Nursing home nurses' opinions on the potential evolution of their role in antibiotic stewardship: A French national cross-sectional survey.

AIMS: To assess French nursing home nurses' opinions on the potential evolution of their antibiotic stewardship role, facilitators and barriers, and nurses' characteristics associated with their opinion toward new roles regarding antibiotic prescribing. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study in French nursing homes with ≥20 beds and for which an email address was available in a national database managed by the French government between May and June 2022. METHODS: A self-administered internet-based questionnaire of 43 closed-ended Likert items was sent to directors of eligible nursing homes by email asking them to forward the link to the questionnaire to the nurses and head nurses of their institution. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and χ2 tests. RESULTS: 7215 nursing homes were sent the online questionnaire; 1090 participants completed it partially or totally and 923 fully filled in the questionnaire. A majority of nurses supported strengthening and expanding their antibiotic stewardship role. Regarding new roles, over 70% agreed that nurses could collect urine samples to perform a urine culture on their own initiative, prescribe microbiological laboratory tests, and change the drug formulation or the administration route of the antibiotic prescribed by the general practitioner. One-third declared that they could initiate antibiotics for some infections and/or change the empirical antibiotic treatment prescribed by the general practitioner. Nurses from public nursing homes with connection to a hospital (27.5% vs. >35% for other status) and with recent experience in nursing homes (31% for <5 years of practice vs. 41% for 10 years or more) were less likely to agree to prescribe antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: This quantitative questionnaire survey identified potential new nurses' roles in antibiotic stewardship that seem to be acceptable and feasible for participants. These new nurses' roles need to be explored in future experimentations before considering implementation. REPORTING METHOD: The study adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines and followed the STROBE reporting guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: A self-administered internet-based questionnaire was sent to directors of eligible nursing homes by email asking them to forward the link to the questionnaire to the nurses and head nurses of their institution. Nurses and head nurses who were interested and willing could complete the questionnaire online partially or fully. TRIAL AND PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: This study is not a clinical trial and is not eligible for trial registration. We used another suitable study registration site, the Center for Open Science.

Quality of Preanesthesia Teleconsultation: The TELECAM Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Preanesthesia teleconsultation helps reduce availability constraints as well as direct and indirect expenses. The TELECAM trial was performed to assess the quality of preanesthesia teleconsultation in terms of clinical parameters evaluation, feasibility, patient satisfaction and preoperative anxiety, and anesthesiologist satisfaction. Methods: TELECAM was an investigator-initiated, prospective, single-center, randomized, controlled, parallel group, evaluator-blinded, open-label study. Patients with a scheduled ambulatory surgery (orthopedic or hand surgery) were randomized into the in-person preanesthesia consultation group or the preanesthesia teleconsultation (conducted at the patient's home or workplace) group. The quality of the teleconsultation was evaluated through agreement on intubation difficulty, predictable mask ventilation difficulty, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores between the preanesthesia consultation and the preanesthesia in-person visit. Results: A total of 241 patients were included, and 208 were considered in the analyses. The feasibility of teleconsultation was high, with a feasibility ratio of 87.5%. The quality of the preanesthesia consultation regarding the evaluation of predictable intubation, mask ventilation difficulties, and ASA score, did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.23, 0.29, and 0.06, respectively). The preoperative satisfaction was higher for patients who had a preanesthesia teleconsultation (p = 0.04). Patients' preoperative anxiety did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.90). The median satisfaction of the anesthesiologists who performed the teleconsultation reached a maximum of 10 (IQR: 8.0; 10.0). Conclusion: This study showed positive results for the quality of preanesthesia teleconsultation on the evaluation of clinical parameters, with high feasibility and satisfaction of the patients and anesthesiologists. The trial was registered in ClinicalTrials (NCT03470896).

Design of proxy indicators estimating the appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed by French dentists: a cross-sectional study based on reimbursement data.

Background - The literature shows that the prescription of antibiotics in dental care is often unnecessary or inappropriate. Indicators estimating the appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed by dentists based on routine databases are however not available in the literature. Our objectives were to: (i) design proxy indicators estimating the appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed by dentists; (ii) evaluate their clinimetric properties; and (iii) provide results for these proxy indicators for dentists located in a north-eastern French region.Methods - We selected and adapted proxy indicators from the literature. Using 2019 Regional Health Insurance data, we evaluated the proxy indicators' clinimetric properties (measurability, applicability, and potential room for improvement), their results with performance scores (% of dentists who reached the target value), and the case-mix stability.Results - We included 3,014 general dental practitioners, who prescribed a total of 373,975 antibiotics to 308,123 patients in 2019. We identified four proxy indicators estimating antibiotic prescribing appropriateness in dental care. All proxy indicators had good clinimetric properties. Performance scores were generally low (10.5 to 73.0%, depending on the indicator), suggesting an important room for improvement. These results showed large variations between dentists (large interquartile ranges) and according to the patients' characteristics (case-mix stability).Conclusion - These four proxy indicators might be used to guide antibiotic stewardship interventions in dental care.

A French single-center experience on allogeneic stem cell transplant cryopreservation during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is a curative treatment for chemo-resistant hematological malignancies. Because of transport restriction imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, regulatory bodies and societies recommended graft cryopreservation before recipient conditioning. However, the freezing and thawing processes, including washing steps, might impair CD34+ cell recovery and viability, thereby impacting the recipient engraftment. Over 1 year (between March 2020 and May 2021), we aimed to analyze the results of frozen/thawed peripheral blood stem cell allografts in terms of stem cell quality and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Transplant quality was evaluated by comparing total nucleated cells (TNCs), CD34+ cells and colony-forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM)/kg numbers as well as TNC and CD34+ cell viabilities before and after thawing. Intrinsic biological parameters such as granulocyte, platelet and CD34+ cell concentrations were analyzed, as they might be responsible for a quality loss. The impact of the CD34+ cell richness of the graft on TNC and CD34 yields was evaluated by designing three groups of transplants based on their CD34 /kg value at collection: >8 × 10 6/kg, between 6 and 8 × 106/kg and <6 × 106/kg. The consequences of cryopreservation were compared in the fresh and thawed group by evaluating the main transplant outcomes. RESULTS: Over 1 year, 76 recipients were included in the study; 57 patients received a thawed and 19 patients a fresh allo-SCT. None received allo-SCT from a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-positive donor. The freezing of 57 transplants led to the storage of 309 bags, for a mean storage time (between freezing and thawing) of 14 days. For the fresh transplant group, only 41 bags were stored for potential future donor lymphocyte infusions. Regarding the graft characteristics at collection, median number of cryopreserved TNC and CD34+ cells/kg were greater than those for fresh infusions. After thawing, median yields were 74.0%, 69.0% and 48.0% for TNC, CD34+ cells and CFU-GM, respectively. The median TNC dose/kg obtained after thawing was 5.8 × 108, with a median viability of 76%. The median CD34+ cells/kg was 5 × 106, with a median viability of 87%. In the fresh transplant group, the median TNC/kg was 5.9 × 108/kg, and the median CD34+ cells/kg and CFU-GM/kg were 6 × 106/kg and 276.5 × 104/kg, respectively. Sixty-one percent of the thawed transplants were out of specifications regarding the CD34+ cells/ kg requested cell dose (6 × 106/kg) and 85% of them would have had this dose if their hematopoietic stem cell transplant had been infused fresh. Regarding fresh grafts, 15.8% contained less than 6 × 106 CD34+ cells /kg and came from peripheral blood stem cells that did not reach 6 × 106 CD34+ cells /kg at collection. Regarding the factor that impaired CD34 and TNC yield after thawing, no significant impact of the granulocyte count, the platelet count or the CD34+ cells concentration/µL was observed. However, grafts containing more than 8 × 10 6/kg at collection showed a significantly lower TNC and CD34 yield. CONCLUSIONS: Transplant outcomes (engraftment, graft-versus-host disease, infections, relapse or death) were not significantly different between the two groups.

Co-development of a school-based and primary care-based multicomponent intervention to improve HPV vaccine coverage amongst French adolescents (the PrevHPV Study).

INTRODUCTION: Despite various efforts to improve human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage in France, it has always been lower than in most other high-income countries. The health authorities launched in 2018 the national PrevHPV research programme to (1) co-develop with stakeholders and (2) evaluate the impact of a multicomponent complex intervention aimed at improving HPV vaccine coverage amongst French adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To describe the development process of the PrevHPV intervention using the GUIDance for rEporting of intervention Development framework as a guide. METHODS: To develop the intervention, we used findings from (1) published evidence on effective strategies to improve vaccination uptake and on theoretical frameworks of health behaviour change; (2) primary data on target populations' knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, preferences, behaviours and practices as well as the facilitators and barriers to HPV vaccination collected as part of the PrevHPV Programme and (3) the advice of working groups involving stakeholders in a participatory approach. We paid attention to developing an intervention that would maximise reach, adoption, implementation and maintenance in real-world contexts. RESULTS: We co-developed three components: (1) adolescents' and parents' education and motivation using eHealth tools (web conferences, videos, and a serious video game) and participatory learning at school; (2) general practitioners' e-learning training on HPV using motivational interviewing techniques and provision of a decision aid tool and (3) easier access to vaccination through vaccination days organised on participating middle schools' premises to propose free of charge initiation of the HPV vaccination. CONCLUSION: We co-developed a multicomponent intervention that addresses a range of barriers and enablers of HPV vaccination. The next step is to build on the results of its evaluation to refine it before scaling it up if proven efficient. If so, it will add to the small number of multicomponent interventions aimed at improving HPV vaccination worldwide. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The public (adolescents, their parents, school staff and health professionals) participated in the needs assessment using a mixed methods approach. The public was also involved in the components' development process to generate ideas about potential activities/tools, critically revise the successive versions of the tools and provide advice about the intervention practicalities, feasibility and maintenance.

Promoting HPV vaccination at school: a mixed methods study exploring knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of French school staff.

BACKGROUND: HPV vaccine coverage in France remained lower than in most other high-income countries. Within the diagnostic phase of the national PrevHPV program, we carried out a mixed methods study among school staff to assess their knowledge, beliefs and attitudes regarding HPV, HPV vaccine and vaccination in general, and regarding schools' role in promoting HPV vaccination. METHODS: Middle school nurses, teachers and support staff from four French regions participated between January 2020 and May 2021. We combined: (i) quantitative data from self-administered online questionnaires (n = 301), analysed using descriptive statistics; and (ii) qualitative data from three focus groups (n = 14), thematically analysed. RESULTS: Less than half of respondents knew that HPV can cause genital warts or oral cancers and only 18% that no antiviral treatment exists. Almost 90% of the respondents knew the existence of the HPV vaccine but some misunderstood why it is recommended before the first sexual relationships and for boys; 56% doubted about its safety, especially because they think there is not enough information on this topic. Schools nurses had greater knowledge than other professionals and claimed that educating pupils about HPV was fully part of their job roles; however, they rarely address this topic due to a lack of knowledge/tools. Professionals (school nurses, teachers and support staff) who participated in the focus groups were unfavourable to offering vaccination at school because of parents' negative reactions, lack of resources, and perceived uselessness. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the need to improve school staff knowledge on HPV. Parents should be involved in intervention promoting HPV vaccination to prevent their potential negative reactions, as feared by school staff. Several barriers should also be addressed before organizing school vaccination programs in France.

Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab for the Prevention of Postoperative Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy in High-Risk Patients Selected by Laser Flare Photometry.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the effect of an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab at the time of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery, on postoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) in high-risk patients selected by laser flare photometry. METHODS: This single-center observational retrospective cohort study included 137 consecutive patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy and gas tamponade for primary RRD with increased aqueous flare between July 2016 and June 2021. From June 2019, an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab was administered as an adjunct to RRD repair. Patients who underwent surgery before this time and who did not receive intravitreal bevacizumab served as controls. The main outcome was the rate of retinal redetachment due to PVR. RESULTS: The median flare value was 22.0 (16.5-36.5) pc/ms in the control group and 28.2 (19.7-41.0) pc/ms in the bevacizumab group (p = 0.063). Eyes treated with bevacizumab were more likely to have macula-off RRD (p = 0.003), grade B PVR (p = 0.038), and worse visual acuity (p = 0.004) than controls. The rate of PVR redetachment was significantly lower in the bevacizumab group (11.1%) than in the control (30.1%) (p = 0.012). This difference was more pronounced after adjusting for potential confounding factors (p = 0.005); the risk of developing PVR was 4.5-fold higher in controls (95% CI, 1.6-12.8). After adjustment, the final median visual acuity was also significantly higher in eyes treated with bevacizumab (p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that bevacizumab may reduce the risk of PVR-related recurrent RRD and improve visual outcomes in high-risk patients selected by laser flare photometry.

Can physicians and schools mitigate social inequalities in human papillomavirus vaccine awareness, uptake and vaccination intention among adolescents? A cross-sectional study, France, 2021 to 2022.

BackgroundIn France, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage varies across socioeconomic levels.AimWe aimed at assessing HPV vaccine awareness, uptake and vaccination intention among adolescents in France.MethodsIn a cluster-randomised study, 13-15-year-old students in 61 French middle schools completed a web-based questionnaire. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate determinants of HPV vaccine awareness, self-reported uptake and vaccination intention among unvaccinated students and interaction terms to explore effects of visits to family physician and remembering school lessons on vaccination. The French deprivation index of school municipalities served as proxy for socioeconomic levels.ResultsAmong 6,992 participants, awareness was significantly associated with parental education (odds ratio (OR) = 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71-0.95), language spoken at home (OR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.52-0.66) and deprivation level (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.44-0.71), regardless of physician visit or school lessons. Vaccine uptake was associated with parental education without a recent physician visit (OR = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.16-0.59, vs OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.52-0.78 with a visit, interaction p = 0.045). Vaccination intention among unvaccinated was associated with deprivation level (moderate-low vs low) among students not remembering school lessons on vaccination (OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05-0.62, vs OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.51-1.67 remembering school lessons, interaction p = 0.022). Parental education was associated with vaccination intention among students reporting a physician visit (OR = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.26-0.64 vs OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.50-2.20 without a visit, interaction p = 0.034).ConclusionOur results suggest that healthcare and school could promote vaccination and mitigate social inequalities in HPV vaccination coverage.

Characteristics of dentists and patients associated with appropriate antibiotic prescriptions by French dentists: a cross-sectional study using Health Insurance databases.

BACKGROUND: The use of antibiotics in dental care is often unnecessary or inappropriate. Our objectives were to identify (i) Clusters of dentists grouped according to their appropriateness score based on proxy indicators' results; and (ii) Dentists' and patients' characteristics associated with the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions. METHODS: We used data of the Health Insurance reimbursement databases on antibiotics prescribed in 2019 by general dental practitioners of the Grand Est region in France. The appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions was estimated by the results of recently published proxy indicators. We conducted a cluster analysis according to an appropriateness score calculated for each dentist, using the Ward method. We then conducted bivariate and multivariable analyses to identify characteristics associated with these clusters. RESULTS: We included 3,014 dentists, who prescribed 373,975 antibiotics in 2019, and which were grouped into three clusters: average practices (n = 1,241), better (n = 686), and worse (n = 1,087) than average practices. Overall, dentists had more appropriate prescription practices when they were male (OR for belonging to cluster with "worse than average practices" = 1.37 (p = 0.003) for female), having a predominant surgery practice (p = 0.028) in the Lorraine area (p < 0.0001) for less years (p = 0.0002), when they had healthier patients (i.e., younger, with no chronic diseases, and who received less procedures), and when they had a more prudent use of drugs in general (i.e., less prescriptions of drugs, antibiotics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory). CONCLUSIONS: We identified clusters and characteristics associated with the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions made by dentists, which might help guiding antimicrobial stewardship interventions.

Development of an international survey tool to measure confidence and current antimicrobial stewardship practices of hospital pharmacists.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists are identified as key members of hospital antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) teams in international guidelines. Developing an international standardized tool to measure hospital pharmacists' confidence and practices of AMS will encourage knowledge sharing and better networking between hospital pharmacists internationally. OBJECTIVES: To develop a survey tool that can be used internationally to assess pharmacists' knowledge, confidence, perceived barriers and current AMS practices. METHODS: A project team was formed to refine the survey tool that was initially used in a previous survey study. Following revision by the project team, a revised survey tool was sent to the ESCMID Study Group for Antimicrobial Stewardship (ESGAP). Feedback from the ESGAP members was considered by the project team to finalize the survey tool. RESULTS: A total of 88 changes were made to the survey tool after revision by the project team. A total of 43/216 (19.9%) of ESGAP members provided feedback on the survey tool, which led to a further 19 revisions. ESGAP members were agreeable to the questions in the survey tool, with >50% agreeing that each question was suitable. The final survey tool consisted of 42 questions, reduced from 72 questions in the original survey. CONCLUSIONS: An international survey tool to measure hospital pharmacists' confidence and practices of AMS was developed. This tool will help the wider hospital pharmacy community in conducting local studies on current AMS practices and to identify areas where further support is needed. Use of a standardized survey tool will also allow individual regions/countries to compare their data with other countries to identify potential quality improvement programmes.

Ethical reflection support for potential organ donors' relatives: A narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Even in countries with an opt-out or presumed consent system, relatives have a considerable influence on the post-mortem organ harvesting decision. However, their reflection capacity may be compromised by grief, and they are, therefore, often prone to choose refusal as default option. Quite often, it results in late remorse and dissatisfaction. So, a high-quality reflection support seems critical to enable them to gain a stable position and a long-term peace of mind, and also avoid undue loss of potential grafts. In practice, recent studies have shown that the ethical aspects of reflection are rarely and often poorly discussed with relatives and that no or incomplete guidance is offered. No review of the literature is available to date, although it could be of value to improve the quality of the daily practice. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to review and synthesize the main concepts and approaches, theories and practices of ethical reflection support of the relatives or surrogates of potential post-mortem organ donors. RESEARCH DESIGN: A narrative review was performed in the medical, psychological and ethical fields using PubMed, PsycArticles and Web of Science databases (1980-2020). RESULTS: Out of 150 papers, 25 were finally retained. Four themes were drawn: the moral status of the potential post-mortem organ donor, the principlistic approach with its limits and critics, the narrative approach and the transcendental approach. DISCUSSION: This review suggests an extension of psychological support towards ethical reflection support. The process of helping relatives in their ethical exploration of post-mortem organ donation is psychologically and morally characterized. The need for specialized professionals educated and experienced both in clinical psychology and in health ethics to carry out this task is discussed. PRACTICAL IMPACT: This review could contribute to optimize the quality of the ethical reflection support by initiating an evolution from an empirical, partial and individual-dependent support to a more systematized, professionalized and exhaustive support.

Quantity Metrics and Proxy Indicators to Estimate the Volume and Appropriateness of Antibiotics Prescribed in French Nursing Homes: A Cross-sectional Observational Study Based on 2018 Reimbursement Data.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance is an increasing threat to public health globally. Indicators on antibiotic prescribing are required to guide antibiotic stewardship interventions in nursing homes. However, such indicators are not available in the literature. Our main objective was to provide a set of quantity metrics and proxy indicators to estimate the volume and appropriateness of antibiotic use in nursing homes. METHODS: Recently published articles were first used to select quantity metrics and proxy indicators, which were adapted to the French nursing home context. A cross-sectional observational study was then conducted based on reimbursement databases. We included all community-based nursing homes of the Lorraine region in northeastern France. We present descriptive statistics for quantity metrics and proxy indicators. For proxy indicators, we also assessed performance scores, clinimetric properties (measurability, applicability, and room for improvement), and conducted case-mix and cluster analyses. RESULTS: A total of 209 nursing homes were included. We selected 15 quantity metrics and 11 proxy indicators of antibiotic use. The volume of antibiotic use varied greatly between nursing homes. Proxy indicator performance scores were low, and variability between nursing homes was high for all indicators, highlighting important room for improvement. Six of the 11 proxy indicators had good clinimetric properties. Three distinct clusters were identified according to the number of proxy indicators for which the acceptable target was reached. CONCLUSIONS: This set of 15 quantity metrics and 11 proxy indicators may be adapted to other contexts and could be used to guide antibiotic stewardship programs in nursing homes.

Prognostic association of medication trajectories with 3-year mortality in heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: findings from the EPICAL2 cohort study.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to describe combinations of beta-blockers (BB), renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) prescriptions and their trajectories in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients, and to assess their effect on the three-year all-cause and cardiovascular (CV)-mortality. METHODS: We used data from the EPICAL2 cohort of 689 hospitalized HFpEF patients. Medication prescriptions were collected at hospital discharge and at 6, 12, and 24 months after discharge. A multi-trajectory approach was used to conjointly model groups of individuals following similar trajectories over medications prescriptions. We used Cox and Fine-Gray models, to evaluate respectively the associations between 3-year all-cause mortality and CV-mortality and the trajectory groups. RESULTS: Multi-trajectory modelling revealed five distinct trajectory groups: group1 (N = 232, 33.6%) stable ACEI/ARB and BB prescriptions, group 2 (N = 199, 28.8%) stable ACEI/ARB prescription, group 3 (N = 133, 19.3%) stable BB prescriptions, group 4 (N = 78, 11.3%) stable prescriptions of none of the medications, and group 5 (N = 47, 6.8%) stable ACEI/ARB, BB, and MRA prescriptions. As compared to the group 4 of patients receiving none of the three medications, patients receiving a stable prescription of one or a combination of two or the three medications over 2 years) had a lower overall mortality over 3-year follow-up, i.e., group 1 (HR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.4-0.8), group 2 (HR = 0.6, 95% CI:0.4-0.8), group 3 (HR = 0.5, 95% CI:0.4-0.7), and group 5 (HR = 0.5, 95% CI:0.3-0.9). However, none of these trajectory groups was associated with a lower CV-mortality over 3 years. CONCLUSION: In an unselected population-based sample of HFpEF patients, the long-term stable use of the combination ACEI/ARB and BB, BB exclusively, ACEI/ARB exclusively, or the combination ACEI/ARB and BB and MRAs was associated with reduced three-year all-cause mortality.

Long-term ACE Inhibitor/ARB Use Is Associated With Severe Renal Dysfunction and Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Severe COVID-19: Results From a Referral Center Cohort in the Northeast of France.

BACKGROUND: In patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), data are scarce and conflicting regarding whether chronic use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) influences disease outcomes. In patients with severe COVID-19, we assessed the association between chronic ACEI/ARB use and the occurrence of kidney, lung, heart, and liver dysfunctions and the severity of the inflammatory reaction as evaluated by biomarkers kinetics, and their association with disease outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective longitudinal cohort study on consecutive patients with newly diagnosed severe COVID-19. Independent predictors were assessed through receiver operating characteristic analysis, time-series analysis, logistic regression analysis, and multilevel modeling for repeated measures. RESULTS: On the 149 patients included in the study 30% (44/149) were treated with ACEI/ARB. ACEI/ARB use was independently associated with the following biochemical variations: phosphorus >40 mg/L (odds ratio [OR], 3.35, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83-6.14), creatinine >10.1 mg/L (OR, 3.22, 2.28-4.54), and urea nitrogen (UN) >0.52 g/L (OR, 2.65, 95% CI, 1.89-3.73). ACEI/ARB use was independently associated with acute kidney injury stage ≥1 (OR, 3.28, 95% CI, 2.17-4.94). The daily dose of ACEI/ARB was independently associated with altered kidney markers with an increased risk of +25 to +31% per each 10 mg increment of lisinopril-dose equivalent. In multivariable multilevel modeling, UN >0.52 g/L was independently associated with the risk of acute respiratory failure (OR, 3.54, 95% CI, 1.05-11.96). CONCLUSIONS: Patients chronically treated with ACEI/ARB who have severe COVID-19 are at increased risk of acute kidney injury. In these patients, the increase in UN associated with ACEI/ARB use could predict the development of acute respiratory failure.

Antimicrobial stewardship programmes in nursing homes: a systematic review and inventory of tools.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial overuse/misuse is common in nursing homes and although the effectiveness of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes has been well explored and demonstrated in hospitals, data are scarce for the nursing-home setting. Our objectives for this systematic review were to make an inventory of: (i) all interventions that could be considered as part of AMS programmes in nursing homes; and (ii) all stewardship tools and guidance that are freely available. METHODS: We performed a systematic review using the MEDLINE database from inception to June 2018, including all interventional studies, reviews, opinion pieces and guidelines/guidance exploring AMS programmes in nursing homes. For the inventory of freely available tools and guidance to help implement an AMS programme, we also performed screening of professional societies and official agencies' websites and a questionnaire survey among a panel of international experts. RESULTS: A total of 36 articles were included in our systematic review. Most interventions took place in North America and have explored education or persuasive interventions within multifaceted interventions, showing that they can improve guideline adherence and decrease antibiotic use and unnecessary microbiological testing. Most reviews also highlighted the importance of accountability, monitoring and feedback. A large number of tools (156) available for free on the internet were identified, mostly about education, patient assessment and outcome measurement. CONCLUSIONS: Although high-quality interventional studies are lacking, multifaceted interventions including education, monitoring and feedback seem the most promising strategy. Many tools are available on the internet and can be used to help implement AMS programmes in nursing homes.

Serum and peritoneal exudate concentrations after high doses of ß-lactams in critically ill patients with severe intra-abdominal infections: an observational prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients with severe intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) requiring surgery may undergo several pharmacokinetic (PK) alterations that can lead to ß-lactam underdosage. OBJECTIVES: To measure serum and peritoneal exudate concentrations of ß-lactams after high doses and optimal administration schemes. METHODS: This observational prospective study included critically ill patients with suspicion of IAI who required surgery and a ß-lactam antibiotic as empirical therapy. Serum and peritoneal exudate concentrations were measured during surgery and after a 24 h steady-state period. The PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) target was to obtain serum ß-lactam concentrations of 100% fT>4×MIC based on a worst-case scenario (based on the EUCAST highest epidemiological cut-off values) before bacterial documentation (a priori) and redefined following determination of the MIC for the isolated bacteria (a posteriori). Registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03310606). RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were included with a median (IQR) age of 64 (53-74) years and a SAPS II of 40 (32-65). The main diagnosis was secondary nosocomial peritonitis. Piperacillin/tazobactam was the most administered ß-lactam antibiotic (75%). The serum/peritoneal piperacillin/tazobactam ratio was 0.88 (0.64-0.97) after a 24 h steady-state period. Prior to bacterial documentation, 16 patients (33.3%) achieved the a priori PK/PD target. The identification of microorganisms was available for 34 patients (71%). Based on the MIC for isolated bacteria, 78% of the patients achieved the serum PK/PD target. CONCLUSIONS: In severe IAIs, high doses of ß-lactams ensured 100% fT>4×MIC in the serum for 78% of critically ill patients with severe IAIs within the first 24 h. In order to define optimal ß-lactam dosing, the PK/PD target should take into account the tissue penetration and local ecology.

Sustained adherence to ESC guideline-recommended medications is associated with lower long-term mortality in heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: Insights from the EPICAL2 cohort.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: The real-life prognostic impact on long-term survival of continuous or discontinuous adherence to ESC guideline-recommended drugs in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients has rarely been investigated. Here, we present the long-term association of longitudinal prescription of guideline-recommended drugs with 3-year all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in HFrEF patients. METHODS: We used data from the EPICAL2 cohort study of 624 hospitalized HFrEF patients. Using the sequence analysis, we classified patients into five groups of long-term adherence according to the continuity/discontinuity of their prescription adherence to guidelines over a 3-year follow-up, as follow: 316 (50.6%) patients in the sustained adherence group, 163 (26.1%) in the sustained non-adherence group, 79 (12.6%) in the adherence to non-adherence group, 43 (6.9%) in the non-adherence to adherence group and 23 (3.7%) in the multiple switches group. The associations between all-cause mortality and CV mortality and the adherence groups were determined by Cox and Fine-Gray models, respectively. To account for immortal time bias, we performed a landmark analysis at 24 months. Patients who died, prior to the landmark time, were excluded from this analysis and long-term adherence groups were redefined. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: After adjustment for confounding factors, as compared to the sustained non-adherence group, the sustained adherence group showed lower all-cause and CV mortality (hazard ratio HR = 0.37 [0.25-0.56] and sub-distribution hazard ratio SHR = 0.33 [0.20-0.56]). Both clinical outcomes were also significantly improved in the adherence to non-adherence group (HR = 0.25 [0.13-0.45] and SHR = 0.20 [0.10-0.41]), the non-adherence to adherence (HR = 0.24 [0.11-0.55] and SHR = 0.11 [0.04-0.30]), and for the multiple switches group (HR = 0.13 [0.07-0.51] and SHR = 0.12 [0.08-0.43]). Results from landmark analysis were comparable to the main results. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: As in all observational studies, our results may be affected by residual confounding related to unmeasured confounders, although we attempted to adjust for many confounders. Even a discontinuous prescription of the recommended drugs over time was associated with better long-term outcomes. In other words, whatever the time of HFrEF evolution, prescribing recommended drugs at some point was always better than never prescribing.

Proxy indicators to estimate appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions by general practitioners: a proof-of-concept cross-sectional study based on reimbursement data, north-eastern France 2017.

BackgroundIn most countries, including France, data on clinical indications for outpatient antibiotic prescriptions are not available, making it impossible to assess appropriateness of antibiotic use at prescription level.AimOur objectives were to: (i) propose proxy indicators (PIs) to estimate appropriateness of antibiotic use at general practitioner (GP) level based on routine reimbursement data; and (ii) assess PIs' performance scores and their clinimetric properties using a large regional reimbursement database.MethodsA recent systematic literature review on quality indicators was the starting point for defining a set of PIs, taking French national guidelines into account. We performed a cross-sectional study analysing National Health Insurance data (available at prescriber and patient levels) on antibiotics prescribed by GPs in 2017 for individuals living in north-eastern France. We measured performance scores of the PIs and their case-mix stability, and tested their measurability, applicability, and room for improvement (clinimetric properties).ResultsThe 3,087 GPs included in this study prescribed a total of 2,077,249 antibiotic treatments. We defined 10 PIs with specific numerators, denominators and targets. Performance was low for almost all indicators ranging from 9% to 75%, with values < 30% for eight of 10 indicators. For all PIs, we found large variation between GPs and patient populations (case-mix stability). Regarding clinimetric properties, all PIs were measurable, applicable, and showed high improvement potential.ConclusionsThe set of 10 PIs showed satisfactory clinimetric properties and might be used to estimate appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in primary care, in an automated way within antibiotic stewardship programmes.

Antibiotic prophylaxis with high-dose cefoxitin in bariatric surgery: an observational prospective single center study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal dose of cefoxitin for antibiotic prophylaxis in obese patients remains uncertain. We evaluated the adequacy of a 4-gram dosing regimen of cefoxitin against the most frequent pathogens that infect patients undergoing bariatric surgery. METHODS: This observational prospective study included obese patients who required bariatric surgery and a 4-gram dose of cefoxitin as an antibiotic prophylaxis. Serum concentrations were measured during surgery (incision, wound closure and in case of reinjection). The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target was to obtain free cefoxitin concentrations above 4× MIC, from incision to wound closure (100% ƒT>4xMIC). The targeted MIC was based on the worst-case scenario (the highest ECOFF value of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae and anaerobic bacteria). The secondary outcomes were the factors related to underdosage. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 46 (±12) years-old, and the mean BMI was 45.8 (±6.9) kg/m2 Bypass surgery was the preferred technique (84%). The percentages of patients who met the PK/PD target (100% fT>4xMIC) of cefoxitin were 37.3%, 1.1% and 0% for S. aureus, Enterobacteriaceae and anaerobic bacteria, respectively. BMIs below 50 kg/m2 (OR 0.29, 95% CI [0.11-0.75], P = 0.0107) and a shorter duration of surgery (OR 0.97, 95% CI [0.95-0.99], P = 0.004) were associated with reaching the target concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: In obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery, a regimen of 4 grams of cefoxitin led to an inadequate coverage for most common pathogens. A longer surgery duration and BMI over 50 kg/m2 increase the risk of underdosage.

Antibiotic resistance of Enterobacteriaceae causing urinary tract infections in elderly patients living in the community and in the nursing home: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: Although nursing homes are thought to be significant reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, very few large population-based studies comparing antibiotic resistance prevalence in nursing homes and in the community have adjusted for patient characteristics. Our objective was to compare the prevalence of antibiotic resistance of Enterobacteriaceae cultured from urine samples of nursing home residents with that of community-dwelling adults, all aged 65 years or older. METHODS: This study analysed around 20 000 positive urine samples sent to a large laboratory in north-eastern France from 2014 to 2017, collected from individuals aged 65 years or older. A multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for patient characteristics (gender, age, year of sampling, presence of urinary catheter and number of urine samples/year) compared the resistance of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae to amoxicillin/clavulanate, nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, nalidixic acid, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone, as well as their possible EBSL production, in nursing home residents and community-dwellers. RESULTS: Nursing home residents had a higher adjusted OR (aOR) of Enterobacteriaceae (E. coli, P. mirabilis or K. pneumoniae) resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanate (aOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.27-1.50), ciprofloxacin (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.20-1.49) and ceftriaxone (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.15-1.63) or producing an ESBL (aOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.18-1.72), but did not differ in resistance to nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly people in nursing homes had a risk around 40% higher than their community-dwelling peers of having antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae cultured from their urine samples. Antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control programmes should be implemented in nursing homes.