How to start an antimicrobial stewardship programme in a hospital.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) describes a coherent set of actions that ensure optimal use of antimicrobials to improve patient outcomes, while limiting the risk of adverse events (including antimicrobial resistance (AMR)). Introduction of AMS programmes in hospitals is part of most national action plans to mitigate AMR, yet the optimal components and actions of such a programme remain undetermined. OBJECTIVES: To describe how health-care professionals can start an AMS programme in their hospital, the components of such a programme and the evidence base for its implementation. SOURCES: National and society-led guidelines on AMS, peer-reviewed publications and experience of AMS experts conducting AMS programmes. CONTENT: We provide a step-by-step pragmatic guide to setting up and implementing a hospital AMS programme in high-income or low-and-middle-income countries. IMPLICATIONS: Antimicrobial stewardship programmes in hospitals are a vital component of national action plans for AMR, and have been shown to significantly reduce AMR, particularly when coupled with infection prevention and control interventions. This step-by-step guide of 'how to' set up an AMS programme will help health-care professionals involved in AMS to optimally design and implement their actions.

Patient-related determinants of antibiotic use: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess patient-related determinants potentially influencing antibiotic use. METHODS: Studies published in MEDLINE until 30 September 2015 were searched. We included: qualitative studies describing patients' self-reported determinants of antibiotic use; and quantitative studies on either self-reported or objectively assessed determinants associated with antibiotic use. Whenever possible, reported determinants were categorized as 'barriers' or 'facilitators' of responsible antibiotic use. RESULTS: A total of 87 studies from 33 countries were included. Seventy-five (86.2%) were quantitative and described self-reported (45/75, 60.0%), objectively assessed (20/75, 26.7%) or self-reported and objectively assessed (10/75, 13.3%) patient-related determinants. Twelve (12/87, 13.8%) were qualitative studies or had a qualitative and quantitative component. Eighty-six of the studies (98.8%) concerned the outpatient setting. We identified seven broad categories of determinants having an impact on different aspects of antibiotic use (in descending order of frequency): demographic and socio-economic characteristics, patient-doctor interactions (e.g. counselling), treatment characteristics (e.g. administration frequency), attitudes (e.g. expecting antibiotics), access to treatment (e.g. patients' direct costs), characteristics of the condition for which the antibiotic was prescribed (e.g. duration of symptoms), knowledge (e.g. regarding indications for treatment). Most determinants were classified as 'barriers' to responsible antibiotic use. CONCLUSION: A large variety of patient-related determinants impact antibiotic use. The most easily 'modifiable' determinants concern patient-doctor interactions, treatment characteristics and knowledge. Data from the inpatient setting and low- and middle-income countries were underrepresented. Further studies should develop and test interventions that take these determinants into account with the ultimate aim of improving responsible use of antibiotics.

Acceptability of antibiotic stewardship measures in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the acceptability of antibiotic stewardship measures by family physicians. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey in 2015 with a sample of family physicians practicing in a specific French region. RESULTS: Overall, 283 of 1171 family physicians (24%) completed the questionnaire. Decision-support tools for antibiotic prescribing and educational measures were well accepted by family physicians: 71% strongly agreed with a free distribution of urine dipstick tests and 54% with incentives to participate in antibiotic training sessions. Almost all family physicians did not agree with restrictive measures: 68% were for instance opposed to having to justify the prescription's compliance with guidelines on the prescription itself. Physicians also did not agree with restrictive measures when they only applied to physicians prescribing many antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Participants were probably the most motivated and aware of the topic physicians, but they were particularly hostile to the introduction of restrictive measures related to antibiotic prescribing. Our survey was conducted with a large sample of family physicians and could help orientate our country's antibiotic stewardship policy. However, family physicians are likely to oppose any measure aiming at restricting their freedom of prescription.

Human resources needed to perform antimicrobial stewardship teams' activities in French hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: In January 2015, the French ministry of Health set up a task force on antibiotic resistance. Members of the task force's "antimicrobial stewardship" group conducted a study to evaluate the human resources needed to implement all the required activities of the multidisciplinary antimicrobial stewardship teams (AST - antibiotic/infectious disease lead supervisors, microbiologists, and pharmacists) in French healthcare facilities. METHODS: We conducted an online cross-sectional nationwide survey. The questionnaire was designed based on regulatory texts and experts' consensus. The survey took place between March and May 2015. We used the mailing list of the French Infectious Diseases Society (SPILF) to send out questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 65 healthcare facilities completed the questionnaire. The human resources needed to implement all AST's activities were estimated at 3.6 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions/1000 acute care beds for antibiotic/infectious disease lead supervisors, at 2.5 FTE/1000 beds for pharmacists, and at 0.6 FTE/1000 beds for microbiologists. This almost amounts to a total of 2000 FTE positions for all healthcare facilities (public and private) in France and to an annual cost of 200 million euros. CONCLUSION: Dedicated and sustainable funding for AST is urgently needed to implement comprehensive and functional AST programs in all healthcare facilities.

European survey on principles of prudent antibiotic prescribing teaching in undergraduate students.

We surveyed European medical schools regarding teaching of prudent antibiotic prescribing in the undergraduate curriculum. We performed a cross-sectional survey in 13 European countries (Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom) in 2013. Proportional sampling was used, resulting in the selection of two to four medical schools per country. A standardized questionnaire based on literature review and validated by a panel of experts was sent to lecturers in infectious diseases, medical microbiology and clinical pharmacology. In-depth interviews were conducted with four lecturers. Thirty-five of 37 medical schools were included in the study. Prudent antibiotic use principles were taught in all but one medical school, but only four of 13 countries had a national programme. Interactive teaching formats were used less frequently than passive formats. The teaching was mandatory for 53% of the courses and started before clinical training in 71%. We observed wide variations in exposure of students to important principles of prudent antibiotic use among countries and within the same country. Some major principles were poorly covered (e.g. reassessment and duration of antibiotic therapy, communication skills). Whereas 77% of the respondents fully agreed that the teaching of these principles should be prioritized, lack of time, mainly due to rigid curriculum policies, was the main reported barrier to implementation. Given the study design, these are probably optimistic results. Teaching of prudent antibiotic prescribing principles should be improved. National and European programmes for development of specific learning outcomes or competencies are urgently needed.

Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of French medical students about antibiotic prescribing and resistance.

OBJECTIVES: We had for aim to learn about medical students' knowledge and perspectives on antibiotic prescribing and bacterial resistance. METHODS: Penultimate and final year students at a French medical school were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey in summer 2012. RESULTS: The response rate was 20% (60/297). Penultimate and final year students gave similar answers. Students felt more confident in diagnosing an infection, and less confident in choosing the correct dose and interval of antibiotic administration. Seventy-nine percent of students wanted more training on antibiotic treatments. Sixty-nine percent of students knew that antibiotic prescriptions were inappropriate or unnecessary in 21-60% of the cases, and 95% believed that these prescriptions were unethical. Only 27% knew that more than 80% of antibiotic prescriptions were made in community practice. Students believed that the most important causes of resistance were that too many prescriptions were made and broad-spectrum antibiotic use; 27% believed poor hand hygiene was "not at all important". Ninety-four percent believed resistance was a national problem, and 69% mentioned it as a problem in their hospital. Sixty-three percent thought that the antibiotics they would prescribe would contribute to resistance, and 96% thought resistance would be a greater problem in the future. Twenty-two percent knew MRSA bacteremia rates had decreased over the past decade in France. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students are aware that antibiotic resistance is a current and growing problem. They would like more training on antibiotic selection.

Papillomavirus vaccine coverage and its determinants in South-Eastern France.

OBJECTIVES: We wanted: (i) to assess vaccine coverage (VC) for papillomavirus (HPV) (one and three doses of the vaccine, VC1 and VC3) and compliance with the recommended vaccination regimen (3rd dose within 1 year after the 1st dose) among 14-16 year-old girls; and (ii) to identify the factors independently associated with VC and compliance with the recommended vaccination regimen. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive longitudinal study, using the National Health Insurance reimbursement database, for years 2007 to 2009, in South-Eastern France. We performed a multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazards model). RESULTS: VC1 was 35.5%, with 68.8% of those who started vaccination having completed the 3-dose regimen, 64.1% within one year. VC1 and VC3 were positively associated with the girl's age. Girls covered by the complementary social welfare healthcare program and those living in rural areas had lower VC1 and VC3. Being covered by the complementary social welfare healthcare program was also associated with lower compliance with the recommended vaccination regimen. VC1 and VC3 were positively associated with the number of medical consultations during the study period. Important geographical variations were noted regarding VC1. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that VC for HPV is insufficient in our region, and that there are socio-economic and geographical inequalities. Even though the vaccine is reimbursed for all girls, efforts must be made to improve VC, particularly for girls covered by the complementary social welfare healthcare program and those living in rural areas.

A 6-year antifungal stewardship programme in a teaching hospital.

PURPOSE: To describe the antifungal stewardship programme in our hospital and to assess its impact on total antifungal prescriptions and their cost, and on the process of care measures regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic management of invasive aspergillosis and candidaemia. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study describing the multifaceted antifungal stewardship programme in place at our French teaching tertiary-care hospital since 2005. Several actions were implemented successively, including the systematic evaluation of all costly antifungal prescriptions (echinocandins, lipid formulations of amphotericin B, posaconazole and voriconazole). RESULTS: A total of 636 antifungal prescriptions were discussed by the antifungal management team from 2005 to 2010 inclusive, mainly from the haematology department (72 %). In 344/636 cases (54 %), a piece of advice was fed back to the physician in charge of the patient, with an 88 % compliance rate. Optimal standard of care was achieved for galactomannan antigen testing, performance of chest computed tomography (CT) scan and voriconazole therapeutic drug monitoring for invasive aspergillosis, with no combination therapies used since 2008. Regarding candidaemia, optimal standard of care was achieved for the timing of antifungal therapy, recommended first-line therapy, duration of therapy and the removal of central venous catheters. Total antifungal prescriptions (in defined daily doses, DDD) and their cost were contained between 2003 and 2010. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an antifungal stewardship programme was feasible, sustainable and well accepted. We observed an improved quality of care for some process of care measures, and antifungal use and cost were contained in our hospital.

Indicators show differences in antibiotic use between general practitioners and paediatricians.

The purpose of this investigation was to adapt to an individual physician level and to the paediatric context a set of drug-specific indicators of outpatient antibiotic use developed by the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption (ESAC) project, and to describe the differences in antibiotic prescriptions between general practitioners (GPs) and paediatricians. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study analysing antibiotic prescriptions in 2009 for children below 16 years of age in south-eastern France, using the National Health Insurance (NHI) outpatient reimbursement database. A generalised linear model adjusted on physicians' characteristics and patient population characteristics was used to compare indicators between GPs and paediatricians. We included 4,921 self-employed GPs and 301 paediatricians. Penicillins accounted for 47% and 45% of all antibiotics prescribed by GPs and paediatricians, respectively, followed by cephalosporins (33% and 39%) and macrolides (14% and 9%). In both specialties, there were around 70% more antibiotic prescriptions during the winter quarters compared to the summer quarters. The 13 indicators we calculated showed wide variations in antibiotic prescriptions among GPs, among paediatricians, and between GPs and paediatricians. In an adjusted econometric model, GPs were found to issue 54% more antibiotic prescriptions than paediatricians, whereas paediatricians used a significantly higher proportion of co-amoxiclav (18% vs. 12%) and cephalosporins (39% vs. 33%) and a significantly lower proportion of macrolides (9% vs. 14%) compared to GPs. A set of 13 indicators may be calculated using reimbursement data to describe outpatient antibiotic use at the physician level. We observed very different prescribing profiles between GPs and paediatricians.

Approaching the quality of antibiotic prescriptions in primary care using reimbursement data.

Our objectives for this investigation were: (i) to design quality measures of outpatient antibiotic use that could be calculated at the individual general practitioner (GP) level using reimbursement data only; and (ii) to analyse the variability in antibiotic prescriptions between GPs regarding these measures in south-eastern France. Based on the literature and international therapeutic guidelines, we designed a set of quality measures in an exploratory attempt to assess the quality of antibiotic prescriptions. We performed a cross-sectional study of antibiotic prescriptions in adults in south-eastern France in 2009, using data from the outpatient reimbursement database of the French National Health Insurance (NHI). We carried out a cluster analysis to group GPs according to their antibiotic prescribing behaviour. Six quality measures were calculated at the GP level, with wide variations in practice regarding all these measures. A six-cluster solution was identified, with one cluster grouping 56 % of the sample and made up of GPs having the most homogeneous pattern of prescription for all six quality measures, probably reflecting better antibiotic prescribing. Total pharmaceutical expenses (per patient), penicillin combinations use, quinolone use and seasonal variation of quinolone use were all positively associated with a more heterogeneous and possibly less appropriate use of antibiotics in a multivariate analysis. These quality measures could be useful to assess GPs' antibiotic prescribing behaviour in countries where no information system provides easy access to data linking drug use to a clinical condition.

Selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility data improves the appropriateness of intended antibiotic prescriptions in urinary tract infections: a case-vignette randomised study.

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the impact of selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility data on the appropriateness of intended documented antibiotic prescriptions in urinary tract infections (UTIs) among residents training in general practice. We conducted a randomised-controlled case-vignette study in three French universities using a questionnaire with four UTI vignettes. In each university, residents were randomly allocated to two groups: a control group with usual full-length reporting of antibiotic susceptibility data (25 antibiotics) and an intervention group with selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility data (2 to 4 antibiotics only). 326/611 residents (53 %) participated in the survey, 157/305 (52 %) in the intervention group and 169/306 (55 %) in the control group. For all four UTI scenarios, selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility data significantly improved the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions (absolute increase ranging from 7 to 41 %, depending on the vignette). The variety of antibiotic prescriptions was reduced in the intervention group, and cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones were less often prescribed. Among 325 respondents, 124 (38 %) declared being either not really or not at all at ease with antibiotic susceptibility data, whereas 112/157 (71 %) of the residents in the intervention group declared that selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility data made their antibiotic choice easier. Selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility data could be a promising strategy to improve antibiotic use in UTIs, as part of a multi-faceted antibiotic stewardship programme. Microbiology laboratories should be aware that they can have a significant influence on antibiotic use.

An antibiotic stewardship program in a French teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVES: An antibiotic stewardship program was implemented in our teaching hospital in 1999, and strengthened in 2005. We report its organization and impact on antibiotic use. METHODS: This observational study was conducted during a 10-year period (2002-2011). RESULTS: Many interventions were implemented: Infectious Diseases Specialists (IDS) led systematic ward rounds in several departments (1999); nominative antibiotic order form (2005); documentation of IDS advice in the patient's electronic medical record (2007); IDS advice triggered by the pharmacist (formulary restriction, 2007) or because of positive blood cultures (2009); automated weekly extraction of advice given into a database (2011). Seven thousand two hundred and five pieces of advice were recorded between 2007 and 2011: 63% following physician request, 26% triggered by the pharmacist and 9% because of positive blood cultures. Advice was provided by IDS in 95% of cases (63% by phone). The number of antibiotic prescriptions remained stable since 2005 at around 400 defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 patient-days. Documenting, sharing, and choice of action were improved due to the database. CONCLUSIONS: Our antibiotic stewardship program is well accepted by physicians and allows controlling antibiotic use in our hospital.

Survey of vaccination policies in French healthcare institutions.

OBJECTIVE: The survey was implemented to describe vaccination policies for healthcare professionals in French healthcare institutions. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey based on questionnaires was sent to occupational physicians and chairpersons of hospital infection prevention and control committees (HIPC) of 38 institutions between November 2010 and January 2011. RESULTS: Twenty-nine occupational physicians and 26 hospital infection prevention and control committees chairpersons (HIPC), from 30 institutions answered (response rate: 79%), 70% of the institutions were university hospitals. Overall, 76% of occupational physicians and 85% of HIPC chairpersons reported that information and awareness campaigns about vaccination recommendations for healthcare professionals were usually conducted in their establishment. Fifty-nine percent of occupational physicians and 31% of HIPC chairpersons reported that they were aware of the vaccine coverage rates of professionals in their institution. The occupational physicians reported that they suggested diphtheria, tetanus, polio, influenza, and acellular pertussis vaccination to all staff at their annual visit in 100%, 97%, and 62% of cases, respectively. Varicella and measles vaccinations were never suggested in 31% and 17% of cases, respectively. Among respondents, 55% of physicians reported that they had already managed a pertussis epidemic, and 42% a measles epidemic, and in both of these cases an awareness campaigns were usually conducted (93% and 96%). CONCLUSIONS: The vaccine coverage rates of healthcare professionals in French healthcare institutions remain insufficiently documented and could be improved.

Impact of an assisted reassessment of antibiotic therapies on the quality of prescriptions in an intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: The study's objective was to assess the impact of a professional multifaceted intervention designed to improve the quality of inpatient empirical therapeutic antibiotic courses at the time of their reassessment, i.e. 24 to 96 hours after treatment initiation. DESIGN: We conducted a 5-month prospective pre- and post-intervention study in a medical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a teaching hospital, using time-series analysis. The intervention was a multifaceted professional intervention combining systematic 3-weekly visits of an infectious diseases specialist to discuss all antibiotic therapies, interactive teaching courses, and daily contact with a microbiologist. RESULTS: Eighty-one antibiotic prescriptions were assessed, 37 before and 44 after the intervention. The prevalence of adequate antibiotic prescriptions was high and not statistically different before and after the intervention (73% vs. 80%, P=0.31), both for sudden change (P=0.67) and linear trend (P=0.055), using interrupted time-series analysis. The intervention triggered a more frequent reassessment of the diagnosis between day 2 and day 4 (11% vs. 32%, P=0.02) and slightly improved the adaptation of antibiotic therapies to positive microbiology (25% before vs. 50% after, P=0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Our multifaceted intervention may have improved the quality of antibiotic therapies around day 3 of prescription, but the difference did not reach statistical significance, possibly because of a ceiling effect.

[Bacterial resistance and antibiotic prescription: a survey of hospital physician perception, attitude, and knowledge]. / Résistance bactérienne et prescription antibiotique : perceptions, attitudes et connaissances des médecins hospitaliers.

OBJECTIVE: The authors' goal was to assess physicians' perception of antibiotic prescribing practice and of bacterial resistance. DESIGN: We questioned 503 interns and senior physicians in the Nice University Hospital. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-two out of five hundred and three (64 %) physicians answered the questionnaire. Antibiotic resistance was perceived as a national problem by 98 % of physicians, but only 74 % rated the problem as important in their own daily practice. Fifty-nine percent of interns and 34 % of senior physicians respectively had received some training on antibiotic prescribing in the past 12 months. Only 33 % of physicians knew the exact prevalence of MRSA in their hospital. Senior physicians were more confident than interns when prescribing an antibiotic. The three issues they were the less confident with were: indications of antibiotic combinations, reassessment, and duration of antibiotic treatment. They were aware that antibiotic overuse, prescription of broad-spectrum molecules, or subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics were the three major causes of antibiotic resistance. They believed that the most useful measures to improve antibiotic prescription were: availability of guidelines, specific courses, readily accessible advice from an infectious diseases specialist, and audit plus feedback. CONCLUSIONS: The collected data provides useful information for the implementation of strategies to optimize adherence to good antimicrobial stewardship.

[Insufficient pneumococcal vaccine coverage in adult inpatients at risk]. / Défaut de couverture vaccinale pneumococcique chez l'adulte à risque.

OBJECTIVE: This study had for aim to assess pneumococcal vaccination rates in hospitalized patients. DESIGN: A prospective study was carried out in two medical wards of the Nice University Hospital, France. Patients were included from December 31, 2007 to February 12, 2008. RESULTS: Hundred and thirty-seven patients, aged 62+/-20 years, were included. Pneumococcal vaccination was indicated for 62 patients (45 %). Among these 62 patients, 53 (85 %) had not been vaccinated in the previous 5 years, for the following reasons: no medical advice on vaccination (36 cases), no medical consultation in the past years (nine cases), patient opposed to vaccination (two cases), physician opposed to vaccination (one case), miscellaneous (five cases). Among the 53 patients, seven were vaccinated during their hospital stay and 13 were advised to be vaccinated by their general practitioner. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights a low rate of pneumococcal vaccination in hospitalized patients, mainly due to insufficient counseling from physicians, both in community or in hospital practice.