Antimicrobial prescribing patterns of surgical speciality in a tertiary care hospital in India: Role of persuasive intervention for changing antibiotic prescription behaviour.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate use of antibiotics globally has been linked to increase in antibiotic resistance. OBJECTIVES: This interventional study assessed the impact of antibiotic prescription feedback and focus group discussions (FGD) on hospital-based prescribers before and after the FGD. STUDY DESIGN: The present study was performed at a tertiary care centre in New Delhi, wherein 45 units from surgical specialities were included for FGD. Thirty-five units were assessed for the antibiotic usage during 12 months pre-intervention and 3 and 6 months post-intervention period. The outcome measured was a change in antibiotic prescription rates reflected as daily defined doses per 100 bed days as defined by the World Health Organisation. RESULTS: Reduction in the level of antibiotic consumption was observed in 15 of 35 units (42.85%) during the 3 months post-intervention period, which was significant (P < 0.05) in 3/35 (8.57%) surgical units. A significant reduction (P < 0.05) was observed for the units of endoscopic gynaecology, super-speciality and transplant surgery units B and C, and orthopaedic unit C during the 6 months period. Decreasing trend (P < 0.05) was observed in 2/35 (5.71%) units during the entire period. Overall reduction of antibiotic consumption (1.88%) was observed, with an increase in the use of low-end antibiotics and a decrease in the use of high-end antibiotics. CONCLUSION: The present study clearly demonstrates a weak impact of FGD in changing antibiotic prescribing behaviour. Further analysis of the sustainability of FGD and its long-term impact on antimicrobial resistance needs to be evaluated. The effect of continuous educational sessions and multifaceted interventions cannot be ignored.

Threshold of galactomannan antigenemia positivity for early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in neutropenic children.

PURPOSE: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Pediatric data on the accuracy and optimal cutoff of galactomannan antigen detection to diagnose IA is sparse and controversial. We evaluated the utility and optimal serum galactomannan assay (GA) cutoff in children. METHODS: Children with febrile neutropenia due to malignancy, hematopoietic stem cell transplant, aplastic anemia, or congenital neutropenia, were prospectively included from 2007 to 2011. All new episodes of febrile neutropenia were recorded. In case of a previous diagnosis of IA, subsequent episodes were excluded. One to four GA were tested by enzyme immunoassay during each episode. Bronchoalveolar lavage and other relevant samples for mycological diagnosis, and computed tomography of chest/sinus were performed wherever appropriate. IA was classified as "proven", "probable", and "possible" as per the 2008 European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Mycoses Study Group Guidelines. The optimal cutoff value was determined using receiver operating characteristic curves in episode-wise analysis. RESULTS: There were 145 patients with 211 febrile episodes included: hematopoietic stem cell transplant (n = 15), oncological (n = 113), and hematological disorders (n = 17). Forty-five children (31.0%) developed IA (5 proven, 15 probable, and 25 possible). Cutoff value of single GA ≥ 0.7 for proven/probable/possible IA offered the best combination of sensitivity (82.2%)/specificity (82.5%), and 94.4% negative predictive value. Two consecutive positive GA ≥ 0.7 had a sensitivity/specificity of 75.0%/91.0%. Index GA ≥ 1.9 was associated with significantly higher mortality in children with IA and overall. CONCLUSION: Serum GA is sensitive to diagnose IA in pediatric patients with excellent negative predictive value at an optimal cutoff of ≥0.7. Considering two consecutive values ≥0.7 increases specificity to 91.0%.