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Riccò M, Zaniboni A, Satta E, Baldassarre A, Cerviere MP, Marchesi F, Peruzzi S. Management and Prevention of Traveler's Diarrhea: A Cross-Sectional Study on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Italian Occupational Physicians (2019 and 2022). Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:370. [PMID: 36422921 PMCID: PMC9692574 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7110370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Even though Italian Occupational Physicians (OP) are increasingly involved in the managing of overseas workers, their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in travel medicine are mostly undefined. We, therefore, permed a KAP study specifically targeting the management of travelers' diarrhea (TD) by OP. A total of 371 professionals (43.4% males; mean age 40.8 ± 10.9 years) completed in 2 rounds (2019 and 2022) a specifically designed web questionnaire that inquired participating OP on their knowledge status (KS), risk perception, and management of TD through pre- and post-travel advice and interventions. Multivariable odds ratios (aOR) for predictors of a better knowledge status were calculated through regression analysis. Eventually, the majority of participants (53.4%) had participated in the management of cases of TD in the previous months, but only 26.4% were reportedly involved in pre-travel consultations. The overall knowledge status was unsatisfying (potential range: 0-100%, actual average of the sample 59.6% ± 14.6), with substantial uncertainties in the management of antimicrobial treatment. Interestingly, only a small subset of participants had previously prescribed antimicrobial prophylaxis or treatment (3.5% and 1.9%, respectively). Main effectors of a better knowledge status were: having a background qualification in Hygiene and Public Health (aOR 14.769, 95%CI 5.582 to 39.073), having previously managed any case of (aOR 3.107, 95%CI 1.484 to 6.506), and having higher concern on TD, reported by acknowledging high frequency (aOR 8.579, 95%CI 3.383 to 21.756) and severity (aOR 3.386; 95%CI 1.741 to 6.585) of this disorder. As the adherence of participating OP to official recommendations for TD management was unsatisfying, continuous Education on Travel Medicine should be improved by sharing up-to-date official recommendations on appropriate treatment options for TD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Riccò
- Servizio di Prevenzione e Sicurezza Negli Ambienti di Lavoro (SPSAL), Department of Public Health, AUSL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, I-42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zaniboni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, I-43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Elia Satta
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, I-43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Antonio Baldassarre
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, I-50134 Florence, Italy
| | | | - Federico Marchesi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, I-43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Simona Peruzzi
- Laboratorio Analisi Chimico Cliniche e Microbiologiche, Ospedale Civile di Guastalla, AUSL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, I-42016 Guastalla, Italy
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Gandhi AR, Rao SR, Chen LH, Nelson MD, Ryan ET, LaRocque RC, Hyle EP. Prescribing Patterns of Antibiotics for the Self-Treatment of Travelers' Diarrhea in Global TravEpiNet, 2009-2018. Open Forum Infect Dis 2020; 7:ofaa376. [PMID: 33072808 PMCID: PMC7545114 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background International travelers are often prescribed antibiotics for self-treatment of travelers' diarrhea (TD), but the benefits and risks of antibiotics are debated. We assessed the prescribing patterns of empiric antibiotics for TD in international travelers evaluated at Global TravEpiNet (GTEN) sites (2009-2018). Methods We performed a prospective, multisite cross-sectional study regarding antibiotic prescriptions for the self-treatment of TD at 31 GTEN sites providing pretravel consultations to adult international travelers. We described traveler demographics, itineraries, and antibiotic(s) prescribed. We used multivariable logistic regressions to assess the association of year of consultation with antibiotic prescribing (yes/no) and class (fluoroquinolones vs azithromycin). We performed interrupted time-series analyses to examine differences in prescribing before and after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning on fluoroquinolones (July 2016). Results Antibiotics were not prescribed in 23 096 (22.2%) of 103 843 eligible pretravel GTEN consultations; azithromycin and fluoroquinolones were most frequently prescribed. Antibiotic prescribing declined significantly each year between 2009 and 2018 (odds ratio [OR], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.79-0.89), as did fluoroquinolone prescribing, relative to azithromycin (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.73-0.82). The rate of decline in fluoroquinolone prescribing was significantly greater after the FDA fluoroquinolone warning (15.3%/year) than before (1.1%/year; P < .001). Conclusions Empiric antibiotics for TD were prescribed in >75% of pretravel GTEN consultations, but antibiotic prescribing declined steadily between 2009 and 2018. Fluoroquinolones were less frequently prescribed than azithromycin, especially after the 2016 FDA fluoroquinolone warning. Emphasis on the risks of antibiotics may influence antibiotic prescribing by providers for empiric treatment of TD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya R Gandhi
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sowmya R Rao
- Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lin H Chen
- Travel Medicine Center, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael D Nelson
- Travel Medicine Center, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Edward T Ryan
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Travelers' Advice and Immunization Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Regina C LaRocque
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Travelers' Advice and Immunization Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emily P Hyle
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Travelers' Advice and Immunization Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Traveler's Diarrhea Recommendations for Solid Organ Transplant Recipients and Donors. Transplantation 2018; 102:S35-S41. [PMID: 29381576 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Vilkman K, Lääveri T, Pakkanen SH, Kantele A. Stand-by antibiotics encourage unwarranted use of antibiotics for travelers' diarrhea: A prospective study. Travel Med Infect Dis 2018; 27:64-71. [PMID: 29894796 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As antibiotics predispose travelers to acquiring multidrug-resistant intestinal bacteria, they should no longer be considered a mainstay for treating travelers' diarrhea. It has been claimed that stand-by antibiotics are justified as a means to avoid visits to local healthcare providers which often lead to polypharmacy. METHOD We revisited the traveler data of 316 prospectively recruited volunteers with travelers' diarrhea by retrieving from questionnaires and health diaries information on antibiotic use, stand-by antibiotic carriage, and visits with local healthcare. Multivariable analysis was applied to identify factors associated with antibiotic use. RESULTS Among our 316 volunteers with travelers' diarrhea, however, carrying stand-by antibiotics seemed not to reduce the rate of healthcare-seeking; on the contrary, antibiotic use was more frequent among stand-by antibiotic carriers (34%) than non-carriers (11%). Antibiotics were equally taken for severe and incapacitating travelers' diarrhea, but compared to non-carriers, stand-by antibiotic carriers resorted to medication also for mild/moderate (38% vs. 4%) and non-incapacitating disease (29% vs. 5%). Antibiotic use was associated with stand-by antibiotic carriage (OR 7.2; 95%CI 2.8-18.8), vomiting (OR 3.5; 95%CI 1.3-9.5), incapacitating diarrhea (OR 3.6; 95%CI 1.3-9.8), age (OR 1.03; 95%CI 1.00-1.05), and healthcare visit for diarrhea (OR 465.3; 95%CI 22.5-9633.6). CONCLUSIONS Carriage of stand-by antibiotics encouraged less cautious use of antibiotics. Recommendations involving prescription of antibiotics for all travelers require urgent revision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katri Vilkman
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 21, FI-00014, Finland; Inflammation Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 348, FI-00029, Finland.
| | - Tinja Lääveri
- Inflammation Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 348, FI-00029, Finland.
| | - Sari H Pakkanen
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 21, FI-00014, Finland.
| | - Anu Kantele
- Inflammation Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 348, FI-00029, Finland; Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine/Solna, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden; Travel Clinic, Aava Medical Center, Annankatu 32, FI-00100 Helsinki, Finland.
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Lee TK, Hutter JN, Masel J, Joya C, Whitman TJ. Guidelines for the prevention of travel-associated illness in older adults. TROPICAL DISEASES TRAVEL MEDICINE AND VACCINES 2017; 3:10. [PMID: 28883980 PMCID: PMC5531015 DOI: 10.1186/s40794-017-0054-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
International travel to the developing world is becoming more common in elderly patients (defined here as individuals greater than 65 years old). When providing pre-travel counseling, providers must appreciate the changing physiology, comorbidities, immunity and pharmacokinetics associated with the aging process to prepare elderly patients for the stressors of international travel. These guidelines present an evidence-based approach to pre-travel counseling, immunization, and pharmacology concerns unique to elderly patients seeking care in a travel clinic setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tida K Lee
- Infectious Diseases Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889 USA.,Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Jack N Hutter
- Infectious Diseases Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889 USA
| | - Jennifer Masel
- Infectious Diseases Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889 USA
| | - Christie Joya
- Infectious Diseases Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889 USA
| | - Timothy J Whitman
- Infectious Diseases Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889 USA
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Riddle MS, Connor BA, Beeching NJ, DuPont HL, Hamer DH, Kozarsky P, Libman M, Steffen R, Taylor D, Tribble DR, Vila J, Zanger P, Ericsson CD. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of travelers' diarrhea: a graded expert panel report. J Travel Med 2017; 24:S57-S74. [PMID: 28521004 PMCID: PMC5731448 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tax026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND : Travelers' diarrhea causes significant morbidity including some sequelae, lost travel time and opportunity cost to both travelers and countries receiving travelers. Effective prevention and treatment are needed to reduce these negative impacts. METHODS : This critical appraisal of the literature and expert consensus guideline development effort asked several key questions related to antibiotic and non-antibiotic prophylaxis and treatment, utility of available diagnostics, impact of multi-drug resistant (MDR) colonization associated with travel and travelers' diarrhea, and how our understanding of the gastrointestinal microbiome should influence current practice and future research. Studies related to these key clinical areas were assessed for relevance and quality. Based on this critical appraisal, guidelines were developed and voted on using current standards for clinical guideline development methodology. RESULTS : New definitions for severity of travelers' diarrhea were developed. A total of 20 graded recommendations on the topics of prophylaxis, diagnosis, therapy and follow-up were developed. In addition, three non-graded consensus-based statements were adopted. CONCLUSIONS : Prevention and treatment of travelers' diarrhea requires action at the provider, traveler and research community levels. Strong evidence supports the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapy in most cases of moderate to severe travelers' diarrhea, while either increasing intake of fluids only or loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate may suffice for most cases of mild diarrhea. Further studies are needed to address knowledge gaps regarding optimal therapies, the individual, community and global health risks of MDR acquisition, manipulation of the microbiome in prevention and treatment and the utility of laboratory testing in returning travelers with persistent diarrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bradley A. Connor
- Weill Cornell Medical College and The New York Center for Travel and
Tropical Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Beeching
- Clinical Science Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke
Place, Liverpool, UK and National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Unit
in Gastrointestinal Infections, Farr Institute, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Davidson H. Hamer
- Department of Global Health, Center for Global Health and Development,
Boston University School of Public Health, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of
Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Michael Libman
- J.D. MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases, McGill University, Montreal,
Québec, Canada
| | - Robert Steffen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, World Health
Organization Collaborating Centre for Traveller's Health, University of Zurich, Zurich,
Switzerland
| | | | - David R. Tribble
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD,
USA
| | - Jordi Vila
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital
Clínic–Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Philipp Zanger
- Institute of Public Health, University Hospitals,
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Charles D. Ericsson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of
Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Travellers' diarrhea (TD) continues to be the most frequent health problem in travellers with destinations in lower income parts of the world as compared with where they reside, even if that risk has slightly decreased. METHODS A systematic review was published 18 months ago; now PubMed was searched for more recent publications relating to travel, diarrhea, epidemiology, incidence, risk. RESULTS A trend to decreasing incidence rates have been noted in this as compared with the last century, but TD remains frequent. The clinical picture varies from a trivial ailment to severe with subsequent hospitalization. Of great concern are long-term sequelae, particularly post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome. The most important risk factors are the destination and duration of exposure among the environmental factors, whereas the age is the most relevant host factor. CONCLUSIONS Even if improved hygienic conditions in low-income countries often visited by travellers have resulted in slightly diminished incidence rates of TD, this remains a frequent health problem. Visitors to such destinations must be informed about that health risk and it is beneficial to equip them with instructions and a travel kit to enable them to some extent self-manage TD occurring abroad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Steffen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Traveller's Health, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Division of Epidemiology Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA
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Connor BA, Keystone JS. Editorial commentary: Antibiotic self-treatment of travelers' diarrhea: helpful or harmful? Clin Infect Dis 2015; 60:847-8. [PMID: 25613288 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciu961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bradley A Connor
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Jay S Keystone
- Tropical Disease Unit, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Shakoor S, Zaidi AK, Hasan R. Tropical Bacterial Gastrointestinal Infections. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2012; 26:437-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2012.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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