Impact of an Infectious Disease Specialist on an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at a Resource-Limited, Non-Academic Community Hospital in Korea

Knowledge and perception of antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship among healthcare students in Nigeria

Background

Assessment of knowledge and perception of healthcare students regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) would facilitate more effective education of these future prescribers.

Objectives

To assess knowledge and perception of AMR and AMS among healthcare students in Nigerian universities.

Methods

This was a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional survey of medical, nursing and pharmacy undergraduate students from November 2019 to January 2020, using both paper and electronic modes of self-administration.

Results

A total of 335 students participated in the survey. Mean age of respondents was 23±3 years; 114 (34.4%) were in their 5th year of study. Most (78.9%) of the respondents agreed that widespread use of antimicrobials promotes AMR. Only 70 (21.1%) were aware that poor hand hygiene promotes AMR; 45.9% (42.7%, 37.3% and 57.7% for medicine, nursing and pharmacy respectively, p = 0.007) agreed that AMR is promoted by substandard quality of antimicrobials. Majority (94.3%) perceived AMR as a worldwide problem. Over half (60.8%) were not familiar with the term 'antimicrobial stewardship'. Eleven (3.3%) and 122 (36.9%) rated their AMS knowledge as 'very good' and 'poor' respectively.

Conclusions

Nigerian healthcare students had suboptimal knowledge of AMR and AMS. Current undergraduate healthcare curriculum should be reviewed to incorporate AMS principles.

Impact of antimicrobial stewardship interventions on days of therapy and guideline adherence: A comparative point-prevalence survey assessment

Background

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a crucial tool for rationalizing the use of antimicrobial agents and reducing the burden of antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to assess the impact of AMS interventions on antimicrobial utilization and adherence to antimicrobial guidelines.

Methods

We conducted a prospective quasi-experimental study at a major tertiary hospital in the United Arab Emirates. Using standardized World Health Organization’s methodology, point-prevalence surveys (PPS) were performed in November 2019 and January 2022. Core AMS interventions consisted of proactive bloodstream infection service, proactive and reactive infectious diseases consult service, prospective audit and feedback by clinical pharmacists, development of antimicrobial guidelines based on cumulative antibiograms, and implementation of induction programs for new clinical staff. Days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient days present and rate of compliance with antimicrobial guidelines were compared before and after the core interventions. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to adjust for the potential confounding effects of age, gender, hospitalization within 90 days, central or peripheral line insertion, urinary catheterization, and mechanical ventilation. P-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Pre- and post-intervention PPSs included 292 and 370 patients, respectively. Both had similar age and gender distribution. Patients receiving antimicrobials were 51% (149/292) in 2019 and 45% (166/370) in 2022 (p 0.12). Univariate analysis showed a reduced post-intervention DOT per 1000 patients present (6.1 +/- 16.2 vs 2.4 +/-5.1, p<0.01) and an improved post-intervention guideline compliance (59% vs 67%, p 0.23). Following multiple logistic regression, the reduction in post-intervention DOT remained statistically significant (co-efficient -0.17 (95% CI -8.58 to -1.94, p<0.01), and the improvement in guideline adherence became statistically significant (adjusted odds ratio 1.91 (95% CI 1.05 to 3.45, p 0.03).

Conclusion

Coordinated and sustained AMS interventions have a significant impact on improving antimicrobial utilisation and adherence to guidelines.

Guidelines on Implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in Korea

These guidelines were developed as a part of the 2021 Academic R&D Service Project of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in response to requests from healthcare professionals in clinical practice for guidance on developing antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs). These guidelines were developed by means of a systematic literature review and a summary of recent literature, in which evidence-based intervention methods were used to address key questions about the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents and ASP expansion. These guidelines also provide evidence of the effectiveness of ASPs and describe intervention methods applicable in Korea.

Impact of a Diagnosis-Centered Antibiotic Stewardship on Incident Clostridioides difficile Infections in Older Inpatients: An Observational Study

In 2015, a major increase in incident hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infections (HO-CDI) in a geriatric university hospital led to the implementation of a diagnosis-centered antibiotic stewardship program (ASP). We aimed to evaluate the impact of the ASP on antibiotic consumption and on HO-CDI incidence. The intervention was the arrival of a full-time infectiologist in the acute geriatric unit in May 2015, followed by the implementation of new diagnostic procedures for infections associated with an antibiotic withdrawal policy. Between 2015 and 2018, the ASP was associated with a major reduction in diagnoses for inpatients (23% to 13% for pneumonia, 24% to 13% for urinary tract infection), while median hospital stays and mortality rates remained stable. The reduction in diagnosed bacterial infections was associated with a 45% decrease in antibiotic consumption in the acute geriatric unit. HO-CDI incidence also decreased dramatically from 1.4‰ bed-days to 0.8‰ bed-days in the geriatric rehabilitation unit. The ASP focused on reducing the overdiagnosis of bacterial infections in the acute geriatric unit was successfully associated with both a reduction in antibiotic use and a clear reduction in the incidence of HO-CDI in the geriatric rehabilitation unit.