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Tigges P, Greser A, Gágyor I, Kraft J, Maun A, Schmiemann G, Schwienhorst-Stich EM, Heintze C, Schuster A. Addressing AMR and planetary health in primary care: the potential of general practitioners as change agents. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1383423. [PMID: 39145182 PMCID: PMC11322125 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1383423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Antimicrobial resistance is closely linked with the health and stability of environmental systems and therefore a challenge for the health of the planet. General Practitioners, owing to their trusted positions and close patient relationships, can play a crucial role in addressing antimicrobial resistance within the framework of Planetary Health. The goal of our study was to examine General Practitioners' knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the linkage of antimicrobial resistance with Planetary Health to understand their potential as agents of change in this domain. Materials and methods We conducted 19 guided interviews with General Practitioners from four different German federal states (August-September 2022). Participants were selected from the intervention group of the RedAres randomized controlled trial, a study designed to optimize therapy and prescribing practices for uncomplicated urinary tract infections in general practice. Data were analyzed using Mayring's structured qualitative content analysis and the typology approach by Kelle and Kluge. Results General Practitioners generally demonstrated the ability to identify the interlinkages between antimicrobial resistance and Planetary Health. However, they exhibited varying levels of knowledge, problem awareness, and accountability for the associated challenges and partially outsourced the responsibility for Planetary Health. Some General Practitioners were capable of integrating Planetary Health arguments into patient counseling. They recognized rational prescribing practice, self-reflection on antimicrobial resistance and Planetary Health, interprofessional exchange, and raising awareness among patients as potential avenues for engagement in promoting Planetary Health. Discussion As antimicrobial resistance is increasingly recognized as a Planetary Health challenge, empowering General Practitioners as change agents requires tailored measures based on their level of previous knowledge and their attitude toward Planetary Health. General Practitioners express a need for concrete advice on how to integrate antimicrobial resistance as a Planetary Health topic into their daily activities. Developing and evaluating adaptable training materials is essential. Additionally, the integration of Planetary Health outcomes into clinical guidelines could accelerate the adoption of this dimension in antibiotic prescribing practices within primary care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Tigges
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of General Practice, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandra Greser
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ildikó Gágyor
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Judith Kraft
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andy Maun
- Institute of General Practice/Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Guido Schmiemann
- Department of Health Service Research, Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Schwienhorst-Stich
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Working Group Climate and Planetary Health, University of Würzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Heintze
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of General Practice, Berlin, Germany
| | - Angela Schuster
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of General Practice, Berlin, Germany
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Kurotschka PK, Hemkeppler J, Gierszewski D, Ghirotto L, Gágyor I. General practitioners' decision making managing uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women: a qualitative study. BJGP Open 2024:BJGPO.2023.0224. [PMID: 38423622 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpo.2023.0224] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To be effective, interventions aimed at increasing the appropriateness of antibiotic use in primary care should consider the perspectives of prescribing physicians. AIM To explore the decision making of general practitioners (GPs) when managing uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs) in women. DESIGN & SETTING A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 22 GPs in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg (southern Germany). METHOD Verbatim transcripts were analysed through inductive qualitative content analysis. RESULTS We generated the following three main themes: factors facilitating the decision making; factors complicating the decision making; and consultation modalities. According to participants, following evidence-based recommendations makes the prescription decision smoother. GPs' and patients' prior experiences and beliefs guides decisions towards certain antibiotics, even if those experiences and beliefs contradict evidence-based recommendations. Patient expectations and demands also condition antibiotic prescribing, favouring it. Organisational constraints, such as time pressure, the day of the week (for example, before weekends), and a lower cost of antibiotics for patients than alternative treatments favour the decision to prescribe antibiotics. Diagnostic and prognostic uncertainty complicates decision making, as does scepticism towards evidence-based recommendations. Discordance within the patient-doctor relationship contributed to this complexity. Regarding consultation modalities, a more in-depth consultation and shared decision making were seen as helpful in this process. CONCLUSION We identified different factors as intervening against or for a straightforward management decision when dealing with women with uUTIs. They reveal the complexity behind the GPs' decision making. Providing GPs with easy-to-apply guidance while removing economic constraints to allocate sufficient consultation time, and supporting shared decision making may help GPs appropriately manage uUTIs in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter K Kurotschka
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - Juliane Hemkeppler
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - David Gierszewski
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - Luca Ghirotto
- Qualitative Research Unit, Azienda USL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Ildikó Gágyor
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany
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Schmiemann G, Kranz J, Mandraka F, Schubert S, Wagenlehner F, Gágyor I. The Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection. DEUTSCHES ARZTEBLATT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 121:373-382. [PMID: 38686602 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2024.0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urinary tract infection has a one-year prevalence of 11% in women and ranges among the most common reasons for consulting a primary care physician and for receiving a prescription for antibiotics. In the case of recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI), there are questions about the further work-up, treatment, and preventive measures. METHODS The systematic literature search performed for the update of the German clinical practice guideline on uncomplicated urinary tract infection (043-044) (up to February 2022) was supplemented with a selective search for clinical trials (up to August 2023). RESULTS Urine culture and ultrasonography are reasonable steps in the diagnostic evaluation of rUTI. Further invasive testing is suggested for men but is not routinely indicated for women. Antibiotics are among the most effective preventive measures (risk ratio [RR] 0.15, 95% confidence interval [0.1; 0.3]) but carry a high risk of side effects. Non-antibiotic preparations such as cranberry juice (RR 0.74 [0.5; 0.99]), mannose (RR 0.23 [0.14; 0.37]), and vaginal estrogen (RR, 0.42 [0.30; 0.59]) can also reduce the infection rate, with a low risk of side effects. Increased daily fluid intake has been shown to lower infection rates in the short term (odds ratio [OR] 0.13 [0.07; 0.25]); the use of hygienically advisable wiping techniques after passing stool or urine has been little studied but can be implemented with no risk. CONCLUSION rUTI poses a challenge for the treating physician. The measures to be taken must be considered on an individual basis. Vulnerable groups, such as older patients, need special attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Schmiemann
- Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, Department for Health Services Research, University of Bremen; Clinic of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Aachen; University Hospital and Department of Urology, University Hospital of Halle (Saale); Laboratory Dr. Wisplinghoff, Specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectiology, ABS-Expert (DGI), Köln; Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, Chair of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich; Clinic for Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen; Departement of General Practice, Julius-Maximilians-Universität of Würzburg
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Klingeberg A, Willrich N, Schneider M, Schmiemann G, Gágyor I, Richter D, Noll I, Eckmanns T. The Percentage of Antibiotic Resistance in Uncomplicated Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections. DEUTSCHES ARZTEBLATT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 121:175-181. [PMID: 38221865 PMCID: PMC11079811 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2023.0267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uncomplicated bacterial urinary tract infections(uUTIs) are commonly seen in outpatient practice. They are usuallytreated empirically with antibiotics. The pertinent German ClinicalPractice Guideline contains recommendations on antibiotic selection,with the additional advice that the local resistance situationshould be considered as well. However, up-to-date information onlocal resistance is often unavailable, because microbiological testingis mainly recommended for complicated UTIs. Resistance ratesare often higher in recurrent uUTIs than in single episodes. In thisstudy, we aimed to determine the resistance rates of Escherichiacoli (E. coli) in patients with community-acquired uUTIs and tomake these data available to the treating physicians. METHODS In a nationwide cross-sectional study in Germany (DRKS00019059), we determined the percentages of resistance to antibioticsrecommended for uUTIs (first choice: fosfomycin, nitro -xoline, mecillinam, nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim; second choice:cefpodoxime, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole, levofloxacin, norfloxacin,ofloxacin) over the period 2019-2021. The data were stratified bysingle episodes vs. recurrent UTIs (rUTIs). RESULTS Data from 2390 subjects were analyzed. E. coli was foundin 75.4% of the samples with positive urine cultures (1082 out of1435). The resistance rate of E. coli in single episodes (n = 725)was less than 15% for all antibiotics tested. In rUTIs(n = 357), resistance rates were also less than 15%for the most part; the only exceptions were trimethoprim(21.4%) and cotrimoxazole (19.3%). CONCLUSION For single episodes of uUTI, all of theantibiotics studied can be recommended, at least asfar as their resistance profiles are concerned. Forrecurrent UTI, all but trimethoprim and cotrimoxazolecan be recommended. The second-choice antibioticsexamined do not have a more favorable resistanceprofile than the first-choice antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Klingeberg
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin
| | - Niklas Willrich
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin
| | - Marc Schneider
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin
| | - Guido Schmiemann
- Department 1: Healthcare Research, Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen
| | - Ildikó Gágyor
- Institute for General Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg
| | - Doreen Richter
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin
| | - Ines Noll
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin
| | - Tim Eckmanns
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin
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Farrell L. Problems in diagnosing UTIs: taking a clean sample. BMJ 2023; 383:2841. [PMID: 38101928 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p2841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
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Schuster A, Tigges P, Grune J, Kraft J, Greser A, Gágyor I, Boehme M, Eckmanns T, Klingeberg A, Maun A, Menzel A, Schmiemann G, Heintze C, Bleidorn J. GPs' Perspective on a Multimodal Intervention to Enhance Guideline-Adherence in Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections: A Qualitative Process Evaluation of the Multicentric RedAres Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1657. [PMID: 38136690 PMCID: PMC10740691 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121657] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common reasons patients seeking health care and antibiotics to be prescribed in primary care. However, general practitioners' (GPs) guideline adherence is low. The RedAres randomised controlled trial aims to increase guideline adherence by implementing a multimodal intervention consisting of four elements: information on current UTI guidelines (1) and regional resistance data (2); feedback regarding prescribing behaviour (3); and benchmarking compared to peers (4). The RedAres process evaluation assesses GPs' perception of the multimodal intervention and the potential for implementation into routine care. We carried out 19 semi-structured interviews with GPs (intervention arm). All interviews were carried out online and audio recorded. For transcription and analysis, Mayring's qualitative content analysis was used. Overall, GPs considered the interventions helpful for knowledge gain and confirmation when prescribing. Information material and resistance were used for patient communication and teaching purposes. Feedback was considered to enhance reflection by breaking routines of clinical workup. Implementation into routine practice could be enhanced by integrating feedback loops into patient management systems and conveying targeted information via trusted channels or institutions. The process evaluation of RedAres intervention was considered beneficial by GPs. It confirms the convenience of multimodal interventions to enhance guideline adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Schuster
- Institute of General Practice, Charite University Hospital Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paula Tigges
- Institute of General Practice, Charite University Hospital Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Julianna Grune
- Institute of General Practice, Charite University Hospital Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Judith Kraft
- Institute of General Practice, Charite University Hospital Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandra Greser
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ildikó Gágyor
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Mandy Boehme
- Institute of General Practice, University Hospital Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany (J.B.)
| | | | | | - Andy Maun
- Institute of General Practice/Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Anja Menzel
- Institute of General Practice/Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Guido Schmiemann
- Department of Health Service Research, Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Christoph Heintze
- Institute of General Practice, Charite University Hospital Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jutta Bleidorn
- Institute of General Practice, University Hospital Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany (J.B.)
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