Sustaining Antimicrobial Stewardship in a High-Antibiotic Resistance Setting

IMPORTANCE

There is a lack of studies comparing the intended and unintended consequences of prospective review and feedback (PRF) with computerized decision support systems (CDSS), especially in the longer term in antimicrobial stewardship.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the outcomes associated with the sequential implementation of PRF and CDSS and changes to these interventions with long-term use of antibiotics for and incidence of multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) and other unintended outcomes.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cohort study used an interrupted time series with segmented regression analysis of data from January 2007 to December 2018. Data were extracted from the electronic medical records of patients admitted at a large university teaching hospital with high rates of antibiotic resistance in Singapore. Data were analyzed from June 2019 to June 2020.

EXPOSURES

PRF of piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems (intervention 1, April 2009), with the addition of hospital-wide CDSS (intervention 2, April 2011), and lifting of CDSS for half of the hospital wards for 6 months (intervention 3, March 2017).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Monthly antimicrobial use was measured in defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1000 patient-days. The monthly incidence of MDROs was calculated as number of clinical isolates detected per 1000 inpatient-days over a 6-month period. Unintended outcomes examined included in-hospital mortality and age-adjusted length of stay (LOS).

RESULTS

The number of inpatients increased from 56 263 in 2007 to 63 572 in 2018. During the same period, the mean monthly patient days increased from 33 929 in 2007 to 45 603 in 2018, and the proportion of patients older than 65 years increased from 45.5% in 2007 to 56.6% in 2018. After intervention 1, there were 0.33 (95% CI, 0.18 to 0.48) more DDDs per 1000 patient-days per month of piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems and -11.05 (95% CI, -15.55 to -6.55) fewer DDDs per 1000 patient-days per month for other broad-spectrum antibiotics. After intervention 2, there were -0.22 (95% CI, -0.33 to -0.10) fewer DDDs per 1000 patient-days per month of piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems and -2.10 (95% CI, -3.13 to -1.07) fewer DDDs per 1000 patient-days per month for other broad-spectrum antibiotics. After intervention 3, use of piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenem increased by 0.28 (95% CI, 0.02 to 0.55) DDDs per 1000 patient-days per month. After intervention 2, incidence of Clostridioides difficile decreased (estimate, -0.02 [95% CI, -0.03 to -0.01] cases per 1000 patient-days per month).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cohort study, concurrent PRF and CDSS were associated with limiting the use of piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems while reducing use of other antibiotics.

Antibiotic Therapy in the Treatment of COVID-19 Pneumonia: Who and When?

Background: COVID-19 imposes challenges in antibiotic decision-making due to similarities between bacterial pneumonia and moderate to severe COVID-19. We evaluated the effects of antibiotic therapy on the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 pneumonia patients and diagnostic accuracy of key inflammatory markers to inform antibiotic decision-making. Methods: An observational cohort study was conducted in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, from January to April 2020. Patients were defined as receiving empiric antibiotic treatment for COVID-19 if started within 3 days of diagnosis. Results: Of 717 patients included, 86 (12.0%) were treated with antibiotics and 26 (3.6%) had documented bacterial infections. Among 278 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, those treated with antibiotics had more diarrhoea (26, 34.7% vs. 24, 11.8%, p < 0.01), while subsequent admissions to the intensive care unit were not lower (6, 8.0% vs. 10, 4.9% p = 0.384). Antibiotic treatment was not independently associated with lower 30-day (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 19.528, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.039–367.021) or in-hospital mortality (aOR 3.870, 95% CI 0.433–34.625) rates after adjusting for age, co-morbidities and severity of COVID-19 illness. Compared to white cell count and procalcitonin level, the C-reactive protein level had the best diagnostic accuracy for documented bacterial infections (area under the curve, AUC of 0.822). However, the sensitivity and specificity were less than 90%. Conclusion: Empiric antibiotic use in those presenting with COVID-19 pneumonia did not prevent deterioration or mortality. More studies are needed to evaluate strategies to diagnose bacterial co-infections in these patients.

Effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on antimicrobial prevalence and prescribing in a tertiary hospital in Singapore

Background

The deployment of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) teams to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to a loss of developed frameworks, best practices and leadership resulting in adverse impact on antimicrobial prescribing and resistance. We aim to investigate effects of reduction in AMS resources during the COVID-19 pandemic on antimicrobial prescribing.

Methods

One of 5 full-time equivalent AMS pharmacists was deployed to support pandemic work and AMS rounds with infectious disease physicians were reduced from 5 to 2 times a week. A survey in acute inpatients was conducted using the Global Point Prevalence Survey methodology in July 2020 and compared with those in 2015 and 2017–2019.

Results

The prevalence of antimicrobial prescribing (55% in 2015 to 49% in 2019 and 47% in 2020, p = 0.02) and antibacterials (54% in 2015 to 45% in 2019 and 42% in 2020, p < 0.01) have been reducing despite the pandemic. Antimicrobial prescribing in infectious disease wards with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases was 29% in 2020. Overall, antimicrobial prescribing quality indicators continued to improve (e.g. reasons in notes, 91% in 2015 to 94% in 2019 and 97% in 2020, p < 0.01) or remained stable (compliance to guideline, 71% in 2015 to 62% in 2019 and 73% in 2020, p = 0.08).

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no increase in antimicrobial prescribing and no significant differences in antimicrobial prescribing quality indicators.

A point prevalence survey to assess antibiotic prescribing in patients hospitalized with confirmed and suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Background

Earlier studies have reported high antibiotic use in patients hospitalised for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting in concerns of increasing antimicrobial resistance with increase antibiotic use in this pandemic. Point prevalence survey (PPS) can be a quick tool to provide antibiotic prescribing information to aid antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) activities.

Objectives

To describe antibiotic utilization and evaluate antibiotic appropriateness in COVID-19 patients using PPS.

Methods

Adapting Global-PPS on antimicrobial use, the survey was conducted in COVID-19 wards at 2 centres in Singapore on 22 April 2020 at 0800h. Patients on systemic antibiotics were included and evaluated for antibiotic appropriateness.

Results

Five hundred and seventy-seven patients were screened. Thirty-six (6.2%) patients were on antibiotics and which were started at median of 7 days (inter-quartile rate (IQR), 4, 11) from symptom onset. Fifty-one antibiotics were prescribed in these patients. Overall, co-amoxiclav (26/51, 51.0%) was the most often prescribed antibiotic. Thirty-one out of 51 (60.8%) antibiotic prescriptions were appropriate. Among 20 inappropriate prescriptions, 18 (90.0%) were initiated in patients with low likelihood of bacterial infections. Antibiotic prescriptions were more appropriate when reviewed by infectious diseases physicians (13/31 [41.9%] versus 2/20 [10.0%], p = 0.015), and if reasons for use were stated in notes (31/31 [100.0%] versus 16/20 [80.0%], p = 0.019).

Conclusions

Despite low prevalence of antibiotic use among confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients at 2 centres in Singapore, there was significant proportion of inappropriate antibiotics use where bacterial infections were unlikely. AMS teams can tailor stewardship strategies using PPS results.

Effective Antimicrobial StewaRdship StrategIES (ARIES): Cluster Randomized Trial of Computerized Decision Support System and Prospective Review and Feedback

Background

Prospective review and feedback (PRF) of antibiotic prescriptions and compulsory computerized decision support system (CDSS) are 2 strategies of antimicrobial stewardship. There are limited studies investigating their combined effects. We hypothesized that the use of on-demand (voluntary) CDSS would achieve similar patient outcomes compared with automatically triggered (compulsory) CDSS whenever broad-spectrum antibiotics are ordered.

Methods

A parallel-group, 1:1 block cluster randomized crossover study was conducted in 32 medical and surgical wards from March to August 2017. CDSS use for piperacillin-tazobactam or carbapenem in the intervention clusters was at the demand of the doctor, while in the control clusters CDSS use was compulsory. PRF was continued for both arms. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality.

Results

Six hundred forty-one and 616 patients were randomized to voluntary and compulsory CDSS, respectively. There were no differences in 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.87; 95% CI, 0.67–1.12), re-infection and re-admission rates, antibiotic duration, length of stay, or hospitalization cost. The proportion of patients receiving PRF recommendations was not significantly lower in the voluntary CDSS arm (62 [10%] vs 81 [13%]; P = .05). Appropriate indication of antibiotics was high in both arms (351/448 [78%] vs 330/433 [74%]; P = .18). However, in geriatric medicine patients where antibiotic appropriateness was <50%, prescription via compulsory CDSS resulted in a shorter length of stay and lower hospitalization cost.

Conclusions

Voluntary broad-spectrum antibiotics with PRF via CDSS did not result in differing clinical outcomes, antibiotic duration, or length of stay. However, in the setting of low antibiotic appropriateness, compulsory CDSS may be beneficial.

186. Effective Antimicrobial StewaRdship StrategIES (ARIES): Cluster-Randomized Trial of a Clinical Decision Support System to Supplement Antibiotic Prospective Review and Feedback

Background

Prospective review and feedback (PRF) of antibiotic prescriptions is a tenet of antimicrobial stewardship (ASP), but labour intensive. Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) have the potential to automate some of this work. We hypothesised that increasing prescriber engagement with the CDSS would reduce the requirement for PRF by the ASP team and improve prescribing behaviour without causing harm

Methods

A parallel-group, 1:1 block-cluster randomized, cross-over study was conducted in 32 medical and surgical wards from March 2017 to August 2017. Participants in Arm A were allocated to voluntary use of CDSS by the clinician at first prescription of piperacillin–tazobactam or a carbapenem, while in Arm B, CDSS use was compulsory. PRF continued for both arms.

Results

Six hundred fourty-one and 616 participants were included in Arms A and B, respectively. At baseline, Charlson’s co-morbidity and APACHE II scores were comparable. Initial antibiotic prescriptions were similar, and the majority were for respiratory (67.0% vs. 68.2%) or urinary (17% vs. 19.6%) infections.

CDSS recommendations were provided to 20.6% of participants in Arm A and 99.4% in Arm B (P < 0.01). Arm B adopted a higher number of CDSS antibiotic de-escalation (1.1% vs. 2.6%), dose optimization (9.7% vs. 30.7%), antibiotic optimization (8.9% vs. 31.3%), and duration setting recommendations (10.9% vs. 50%). The proportion of participants receiving PRF recommendations were not, however, significantly different between arms (8% vs. 11.5%, P = 0.13). The types of PRF recommendations and prescriber acceptance rates were also similar. The duration of antibiotic use was significantly shorter when prescribers were compelled to use the CDSS (daily defined doses ≤3: 71.8% in Arm B, 64.9% in Arm A, P < 0.01). There was no evidence of harm from the CDSS, with similar 30-day mortality (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.67–1.12), 30-day re-infection (20.6% vs. 23.1%, P = 0.29) and 30-day re-admission rates (14.4% vs. 14.1%, P = 0.91). The median length of hospital admission was also similar (15 IQR 5–64 vs. 15, IQR 4–70 days).

Conclusion

Compulsory use of a CDSS at antibiotic prescription did not reduce the requirement for PRF, but limited the duration of antibiotic courses, without compromising clinical outcomes

Disclosures

All authors: No reported disclosures.

Fluoride toothpaste utilization behaviour among preschool children in Perlis, Malaysia

BACKGROUND

Very mild fluorosis is quite prevalent in children and one of the sources may be attributed to poor fluoride toothpaste utilization habits.

AIM

To investigate the frequency of toothbrushing, parental supervision, the person who usually applied the toothpaste, toothpaste swallowing and spitting habits, size of toothbrush, type of toothpaste used and amount of toothpaste used by shape and weight.

METHODOLOGY

Observational cross-sectional study of a representative random sample of 373 children aged 5-6 year-old. The children were interviewed using a structured close ended questionnaire. Direct observations were made on their toothpaste dispensing habit during a toothbrushing exercise.

RESULTS

All children reported practising toothbrushing with 90% on a daily basis. Almost all used fluoridated toothpaste (91.4%). About one-half (50.7%) reported that their parents never supervised them. More than one-third of children used adult toothpaste and 60.1% of the toothpaste was flavoured. Most (92%) used toothbrush meant for children. About 40% applied a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. The mean weight of toothpaste applied was 0.43 g (SID + 0.35 g).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority used the recommended child-sized toothbrush and toothpaste that contained fluoride but less than one-half of the parents supervised their children. Most children used flavoured children's toothpaste but a sizable proportion used toothpastes meant for adults. The amount applied by shape and weight exceeded the amount recommended by experts.

Clinical pathways in primary dental care in Malaysia: clinicians' knowledge, perceptions and barriers faced

The Oral Health Division, Ministry of Health in Malaysia piloted clinical pathways (cpath) in primary care in early 2003. This study investigated the knowledge, perception of cpaths and barriers faced by the clinicians involved in the pilot project. Self-administered questionnaires were sent to the clinicians (n=191). Dentists (67.9%) and dental nurses (70.6%) had good overall knowledge of cpaths. The majority of the clinicians (67.9% to 95.6%) perceived cpath positively in all areas. Only 9.2% of dentists encountered difficulties in using cpath forms compared to 28.4% of dental nurses. A higher proportion of dental nurses (73.5%) compared to dentists (64.8%) were willing to continue using cpath. The majority of dentists (76.7%) and dental nurses (73.1%) were willing to participate in future development of cpaths. Overall, there was evidence of managerial support for the pilot project. A follow-up of the pilot project was somewhat lacking as less than half (43.3%) of the clinicians reported that the state coordinator obtained feedback from them. The findings auger well for the future implementation of cpath should the Oral Health Division decide to adopt cpath routinely in the public oral health care service.

Aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and epistaxis. A regional record linkage case control study

To assess the relationship between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and spontaneous epistaxis in adults over 50 years old, a case control study was carried out by using a record linkage database for the population of Tayside, Scotland, which included 319,465 people. The study group consisted of 326 patients who were hospitalized with epistaxis between May 1989 and December 1992, but who had not previously been hospitalized with this diagnosis. Six community controls and 4 hospital controls, matched for age and sex to each case, were used. Previous exposure to prescribed aspirin and other NSAIDs was investigated. There was a significant association between aspirin exposure and epistaxis when either community or hospital controls were used (p < .001). Patients who had aspirin prescriptions had a relative risk of hospital admission for epistaxis of between 2.17 and 2.75, depending on the control group used. No association between non-aspirin NSAIDs and epistaxis was evident with either control group.

Nasal mucociliary clearance and salmeterol

In vitro studies have suggested that beta 2-adrenergic agents increase the ciliary beat frequency in human respiratory epithelium. We carried out a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effects of a topical spray, salmeterol, on nasal mucociliary clearance using the saccharin test. Thirty-three healthy adults were recruited. There was a 21% reduction of nasal mucociliary transport time of saccharin with salmeterol compared to placebo (P = 0.0001). There was no effect of age, sex, order of treatment, interval between spray and saccharin test, or history of seasonal allergic rhinitis on the improvement in clearance times.

The mobility of the malleus and incus with varying middle ear pressures

The mobility of the malleus and incus was studied in two fresh human temporal bones. Various pressure gradients were applied across the intact tympanic membrane and the movement of the ossicles examined, firstly with the incus in situ and secondly, with the incus removed. The displacement of the long process of the incus was less than 100 microns at the extremes of pressure gradient. However, this mobility increased by over twofold when the posterior incudal ligament was divided. With removal of the incus, the mobility of the umbo with pressure changes was further increased and can be as much as half a millimetre. In all cases the maximal rate of ossicular excursion was noted with pressure gradients of less than 100 daPa (mmH2O) across the tympanic membrane.

Post-tonsillectomy pain with selective diathermy haemostasis

A prospective randomized study was carried out to assess the post-tonsillectomy morbidity of the selective diathermy technique as opposed to the ligation technique. One hundred and five patients had one tonsillar fossa haemostasis secured by unipolar diathermy and the opposite side by ligation technique. There was significantly less pharyngeal pain on the diathermy side in the first post-operative day. However, there was no significant difference between the two sides, both in pharyngeal discomfort and otalgia for the rest of the post-operative period. There was no difference in the incidence of haemorrhage between the two techniques.

Surgical bone wax causing epistaxis

A case of recurrent epistaxis caused by bone wax in the nasal cavity is reported. This is the first reported case of a nasal complication due to surgical bone wax.

Findings at initial surgery for childhood otitis media with effusion and subsequent outcome

The outcome of initial surgical treatment in children with otitis media with effusion (OME) was analysed in a prospective study involving 225 new patients. The presence or absence of effusion in each ear and type of effusion present were recorded at surgery. The outcome measure studied was resolution or recurrence of middle ear effusions necessitating further surgical intervention. The outcome was significantly more favourable in children with unilateral effusions at surgery as opposed to bilateral effusions (P > 0.03) but was unrelated to the type of effusion (serous or mucoid). Patients with unilateral effusions at surgery appear to have a fluctuating form of OME in which effusions are present in either or both ears at different times.

Tympanic membrane atelectasis in childhood otitis media with effusion

A prospective study on the dynamics of tympanic membrane atelectasis during the treatment for glue ear was performed in a sample of 115 ears of 83 children aged between one and 11 years. The progression in the degree of pars tensa atelectasis was analysed in relation to six potentially relevant factors. Multivariate analysis showed that the factor with the most predictive value on the progression of the pars tensa retraction was the grade of atelectasis at initial detection (p < 0.0001). The use of grommets did not have any significant influence on the outcome grade of atelectasis. There was an association between previous grommet insertion and localized retractions in the inferior segment of the pars tensa (p < 0.0001). However, localized retractions in the postero-superior quadrant were not associated with previous grommet insertion (p < 0.02). Although the hearing thresholds of atelectatic ears were significantly worse than normal ears especially at 4 kHz (p < 0.006), the difference was less than 5 dB.

Heterotopic pleomorphic adenoma in the neck

Cervical heterotopic salivary tissues are rare and are predominantly found in the anterior triangle of the neck especially at the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. We report a case of pleomorphic adenoma arising in the left posterior triangle of the neck.

Diabetes mellitus and hearing loss

A prospective hearing survey was performed in a sample of 102 diabetic patients. The hearing data were compared with the hearing thresholds of three control population groups. A significant difference was found in the average hearing thresholds between the diabetic patients and all of the three control populations. Diabetic patients have worse hearing threshold levels especially at low and mid frequencies (P < 0.001). There was also a correlation between the duration of diabetes and hearing loss. No significant correlation was found between the different stages of diabetic retinopathy and the degree of hearing loss.

Post-operative morbidity in electrodissection tonsillectomy

A prospective randomized study was carried out to assess the post-tonsillectomy morbidity of the electrodissection technique as opposed to the blunt dissection and ligation technique. One hundred and four patients, each serving as his or her own control, were randomized to have either the right or left tonsil removed by electrodissection. There was significantly less pharyngeal pain on the electrodissection side in the first post-operative day in adult patients. This, however, was transient as there was increased pharyngeal discomfort and otalgia, both in severity and duration, on the electrodissection side by the end of first week. There was no difference in the incidence of haemorrhage between the two techniques.

Predictive factors for the resolution of childhood otitis media with effusion following initial surgical treatment

A prospective study of outcome after treatment for glue ear was performed in a sample of 143 children aged between 1 and 11 years. The resolution or recurrence of effusion following initial surgery was analysed in relation to six potentially relevant factors. Multivariate analysis showed that resolution of effusion was statistically more frequent in ears found to have a dry tap at surgery, children with a history of atopy, those who underwent adenoidectomy and it was related to the age of the child at operation. Older children had a better prognosis. Univariate analysis suggested that girls have a significantly better outcome than boys, but this was not confirmed in multivariate analysis. The results suggest that there should be a longer period of observation in atopic individuals and older children. Furthermore, the study showed that ears with dry taps should not be treated with ventilation tubes.

The assessment of hearing results following surgery for otitis media with effusion using the Glasgow Benefit Plot

The hearing data from a sample of 73 children undergoing surgical treatment for chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) were analysed using a modification of the Glasgow Benefit Plot. All the patients had bilateral middle ear effusions confirmed at surgery. Using 20 dB average hearing level as the 'cutoff' point between normal and abnormal hearing, 65 (89 per cent) patients had binaural normal hearing, five (7 per cent) had monaural normal hearing and three (4 per cent) had bilateral hearing loss after surgery. However, 70 patients (96 per cent) were found to benefit from surgery. The cases with persistent hearing loss were re-examined to determine the cause of failure.

Ethmoidal sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology. Nasal sarcoidosis commonly affects the mucosa of the septum and the inferior turbinates. These patients may present with nasal discharge, crusting, obstruction, epistaxis or anosmia. We present an unusual case of nasal sarcoidosis involving the ethmoid sinus causing recurrent eyelid swelling and discuss its management.

Glossopharyngeal schwannoma presenting as gagging dysphagia

A case of cervical glossopharyngeal schwannoma presenting with gagging dysphagia is presented. Treatment was by total excision of the schwannoma following which the patient made a good recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of gagging dysphagia associated with a glossopharyngeal schwannoma.

Salivary terminal duct carcinoma

We report two cases of terminal duct carcinoma of the minor salivary glands. The histological features, biological behaviour, treatment and the long-term management are described.