Antimicrobial Stewardship

Although hospitalizations due to urinary tract infections have increased, there are some investigational antibiotics in clinical trials. Here is a review of some of these therapies in the pipeline.

In the latest column from the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP), here is a discussion on the use of rifampin as an adjunctive antibiotic treatment for patients with diabetic foot osteomyelitis.

When physicians were told that a case was likely viral they were less likely to prescribe antibiotics, a new study shows.

Dentists write about 25.7 million prescriptions annually, amounting to about 10% of all outpatient antibiotic prescriptions in the United States. A recent study showed that educating dentists about the risks of antibiotics—including antimicrobial resistance and Clostridioides difficile infections—led to sharp decreases in prescriptions.

Finding that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted best antibiotic practices, the CDC announced further efforts to curb treatment-resistant infections.

With antimicrobial resistance a rising threat, the World Health Organization is working to heighten awareness of the urgent need for new therapies.

Here is a review of the literature for this class of antibiotics.

Investigators designed a quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention analysis comparing a pre-intervention cohort receiving IV drip antibiotic infusion with a post-intervention cohort receiving IVP administration.

Working to Fight AMR is working in Washington DC to help pass policies in Congress to help alleviate this significant issue.

A robust stewardship program requires a comprehensive investment in technology and staff.

CDC attributes a 15% increase in deaths from antimicrobial-resistant infections in 2020 to impacts of COVID-19 on health and healthcare.

Most children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 receive improper antimicrobial treatment, according to a recent study that highlights an urgent need to improve diagnosis and treatment of the condition.

Work group from infectious disease associations proposes prioritizing 6 areas of research to improve efficacy and precision of antibiotic therapy

The largest genome sequence of S Typhi found strains of the bacteria are developing and spreading resistance to new antibiotics.

Carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales in Saudi Arabia were genotyped and the course of illness characterized to help inform treatment and prevention.

This crisis has united multidisciplinary groups and laid the foundation to better equip the health care workforce for future pandemics.

A clinician is advocating for incorporating diagnostic stewardship practices within antimicrobial stewardship programs, which could someday lead to best practice guidelines on a larger scale.

Utilizing a newer technology, investigators wanted to see if a reduction in time led to clinically significant antimicrobial adjustments.

A multicenter study looked at treating these infections with omadacycline.

Study links inappropriate, off-guideline antibiotics to increased, avoidable allergic and adverse events in children.

A medical center wanted to review prescribing and documentation practices for their pharmacists.

With limitations on fidaxomicin at their facility, a hospital looked at vancomycin usage to determine if they needed to align with the new IDSA/SHEA CDI treatment guideline.

A health system piloted a program that explored having an infectious disease pharmacist aid in guiding treatment.

Designing a transitions of care stewardship program and engaging all stakeholders can help cut down on unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.

Can clinicians rely on dosing strategy to avoid acute kidney injury for patients receiving vancomycin with a β-lactam like piperacillin-tazobactam?

Jason Pogue, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, shares key takeaways from his 2 presentations at MAD-ID 2022, including a new alternative to the SPACE acronym, as well as how to navigate any anxieties around oral carbapenems.

A MAD-ID 2022 poster sought to better understand the current antibiotic prescribing patterns at adult primary care clinics affiliated with Maimonides Medical Center in New York.

A study looked at the utilization of the technology with this antibiotic class in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

At MAD-ID 2022, Payal K. Patel, MD, MPH, FIDSA, discussed how COVID-19 misinformation and lags in diagnostics contributed to inappropriate antibiotic use and offers some way to combat this trend.

“Clearly, stewardship is a team operation. It starts [with] the leadership, the clinical pharmacy, and coordination with infectious disease physicians truly has to be synergistic,” Goetz said in the keynote address at MAD-ID 2022.