The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic consumption and prevalence of pathogens in primary and secondary healthcare settings in Northern Ireland.

AIM: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the patterns of antimicrobial use and the incidence of pathogens in primary and secondary healthcare settings in Northern Ireland. METHODS: Data were collected on antibiotic use and Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens from primary and secondary healthcare settings in Northern Ireland for the period before (January 2015-March 2020) and during (April 2020-December 2021) the pandemic. Time series intervention analysis methods were utilized. RESULTS: In the hospital setting, the mean total hospital antibiotic consumption during the pandemic was 1864.5 defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1000 occupied-bed days (OBD), showing no significant change from pre-pandemic (P = .7365). During the pandemic, the use of second-generation cephalosporins, third-generation cephalosporins, co-amoxiclav and levofloxacin increased, there was a decrease in the percentage use of the hospital Access group (P = .0083) and an increase in the percentage use of Watch group (P = .0040), and the number of hospital Klebsiella oxytoca and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus cases increased. In primary care, the mean total antibiotic consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic was 20.53 DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID), compared to 25.56 DID before the COVID-19 pandemic (P = .0071). During the pandemic, there was a decrease in the use of several antibiotic classes, an increase in the percentage use of the Reserve group (P = .0032) and an increase in the number of community-onset Pseudomonas aeruginosa cases. CONCLUSION: This study provides details of both changes in antibiotic consumption and the prevalence of infections in hospitals and primary care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic that emphasize the importance of antimicrobial stewardship in pandemic situations.

Investigating the impact of an online hydration intervention in care homes using the COM-B model: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat to public health. To reduce antimicrobial resistance, interventions to reduce gram-negative infections, specifically urinary tract infections, are vital. Early evidence suggests increased fluid intake is linked with a reduction in UTIs and subsequently has potential to reduce antibiotic usage. Care homes have a high prevalence of UTIs and provide an opportunity in a closed setting to deliver an intervention focused on increasing fluid intake, where it is supported and monitored by health care workers. The study aimed to evaluate the impact and feasibility of an online staff focused intervention over a 30 day period to increase the hydration of care home residents with a view to reducing the burden of AMR in this setting. METHODS: The study was a pre and post intervention with a sequential explanatory mixed methods design. The intervention was delivered online in 3 care homes, containing 3 main components underpinned by the COM-B model including hydration training, 7 structured drinks rounds and a hydration champion to change behaviour of care home staff. A pre and post questionnaire assessed the impact of the intervention on staff and data was collected on fluid intake, drinks rounds delivered to residents, UTIs, antibiotic used to treat UTIs, falls and hospitalisation. Descriptive statistics summarised and assessed the impact of the study. Focus groups with care home staff provided qualitative data which was thematically analysed. RESULTS: Staff increased in self-perceived knowledge across the six components of hydration care. 59% of residents had an increase in median fluid intake post intervention. During the time of the intervention, a 13% decrease in UTIs and antibiotic usage to treat UTIs across the 3 care homes was recorded, however falls and hospitalisations increased. Themes arising from focus groups included the role of information for action, accessibility of online training, online training content. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that a brief, low cost, online multi-component intervention focused on care home staff can increase the fluid intake of residents. A reduction in UTIs and antibiotic consumption was observed overall. Empowering care home staff could be a way of reducing the burden of infection in this setting.

End of season influenza vaccine effectiveness in adults and children in the United Kingdom in 2017/18.

BackgroundIn the United Kingdom (UK), in recent influenza seasons, children are offered a quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4), and eligible adults mainly trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV).AimTo estimate the UK end-of-season 2017/18 adjusted vaccine effectiveness (aVE) and the seroprevalence in England of antibodies against influenza viruses cultured in eggs or tissue.MethodsThis observational study employed the test-negative case-control approach to estimate aVE in primary care. The population-based seroprevalence survey used residual age-stratified samples.ResultsInfluenza viruses A(H3N2) (particularly subgroup 3C.2a2) and B (mainly B/Yamagata/16/88-lineage, similar to the quadrivalent vaccine B-virus component but mismatched to TIV) dominated. All-age aVE was 15% (95% confidence interval (CI): -6.3 to 32) against all influenza; -16.4% (95% CI: -59.3 to 14.9) against A(H3N2); 24.7% (95% CI: 1.1 to 42.7) against B and 66.3% (95% CI: 33.4 to 82.9) against A(H1N1)pdm09. For 2-17 year olds, LAIV4 aVE was 26.9% (95% CI: -32.6 to 59.7) against all influenza; -75.5% (95% CI: -289.6 to 21) against A(H3N2); 60.8% (95% CI: 8.2 to 83.3) against B and 90.3% (95% CI: 16.4 to 98.9) against A(H1N1)pdm09. For ≥ 18 year olds, TIV aVE against influenza B was 1.9% (95% CI: -63.6 to 41.2). The 2017 seroprevalence of antibody recognising tissue-grown A(H3N2) virus was significantly lower than that recognising egg-grown virus in all groups except 15-24 year olds.ConclusionsOverall aVE was low driven by no effectiveness against A(H3N2) possibly related to vaccine virus egg-adaption and a new A(H3N2) subgroup emergence. The TIV was not effective against influenza B. LAIV4 against influenza B and A(H1N1)pdm09 was effective.

Uptake and effectiveness of influenza vaccine in those aged 65 years and older in the United Kingdom, influenza seasons 2010/11 to 2016/17.

BackgroundIn 2016/17, seasonal influenza vaccine was less effective in those aged 65 years and older in the United Kingdom. We describe the uptake, influenza-associated mortality and adjusted vaccine effectiveness (aVE) in this age group over influenza seasons 2010/11-2016/17. Methods: Vaccine uptake in 2016/17 and five previous seasons were measured using a sentinel general practitioners cohort in England; the test-negative case-control design was used to estimate pooled aVE by subtype and age group against laboratory-confirmed influenza in primary care from 2010-2017. Results: Vaccine uptake was 64% in 65-69-year-olds, 74% in 70-74-year-olds and 80% in those aged 75 and older. Overall aVE was 32.5% (95% CI: 11.6 to 48.5); aVE by sub-type was 60.8% (95% CI: 33.9 to 76.7) and 50.0% (95% CI: 21.6 to 68.1) against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza B, respectively, but only 5.6% (95% CI: - 39.2 to 35.9) against A(H3N2). Against all laboratory-confirmed influenza aVE was 45.2% (95% CI: 25.1 to 60.0) in 65-74 year olds; - 26.2% (95% CI: - 149.3 to 36.0) in 75-84 year olds and - 3.2% (95% CI: - 237.8 to 68.5) in those aged 85 years and older. Influenza-attributable mortality was highest in seasons dominated by A(H3N2). Conclusions: Vaccine uptake with non-adjuvanted, normal-dose vaccines remained high, with evidence of effectiveness against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B, though poor against A(H3N2), particularly in those aged 75 years and older. Forthcoming availability of newly licensed vaccines with wider use of antivirals can potentially further improve prevention and control of influenza in this group.

End-of-season influenza vaccine effectiveness in adults and children, United Kingdom, 2016/17.

IntroductionThe United Kingdom is in the fourth season of introducing a universal childhood influenza vaccine programme. The 2016/17 season saw early influenza A(H3N2) virus circulation with care home outbreaks and increased excess mortality particularly in those 65 years or older. Virus characterisation data indicated emergence of genetic clusters within the A(H3N2) 3C.2a group which the 2016/17 vaccine strain belonged to. Methods: The test-negative case-control (TNCC) design was used to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against laboratory confirmed influenza in primary care. Results: Adjusted end-of-season vaccine effectiveness (aVE) estimates were 39.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 23.1 to 52.8) against all influenza and 40.6% (95% CI: 19.0 to 56.3) in 18-64-year-olds, but no significant aVE in ≥ 65-year-olds. aVE was 65.8% (95% CI: 30.3 to 83.2) for 2-17-year-olds receiving quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine. Discussion: The findings continue to provide support for the ongoing roll-out of the paediatric vaccine programme, with a need for ongoing evaluation. The importance of effective interventions to protect the ≥ 65-year-olds remains.

Impact of live attenuated influenza vaccination programme for healthy children in Northern Ireland: A comparison of seven influenza seasons, 2010/11-2016/17.

Seasonal influenza vaccination for healthy children was introduced in Northern Ireland in the 2013/14 flu season, with an initial pilot year involving two specific cohorts, followed by rollout to all children aged 4-11 years in subsequent seasons. This study aimed to examine the impact of that programme on the burden of flu in primary care over the study period 2010/11-2016/17. Two routine indicators were used to measure impact - GP in-hour consultations and out-of-hour calls for influenza and influenza-like-illness (ILI). Analysis was conducted overall and stratified by age; rates in children under 14 years of age to measure direct impact and rates in individuals 14 years and over to measure indirect impact. Seven influenza seasons were included, three pre-programme seasons (2010/11-2012/13: phase 0), one pilot season (2013/14: phase 1), and three post-programme seasons (2014/15-2016/17: phase 2). High uptake of vaccination was observed from the programme introduction, with consistent uptake of over 50% in pre-school age groups and over 75% in primary school age groups. Statistically significant reductions were found in GP in-hours consultations and in out-of-hour calls in phase 2 compared to phase 0, both overall (GP in-hours RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.98, p = .040; out-of-hours RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27-0.97, p = .041) and in the under 14 years group (GP in-hours RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.19-0.75, p = .006; out-of-hours RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.19-0.83, p = .014). Our results suggest that there have been reductions in the burden of flu in primary care settings overall and in children aged under 14 years in the seasons since the introduction of healthy children influenza vaccination. Further seasons should be added to subsequent analyses to strengthen this evidence.