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Crowley PD, Whalen FX, Siegel LR, Challener DW. Antibiotics at End of Life: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going? A Narrative Review. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2024:10499091241282627. [PMID: 39250304 DOI: 10.1177/10499091241282627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibiotics are frequently prescribed at the end of life, though the benefits and harms are not well understood. METHODS We abstracted relevant findings from articles published in English in the past 25 years to answer questions generated by discussion among the authors and with stakeholders in Palliative Care and Infectious Diseases. FINDINGS Prescribing practices vary based on individual situation and geographic location. Patients with cancer and those hospitalized receive more antibiotics than those enrolled in outpatient hospice. Urinary tract infections and pulmonary infections are the most common conditions treated with antibiotics at the end of life -most often with penicillin derivatives and vancomycin in the hospital, fluoroquinolones in outpatient, and cephalosporins in both settings. When asked, patients most often prefer limiting antibiotics to symptom management at the end of life. Physicians' over-estimation of patient preference for antibiotics and the increased probability of misdiagnosis increases antibiotic prescription rates. Antibiotics can improve symptoms when used for specific diseases at the cost of drug reactions, resistant organisms, and delayed discharge. Antibiotic use has variable results on survival duration. Antimicrobial stewardship exists in hospital and long-term care facilities, but not outpatient hospice groups. Stewardship interventions could increase proper use of antibiotics, but more information is needed to apply these interventions to hospice groups. CONCLUSIONS Antibiotics at the end of life are impactful and efforts to educate patients and providers will be invaluable in optimizing care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick D Crowley
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Disease, and Occupational Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Francis X Whalen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Leslie R Siegel
- Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Douglas W Challener
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Disease, and Occupational Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Pandey S, Wisniewski R, Morjaria S, Bianchi AL, Newman T, Tan C, Rosa WE, Finlayson CS. Factors Associated with Antimicrobial Use at the End-Of-Life Among Hospitalized Cancer Patients. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2024; 41:8-15. [PMID: 36812451 PMCID: PMC10442462 DOI: 10.1177/10499091231160185] [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] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Antimicrobials are frequently administered at end-of-life (EOL) and their non-beneficial use may subject patients to unnecessary harms. Studies analyzing factors for antimicrobial prescribing in solid tumor cancer patients at the EOL are lacking. Thus, we aimed to identify factors and patterns associated with antimicrobial use in hospitalized adults with cancer at EOL. Methods: We used a retrospective cohort design to review electronic medical records of terminal hospitalized patients ≥18 years with solid tumors admitted to non-intensive care units in a metropolitan comprehensive cancer center during 2019 and assessed antimicrobial use in the last 7 days of life. Results: Among 633 cancer patients, 59% (n = 376) received antimicrobials (AM+) within the last 7 days of life. AM + patients were older (P = .012), mostly of male gender (55%), and non-Hispanic ethnicity (87%). AM + patients were significantly more likely to have a foreign device, suspected signs of infection, neutropenia, positive blood culture result, documented advance directive; receive laboratory or radiologic testing, and a palliative care or infectious disease consultation (all P < .05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the presence of documented goals of care discussions, or EOL discussions/EOL care orders. Conclusion: Antimicrobial use at the EOL is common in solid tumor cancer patients at the EOL and is associated with increased utilization of invasive interventions. There is an opportunity for infectious disease specialists to build primary palliative care skills and partner with antimicrobial stewardship programs to better advise patients, decision makers, and primary teams on the use of antimicrobials at the EOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shila Pandey
- Supportive Care Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Renee Wisniewski
- Supportive Care Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sejal Morjaria
- Infectious Disease Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anabella Lucca Bianchi
- Infectious Disease Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Employee Health & Wellness Services, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tiffanny Newman
- Department of Strategy and Innovation, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carrie Tan
- Department of Pharmacy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - William E. Rosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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Lee S, Datta R. Frontiers in antimicrobial stewardship: antimicrobial use during end-of-life care. ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP & HEALTHCARE EPIDEMIOLOGY : ASHE 2023; 3:e164. [PMID: 38028928 PMCID: PMC10644156 DOI: 10.1017/ash.2023.207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Seohyuk Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rupak Datta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
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Larnard J, Stead W, Branch-Elliman W. Considering Patient, Family, and Provider Goals and Expectations in a Rapidly Changing Clinical Context: A Framework for Antimicrobial Stewardship at the End of Life. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2023; 37:139-151. [PMID: 36805010 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic administration is often a part of end-of-life (EOL) care, including among patients who are not critically ill. Guideline-issuing bodies recommend that antimicrobial stewardship providers (ASPs) provide support to prescribers making decisions about whether or not to treat infections in this population. Relatively little is known about the rationale for antimicrobial prescribing during the EOL period in noncritical care settings, although patient and family preferences are often an influencing factor. The effectiveness of antimicrobials in improving quantity or quality of life in this population is unclear and likely context-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Larnard
- Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis Street, Suite GB, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Wendy Stead
- Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis Street, Suite GB, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Westyn Branch-Elliman
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, VA Boston Healthcare System, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
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Larnard J, Blackshear L, Lee MSL, Buss MK, Stead W. Perceptions and Reality of Antimicrobial Prescribing During the Transition to Comfort Measures Only at an Academic Medical Center. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 10:ofac692. [PMID: 36686640 PMCID: PMC9850271 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Little is known about antimicrobial prescribing when patient care is transitioned to comfort measures only (CMO). We used a multidisciplinary survey and retrospective cohort study to gain insight into antimicrobial prescribing in this population at an academic medical center to inform future antimicrobial stewardship interventions. Methods A survey focusing on antimicrobial prescribing during the transition to CMO was electronically distributed to providers in medical subspecialities and responses were compared across specialties. A retrospective chart review was performed of patients admitted to an academic medical center in 2020 who were on antimicrobials in the 48 hours prior to CMO. We investigated the percentage of patients who remained on antimicrobials after the transition to CMO and rationale for continuing antimicrobials. Results We received 113 survey responses (35% response rate). Forty-one percent of respondents indicated that they "sometimes" or "often" continued antimicrobials during the transition to CMO. Patient/family preference and symptom palliation were the most common factors cited by respondents when deciding whether to continue antimicrobials in this population. Of the 546 patient charts reviewed, 140 (26%) patients were alive 48 hours after CMO order, and 19 (14%) of those patients remained on antimicrobials. Five of 19 (26%) patients had documentation that antimicrobials were continued due to patient/family preference and 5 of 19 (26%) patients had documentation that antimicrobials were continued for palliation of symptoms. Conclusions Patient/family preference and symptom palliation are important factors in prescribing antimicrobials when patient care is transitioned to CMO. More evidence is needed regarding palliative benefits of antibiotics to inform provider discussions of benefits and harms of antimicrobial use in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Larnard
- Correspondence: Jeffrey Larnard, MD, Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite GB, Boston, MA 02215 ()
| | - Leslie Blackshear
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew Shou Lun Lee
- Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mary K Buss
- Department of Palliative Care, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Kates OS, Krantz EM, Lee J, Klaassen J, Morris J, Mezheritsky I, Sweet A, Tverdek F, Loggers ET, Pergam SA, Liu C. Association of Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment With Inpatient Antimicrobial Use at End of Life in Patients With Cancer. Open Forum Infect Dis 2021; 8:ofab361. [PMID: 34395710 PMCID: PMC8360239 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antimicrobial utilization at end of life is common, but whether advance directives correlate with usage is unknown. We sought to determine whether Washington State Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form completion or antimicrobial preferences documented therein correlate with subsequent inpatient antimicrobial prescribing at end of life. Methods This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of adult patients at a cancer center who died between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2019. We used negative binomial models adjusted for age, sex, and malignancy type to test the relationship between POLST form completion ≥30 days before death, antimicrobial preferences, and antimicrobial days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 inpatient-days in the last 30 days of life. Results Among 1295 eligible decedents with ≥1 inpatient-day during the last 30 days of life, 318 (24.6%) completed a POLST form. Of 318, 120 (37.7%) were completed ≥30 days before death, 35/120 (29.2%) specified limited antimicrobials, 55/120 (45.8%) specified full antimicrobial use, and 30/120 (25%) omitted antimicrobial preference. Eighty-three percent (1070/1295) received ≥1 inpatient antimicrobial. The median total and intravenous (IV) antimicrobial DOT/1000 inpatient-days were 1077 and 667. Patients specifying limited antimicrobials had significantly lower total antimicrobial DOT (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.68; 95% CI, 0.49-0.95; P = .02) and IV antimicrobial DOT (IRR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.38-0.86; P = .008) compared with those without a POLST. Conclusions Indicating a preference for limited antimicrobials on a POLST form ≥30 days before death may lead to less inpatient antimicrobial use in the last 30 days of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia S Kates
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Krantz
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Juhye Lee
- Department of Basic Sciences and Computational Biology Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - John Klaassen
- Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jessica Morris
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Ania Sweet
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Frank Tverdek
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth T Loggers
- Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Division of Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Steven A Pergam
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Catherine Liu
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA
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