants, suboptimal infection prevention practices and increasing ease and frequency of international travel, among other factors. Patients with chronic kidney disease, particularly those with end-stage renal disease who require dialysis and/or kidney transplantation, have some of the highest rates of colonization and infection with ARB worldwide. These ARB include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. and several multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms. Antimicrobial resistance limits treatment options and increases the risk of infection-related morbidity and mortality. Several new antibiotic agents with activity against some of the most common ARB have been developed, but resistance to these agents is already emerging and highlights the dire need for new treatment options as well as consistent implementation and improvement of basic infection prevention practices. Clinicians involved in the care of patients with renal disease must be familiar with the local epidemiology of ARB, remain vigilant for the emergence of novel resistance patterns and adhere strictly to practices proven to prevent transmission of ARB and other pathogens.

The positive effects of an antimicrobial stewardship program targeting outpatient hemodialysis facilities

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial stewardship programs are effective in optimizing antimicrobial prescribing patterns and decreasing the negative outcomes of antimicrobial exposure, including the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms. In dialysis facilities, 30%-35% of antimicrobials are either not indicated or the type of antimicrobial is not optimal. Although antimicrobial stewardship programs are now implemented nationwide in hospital settings, programs specific to the maintenance dialysis facilities have not been developed.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the effect of an antimicrobial stewardship program in reducing antimicrobial prescribing.Study design and settingAn interrupted time-series study in 6 outpatient hemodialysis facilities was conducted in which mean monthly antimicrobial doses per 100 patient months during the 12 months prior to the program were compared to those in the 12-month intervention period.

RESULTS

Implementation of the antimicrobial stewardship program was associated with a 6% monthly reduction in antimicrobial doses per 100 patient months during the intervention period (P=.02). The initial mean of 22.6 antimicrobial doses per 100 patient months decreased to a mean of 10.5 antimicrobial doses per 100 patient months at the end of the intervention. There were no significant changes in antimicrobial use by type, including vancomycin. Antimicrobial adjustments were recommended for 30 of 145 antimicrobial courses (20.6%) for which there were sufficient clinical data. The most frequent reasons for adjustment included de-escalation from vancomycin to cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infections and discontinuation of antimicrobials when criteria for presumed infection were not met.

CONCLUSIONS

Within 6 hemodialysis facilities, implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship was associated with a decline in antimicrobial prescribing with no negative effects.

Clinical and Economic Benefits of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in Hemodialysis Facilities: A Decision Analytic Model

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridium difficile are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality as well as excess costs. Antimicrobial exposure is the leading cause for these infections. Approximately 30% of antimicrobial doses administered in outpatient hemodialysis facilities are considered unnecessary. Implementing an antimicrobial stewardship program in outpatient hemodialysis facilities aimed at improving prescribing practices would have important clinical and economic benefits.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We developed a decision analytic model of antimicrobial use on the clinical and economic consequences of implementing a nationwide antimicrobial stewardship program in outpatient dialysis facilities. The main outcomes were total antimicrobial use, infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms and C. difficile, infection-related mortality, and total costs. The analysis considered all patients on outpatient hemodialysis in the United States. The value of implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs, assuming a 20% decrease in unnecessary antimicrobial doses, was calculated as the incremental differences in clinical end points and cost outcomes. Event probabilities, antimicrobial regimens, and health care costs were informed by publicly available sources.

RESULTS

On a national level, implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs was predicted to result in 2182 fewer infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms and C. difficile (4.8% reduction), 629 fewer infection-related deaths (4.6% reduction), and a cost savings of $106,893,517 (5.0% reduction) per year. The model was most sensitive to clinical parameters as opposed to antimicrobial costs.

CONCLUSIONS

The model suggests that implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs in outpatient dialysis facilities would result in substantial reductions in infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms and C. difficile, infection-related deaths, and costs.