Influences on nurses' engagement in antimicrobial stewardship behaviours: a multi-country survey using the Theoretical Domains Framework.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is affected significantly by inappropriate antibiotic use, and is one of the greatest threats to human health. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a programme of actions promoting responsible use of antimicrobials, and is essential for limiting AMR. Nurses have an important role to play in this context. AIM: To investigate the determinants of nurse AMS behaviours and the impact of past training. METHODS: A cross-sectional multi-country survey design with mixed methods was employed. Participants were 262 nurses {223 female; mean age 44.45 [standard deviation (SD) 10.77] years} of 10 nationalities, with individual survey links sent via professional networks in five countries, alongside Twitter. Nine AMS behaviours and 14 behavioural determinants were assessed quantitatively using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), and mapped to the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour (COM-B) model. Analysis identified differences between nurses with and without AMS training. The influence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on AMS behaviour was investigated qualitatively using free-text data. FINDINGS: Nurses performed all nine AMS behaviours, which were significantly higher [t (238) -4.14, P<0.001] among those who had received AMS training [mean 53.15 (SD 7.40)] compared with those who had not received AMS training [mean 48.30 (SD 10.75)]. Nurses who had received AMS training scored significantly higher in all of the TDF domains. The TDF was able to explain 27% of the variance in behaviour, with 'Skills' and 'Behavioural regulation' (e.g. ability to self-monitor and plan) shown to be the most predictive of AMS actions. Both of these domains are situated in the 'Capability' construct of the COM-B model, which can be enhanced with the intervention strategies of education and training. An increase in AMS behaviours was reported since the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of previous training. Six core themes were linked to AMS: (1) infection prevention and control; (2) antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance; (3) diagnosis of infection and use of antibiotics; (4) antimicrobial prescribing practice; (5) person-centred care; and (6) interprofessional collaborative practice. CONCLUSION: Nurse training has a significant beneficial effect on AMS behaviour and its determinants. Nurses who had received AMS training scored higher in all TDF determinants of behaviour compared with those who had not received AMS training, resulting in higher capability, opportunity and motivation to perform AMS behaviour. AMS education and training should be offered to nurses to enhance these factors. Future research should consider the optimal level of training to optimize AMS behaviour, with a focus on developing skills and behavioural regulation.

Factors influencing the stewardship activities of Antimicrobial Management Teams: a national cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: The link between inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and the global threat of antimicrobial resistance is well documented. International strategies recommend antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes, with improvement interventions to safeguard antibiotics. AIM: This study sought to systematically evaluate the impact of multi-professional Antimicrobial Management Team (AMT) staff resource availability on stewardship activities. METHODS: We conducted an on-line, cross-sectional survey of AMTs in each regional Health Board and the national specialist hospital in Scotland (N = 15). Responses were analysed descriptively, exploring observed relationships between variables to identify patterns. FINDINGS: Results highlighted apparent variation in the levels of AMT resource availability across Scotland, not directly influenced by Health Board size, with some larger Health Boards having proportionately poorer AMT resource allocation. However, the range and frequency of activities to support AMS was not directly linked to either Health Board size or staff resource allocation, indicating a more complex inter-relationship between factors. CONCLUSIONS: There is apparent inequity in staff resource available for AMTs across Scotland, with significantly lower resource allocation in comparison with recommendations from other international studies. However, considering these survey findings with our earlier qualitative research indicates that leadership style and team member enthusiasm may be as, if not more, influential than resource availability on the scope of AMT activities. These findings have international relevance for hospital service managers considering the recruitment, training and ongoing support of AMTs, in order to maximize impact from a limited resource.

Factors associated with independent nurse prescribers' antibiotic prescribing practice: a mixed-methods study using the Reasoned Action Approach.

BACKGROUND: The number of nurse prescribers is increasing, yet little evidence exists about their antibiotic prescribing behaviour. AIM: To measure nurse independent prescribers' (NIPs) intention to manage patients, presenting with an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) for the first time, without prescribing an antibiotic and to examine the determinants of this behaviour. METHODS: This was a mixed-method study using the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA). Content analysis of data from 27 telephone interviews with NIPs informed the development of a questionnaire which was tested for validity and reliability and used in a national survey of NIPs across Scotland. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was carried out to determine intention to manage patients without prescribing an antibiotic and the significant influences on this intention. FINDINGS: From 184 participants it was found that NIPs intended to manage patients, presenting with a URTI for the first time, without prescribing an antibiotic. Key determinants were perceived norm, perceived behavioural control, and moral norm. Significant beliefs were positive social influence from other non-medical prescribers (P = 0.007) and nurse prescribers (P = 0.045), the enablers of prescriber experience and confidence (P ≤ 0.001), and the barrier of pressure from patients/carers (P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: The findings provide reassurance that NIPs intend to prescribe appropriately. The identification of nurse-specific barriers and enablers to this intention should be acknowledged and targeted in future interventions to manage this behaviour.

Development of consensus-based international antimicrobial stewardship competencies for undergraduate nurse education.

BACKGROUND: There is growing recognition by national and international policymakers of the contribution nurses make towards antimicrobial stewardship. Although undergraduate education provides an ideal opportunity to prepare nurses for antimicrobial stewardship roles and activities, only two-thirds of undergraduate nursing programmes incorporate any antimicrobial stewardship teaching and only 12% cover all the recommended antimicrobial stewardship principles. Nurses also report that they do not have a good knowledge of antibiotics, and many have not heard of the term antimicrobial stewardship. AIM: To provide international consensus on the antimicrobial stewardship competency descriptors appropriate for undergraduate nurse education. METHODS: A modified Delphi approach comprising two online surveys delivered to an international panel of 15 individuals reflecting expertise in prescribing and medicines management in the education and practice of nurses; and antimicrobial stewardship. Data collection took place between February and March 2019. FINDINGS: A total of 15 participants agreed to become members of the expert panel, of whom 13 (86%) completed round 1 questionnaire, and 13 (100%) completed round 2. Consensus was achieved, with consistently high levels of agreement across panel members, on six overarching competency domains and 63 descriptors, essential for antimicrobial stewardship practice. CONCLUSION: The competency descriptors should be used to direct undergraduate nurse education and the antimicrobial stewardship practices of qualified nurses (including those working in new roles such as Nursing Associates) due to the high levels of agreement reached on competency descriptors.

The use of childhood injury surveillance within a general accident and emergency department.

The prevention of accidental injury is a government priority in the United Kingdom. Following the recent Government White Paper, towards a Healthier Scotland (Scottish Office 1999), the issue of poverty and inequalities in health has come to prominence. This study, at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, looked at the socio-economic context of injuries and aimed to identify if there was a relationship between the frequency of injuries and the deprivation status of the patient. This paper examines one method of data collection, the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) which is currently being used at the local children's hospital. The practical difficulties of collecting this data within a busy, general Accident and Emergency (A&E) department are examined. The questionnaire uses narrative and sequence text to provide descriptive information relating to the injury and the events leading up to it. Findings demonstrated that a large percentage of children's injuries were treated at the child's local general hospital. Differences between the two hospitals were also found relating to the children's ages and where the injuries took place. Results also showed that the socio-economic distribution of childhood accidents is still a major problem in this city. Therefore, this study recommends that injury data should be collected at all A&E departments to establish an accurate picture of the pattern of injuries within the city.

How to modify a volume-cycled home ventilator to satisfy a child's need for pressure-limiting and continuous positive airway pressure during spontaneous breathing.

Piston driven volume-cycled home ventilators increase work of breathing in the synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation mode. A 2-year-old trisomy 21 patient with chronic lung disease due to recurrent aspiration pneumonia required a ventilator rate of 6-8 breaths per minute awake and 15 asleep, with peak pressure of 32 cm H2O and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 10 cm H2O. Two circuits were designed to facilitate breathing and respiratory mechanics of his spontaneous breaths on both were compared. A spring valve on the inspiratory line pressure-limited ventilation and at the end of the expiratory line provided PEEP in both systems. The reservoir system had a 2-liter bag on the inspiratory limb of the circuit, and two one-way valves at the patient connector to direct inspiratory and expiratory flow. The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system provided continuous flow with a CPAP device set to deliver a pressure 2 cmH2O higher than the PEEP valve. On the CPAP system, compared to the reservoir system, dynamic compliance was greater [1.52 (0.14 SD) ml/cm H2O/kg vs. 0.39 (0.02), p < 0.001] and resistance less [8.15 (1.26) cm H2O/l/s vs. 45.86 (0.87), p < 0.001] as measured with a PeDS machine. This is an innovative use of a CPAP device.

Extrinsic nonvalvular mitral obstruction due to large epicardial hematoma.

A case of extrinsic nonvalvular mitral obstruction due to a large epicardial hematoma in a patient with rheumatoid constrictive pericarditis is described. The patient had longstanding rheumatoid arthritis and a mitral diastolic murmur developed. Mitral obstruction was confirmed by a hemodynamic study. Coronary angiography and left ventricular angiography showed severely diseased coronary arteries and a distorted left ventricular cavity. Autopsy demonstrated rheumatoid arthritis, a normal mitral valve, thickened pericardium, and epicardial hematoma surrounding both ventricles at the atrioventricular junctional level.

Smoke inhalation model for lung permeability studies.

The purpose of this project was the development of a small animal model and the use of external gamma imaging for the study of acute post-inhalation permeability changes. New Zealand white rabbits were anesthetized with ketamine and acepromazine IM, intubated, and a catheter placed in an ear artery. Smoke was produced by burning absorbent cotton in a combustion chamber supplied with 10 liters/min of air. Smoke was delivered to a holding chamber, allowed to cool to room temperature, and immediately delivered to the animals via endotracheal tube. Animals were allowed to inhale smoke for 3 sessions of 2 to 3 minutes. Blood samples were collected for the measurement of PO2, PCO2, and COHb. Lungs were removed at 3 to 4 days postinjury and subjected to microscopic histologic analysis. The results of six animal experiments showed a significant inhalation injury. The mean COHb level was 48% (range, 36%-58%). The change in the pre- and post-injury PO2 and PCO2 values were not significant (mean PO2, 66 mm Hg; mean PCO2, 32 mm Hg). Histologic evaluation of the lungs of three animals at 24 hrs postinjury revealed extensive loss of tracheal epithelium extended to many terminal bronchi. Inflammation of surrounding tissue, including edema and increased migration of polymorphonuclear cells, was also present. Analysis of tissue obtained at 10 to 14 days showed reparative reepithelialization of trachea and major bronchi but acute inflammation and loss of intralobar bronchi. Inflammatory exudate extended to adjacent alveoli. In conjunction with the above model we have developed a method for the noninvasive measurement of lung permeability changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)