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Purpose: Blood cultures (BCs) are key for pathogen detection in septic patients. We investigated the extent to which sampling was performed and what factors were associated with the absence of general or inadequate BC sampling. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with sepsis admitted to one of three EDs in 2018. Primary outcome was the extent of general BC collection of at least 1 set. Secondary outcome was the extent of adequate BC sampling, defined as ≥ 2 sets before antibiotic therapy (AT). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with deficits in both outcomes. Results: 1143 patients were analyzed. BCs were collected from 946 patients. Single BCs were taken from 520 patients, ≥ 2 sets from 426 patients. Overall, ≥ 2 BCs were taken from 349 patients before AT. BC sampling before AT occurred significantly more frequently when ≥ 2 BC sets were taken rather than a single one (81.9%, versus 68.4%, p < 0.001) and this also led to the highest pathogen detection rate in our cohort (65.6%). A body temperature of ≥ 38 °C was the a supporting factor for general and adequate BC collection in all three EDs. Retrospective analysis of 533 patients showed that the qSOFA score had no influence on general or adequate BC collection. Conclusion: Data on everyday clinical practice in the pre-analytical phase of microbiological diagnostics shows considerable deficits and indicates the need for more implementation of best practice. The variations identified in BC sampling between EDs should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and decreasing efficacy of the available antimicrobials have become a significant public health concern. The antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) ensures the appropriate use of antimicrobials and mitigates resistance prevalence through various interventions. One of the core components of the ASP is to educate healthcare workers (HWs). Therefore, this study aims to identify the impact of a pharmacist-led educational intervention targeting knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding rational antibiotic use among healthcare professionals in a secondary care hospital in Punjab. Methods: This is a single-center, questionnaire-based, pre-post interventional study conducted over a six-month time period. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26. Results: Regarding the pre-interventional knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) score of the respondents, 90.3% had a good knowledge score, 81.5% had a positive attitude, and 72.3% of HWs (excluding doctors) had a good practice score. Additionally, 74.6% of the doctors had a good practice score. After educational intervention, there was a significant improvement in the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the respondent HWs (p-value <0.001). Furthermore, males have higher knowledge scores compared to females in the pre- and post-intervention stages (p-value <0.05), and doctors differ from nurses regarding knowledge scores in both pre- and post-intervention stages. Conclusion: Considering educational programs as the backbone of the ASP, it is imperative to sustain efforts in the ongoing educational programs of HWs to foster high awareness and adherence to the ASP among HWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and decreasing efficacy of the available antimicrobials have become a significant public health concern. The antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) ensures the appropriate use of antimicrobials and mitigates resistance prevalence through various interventions. One of the core components of the ASP is to educate healthcare workers (HWs). Therefore, this study aims to identify the impact of a pharmacist-led educational intervention targeting knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding rational antibiotic use among healthcare professionals in a secondary care hospital in Punjab.Methods: This is a single-center, questionnaire-based, pre–post interventional study conducted over a six-month time period. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26.Results: Regarding the pre-interventional knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) score of the respondents, 90.3% had a good knowledge score, 81.5% had a positive attitude, and 72.3% of HWs (excluding doctors) had a good practice score. Additionally, 74.6% of the doctors had a good practice score. After educational intervention, there was a significant improvement in the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the respondent HWs (p-value

Rational drug use is a pivotal concept linked with morbidity and mortality. Immigration plays a significant role as a determinant affecting individuals' health-related attitudes, behaviors, and the pursuit of health services. Within this context, the study was initiated to assess the factors influencing health literacy and rational drug use among Syrian immigrants in Istanbul. A cross-sectional study was undertaken on 542 Syrian adults utilizing a three-part questionnaire encompassing sociodemographics, rational drug use, and the e-health literacy scale (eHEALS). With an average age of 39.19 ± 13.10 years, a majority of participants believed medications should solely be doctor-prescribed (97%) and opposed keeping antibiotics at home (93.7%). Yet, 62.5% thought excessive herbal medicine use was harmless. The mean eHEALS score stood at 20.57 ± 7.26, and factors like age, marital status, income, and duration of stay in Turkey influenced e-health literacy. Associations were seen between low e-health literacy and being female, being older, having a lower education level, and regular medication use. Syrian immigrants displayed proper knowledge concerning antibiotics yet exhibited gaps in their understanding of general drug usage, treatment adherence, and herbal medicines. Approximately 80.3% had limited health literacy, pointing to the need for targeted interventions for enhanced health and societal assimilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are the most common and most used drug group in the world. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, infections that are difficult to treat and have a high mortality rate may occur, the length of hospital stay, and health expenses may increase, as well as drug side effects and interactions increases. In this context, rational use of antibiotics and informing public has a great importance for the world. In this study, we aimed to reveal insights about the knowledge and attitudes of future healthcare professionals, pharmacy students, towards antibiotic use. The mean age of the participants in this study was 21.65±2.37 and 78.7% of participants were female. The participants' total mean score from Antibiotic Use Scale was 36.05 ± 11.17 while the score of attitudes subdimension was 19.27 ± 7.54; subjective norm was 9.97 ± 3.14 and intention was 6.81 ± 3.47. In this study we evaluated the pharmacy students' knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use and identified factors that negatively affect rational antibiotic use. The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of the complex dynamics surrounding antibiotic use. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among pharmacy students. The data was collected with the help of Volunteer Data Form and Antibiotic Use Scale via google forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) consider DOT a fundamental measure to quantify the impact of ASP. Novel strategies have been described, but no endemic channels (EC) have been reported to compare antibiotic use within historical patterns. This report describes the process of constructing an EC and analyzing its interpretation. Methods This was a descriptive study of the construction, implementation, and analysis of EC. The median and quartile method, as well as the geometric mean (GM) and confidence interval (CI) methods using DOT for the last 4 years were used. ECs have also been elaborated on in critical services (PICU). Results GM and CI method seem to be more sensitive in identifying changes in antimicrobial use. Ceftriaxone increased its use starting in December 2021, reaching the warning zone in March 2022 in relation to increased cases of bacterial and complicated pneumonia. Piperacillin–tazobactam showed an important increase in PICU during the first 8 months of 2021, reaching the alert zone until August 2021; thereafter, its use decreased, and this variation was related to a modification in the presentation of complicated appendicitis during the COVID 19 pandemic restrictions. The use of ampicillin-sulbactam has increased since January 2022 because of a change in local guidelines regarding its use in appendicitis and peritonitis. The changes identified in each EC allowed ASP to take different conducts. Conclusion EC allowed us to construct a new tool to measure ASP impact, internal comparison of antibiotic use facilitated taking timely interventions. EC could be useful for all pediatric and adult ASP.

Abstract Background The ARena study (Sustainable Reduction of Antimicrobial Resistance in German Ambulatory Care) is a three-arm, cluster randomized trial to evaluate a multifaceted implementation program in a German primary care setting. In the context of a prospective process evaluation conducted alongside ARena, this study aimed to document and explore fidelity of the implementation program. Methods This observational study is based on data generated in a three-wave survey of 312 participating physicians in the ARena program and attendance documentation. Measures concerned persistence of participation in the ARena program and adherence to intervention components (thematic quality circles, e-learning, basic expenditure reimbursements, additional bonus payments and a computerized decision support system). Participants’ views on five domains of the implementation were also measured. Binary logistic and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore which views on the implementation were associated with participants’ adherence to quality circles and use of additional bonus compensation. Results The analysis of fidelity showed overall high persistence of participation in the intervention components across the three intervention arms (90,1%; 97,9%; 92,9%). 96.4% of planned quality circles were delivered to study participants and, across waves, 30.4% to 93% of practices participated; 56.1% of physicians attended the maximum of four quality circles. 84% of the practices (n = 158) with a minimum of one index patient received a performance-based additional bonus payment at least once. In total, bonus compensation was triggered for 51.8% of affected patients. Participation rate for e-learning (a prerequisite for reimbursement of project-related expenditure) covered 90.8% of practices across all intervention arms, with the highest rate in arm II (96.5%). Uptake of expenditure reimbursement was heterogeneous across study arms, with a mean rate of 86.5% (89.1% in arm I, 96.4% in arm II and 74.1% in arm III). Participants’ views regarding participant responsiveness (OR = 2.298) 95% CI [1.598, 3.305] and Context (OR = 2.146) 95% CI [1.135, 4.055] affected additional bonus payment. Participants’ views on participant responsiveness (Beta = 0.718) 95% CI [0.479, 0.957], Context (Beta = 0.323) 95% CI [0.055, 0.590] and Culture of shared decision-making (Beta = -0.334) 95% CI [-0.614, -0.053] affected quality circle attendance. Conclusion This study showed an overall high fidelity to the implementation program. Participants’ views on the implementation were associated with degree of intervention fidelity. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN58150046.

Abstract Background Behavior change interventions that aim to improve rational antibiotic use in prescribers and users have been widely conducted in both high- and LMICs. However, currently, no review has systematically examined challenges unique to LMICs and offered insights into the underlying contextual factors that influence these interventions. We adopted an implementation research perspective to systematically synthesize the implementation barriers and facilitators in LMICs. Methods We conducted literature searches in five electronic databases and identified studies that involved the implementation of behavior change interventions to improve appropriate antibiotic use in prescribers and users in LMICs and reported implementation barriers and facilitators. Behavior change interventions were defined using the behavior change wheel, and the coding and synthesis of barriers and facilitators were guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Results We identified 52 eligible studies, with the majority targeting prescribers practicing at tertiary facilities (N=39, 75%). The most commonly reported factors influencing implementation were found in the inner setting domain of the CFIR framework, particularly related to constraints in resources and the infrastructure of the facilities where interventions were implemented. Barriers related to the external policy environment (e.g., lack of national initiatives and policies on antibiotic use), and individual characteristics of target populations (e.g., reluctance to change prescribing behaviors) were also common, as well as facilitators related to intervention characteristics (e.g., embedding interventions in routine practice) and process (e.g., stakeholder engagement). We also provided insights into the interrelationships between these factors and the underlying causes contributing to the implementation challenges in LMICs. Conclusion We presented a comprehensive overview of the barriers and facilitators of implementing behavior change interventions to promote rational antibiotic use in LMICs. Our findings suggest that facilitating the implementation of interventions to improve rational antibiotic use needs comprehensive efforts to address challenges at policy, organizational, and implementation levels. Specific strategies include (1) strengthening political commitment to prompt mobilization of domestic resources and formulation of a sustainable national strategy on AMR, (2) improving the infrastructure of health facilities that allow prescribers to make evidence-based clinical decisions, and (3) engaging local stakeholders to improve their buy-in and facilitate contextualizing interventions. Trial registration PROSPERO: CRD42021252715 .

Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide challenge for health services and systems alike. To reduce the overuse of antibiotics, multifaceted interventions are often used to achieve sustainable effects. It can be assumed that these effects are influenced by contextual factors. Embedded in the cluster randomized trial ARena (Sustainable reduction of antibiotic-induced antimicrobial resistance), the aim of this present study was to identify contextual factors associated with practitioners’ perceptions of antibiotic prescribing in German primary health care. Methods In a prospective observational study, data were generated in a three-wave survey study between January 2018 and July 2019. Analysis was performed using logistic regression models. The outcome of interest was the physician perceived impact of participating in the ARena project on decision-making regarding antibiotic prescribing, the independent variables of interest included individual characteristics, intervention arm allocation, primary care network (PCN) environment and characteristics of the medical practice. Results Forty Six point eight percent (n = 126) of participants indicated to have perceived an impact on their decision-making regarding antibiotic prescribing by participating in the ARena project. Bivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that work experience (odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.006–1.103), PCN environment (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.256–3.363), structural conditions (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.161–2.371), environment of existing processes (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.011–2.094), and externally defined general conditions (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.035–2.378) were associated with physicians’ perceived impact of participating in the ARena project on decision-making regarding antibiotic prescribing. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, only work experience OR 1.05 (95% CI 1.001–1.104) continuously showed a significant influence. Conclusions This study indicates that contextual factors at individual, practice, and system level influence physicians’ perceptions of antibiotic prescribing. Longer work experience appeared to be a significant influencing factor to be considered in antimicrobial stewardship programs. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN58150046 (registered 13.09.2017).

Background: Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) consider DOT a fundamental measure to quantify the impact of ASP. Novel strategies have been described, but no endemic channels (EC) have been reported to compare antibiotic use within historical patterns. This report describes the process of constructing an EC and analyzing its interpretation. Methods: This was a descriptive study of the construction, implementation, and analysis of EC. The median and quartile method, as well as the geometric mean (GM) and confidence interval (CI) methods using DOT for the last 4 years were used. ECs have also been elaborated on in critical services (PICU). Results: GM and CI method seem to be more sensitive in identifying changes in antimicrobial use. Ceftriaxone increased its use starting in December 2021, reaching the warning zone in March 2022 in relation to increased cases of bacterial and complicated pneumonia. Piperacillin–tazobactam showed an important increase in PICU during the first 8 months of 2021, reaching the alert zone until August 2021; thereafter, its use decreased, and this variation was related to a modification in the presentation of complicated appendicitis during the COVID 19 pandemic restrictions. The use of ampicillin-sulbactam has increased since January 2022 because of a change in local guidelines regarding its use in appendicitis and peritonitis. The changes identified in each EC allowed ASP to take different conducts. Conclusion: EC allowed us to construct a new tool to measure ASP impact, internal comparison of antibiotic use facilitated taking timely interventions. EC could be useful for all pediatric and adult ASP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational drug use is a pivotal concept linked with morbidity and mortality. Immigration plays a significant role as a determinant affecting individuals’ health-related attitudes, behaviors, and the pursuit of health services. Within this context, the study was initiated to assess the factors influencing health literacy and rational drug use among Syrian immigrants in Istanbul. A cross-sectional study was undertaken on 542 Syrian adults utilizing a three-part questionnaire encompassing sociodemographics, rational drug use, and the e-health literacy scale (eHEALS). With an average age of 39.19 ± 13.10 years, a majority of participants believed medications should solely be doctor-prescribed (97%) and opposed keeping antibiotics at home (93.7%). Yet, 62.5% thought excessive herbal medicine use was harmless. The mean eHEALS score stood at 20.57 ± 7.26, and factors like age, marital status, income, and duration of stay in Turkey influenced e-health literacy. Associations were seen between low e-health literacy and being female, being older, having a lower education level, and regular medication use. Syrian immigrants displayed proper knowledge concerning antibiotics yet exhibited gaps in their understanding of general drug usage, treatment adherence, and herbal medicines. Approximately 80.3% had limited health literacy, pointing to the need for targeted interventions for enhanced health and societal assimilation.

Background: The ARena study (Sustainable Reduction of Antimicrobial Resistance in German Ambulatory Care) is a three-arm, cluster randomized trial to evaluate a multifaceted implementation program in a German primary care setting. In the context of a prospective process evaluation conducted alongside ARena, this study aimed to document and explore fidelity of the implementation program.Methods: This observational study is based on data generated in a three-wave survey of 312 participating physicians in the ARena program and attendance documentation. Measures concerned persistence of participation in the ARena program and adherence to intervention components (thematic quality circles, e-learning, basic expenditure reimbursements, additional bonus payments and a computerized decision support system). Participants' views on five domains of the implementation were also measured. Binary logistic and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore which views on the implementation were associated with participants' adherence to quality circles and use of additional bonus compensation.Results: The analysis of fidelity showed overall high persistence of participation in the intervention components across the three intervention arms (90,1%; 97,9%; 92,9%). 96.4% of planned quality circles were delivered to study participants and, across waves, 30.4% to 93% of practices participated; 56.1% of physicians attended the maximum of four quality circles. 84% of the practices (n = 158) with a minimum of one index patient received a performance-based additional bonus payment at least once. In total, bonus compensation was triggered for 51.8% of affected patients. Participation rate for e-learning (a prerequisite for reimbursement of project-related expenditure) covered 90.8% of practices across all intervention arms, with the highest rate in arm II (96.5%). Uptake of expenditure reimbursement was heterogeneous across study arms, with a mean rate of 86.5% (89.1% in arm I, 96.4% in arm II and 74.1% in arm III). Participants' views regarding participant responsiveness (OR = 2.298) 95% CI [1.598, 3.305] and Context (OR = 2.146) 95% CI [1.135, 4.055] affected additional bonus payment. Participants' views on participant responsiveness (Beta = 0.718) 95% CI [0.479, 0.957], Context (Beta = 0.323) 95% CI [0.055, 0.590] and Culture of shared decision-making (Beta = -0.334) 95% CI [-0.614, -0.053] affected quality circle attendance.Conclusion: This study showed an overall high fidelity to the implementation program. Participants' views on the implementation were associated with degree of intervention fidelity.Trial Registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN58150046. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adem Kose,1 Cemil Colak2 1Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey; 2Department of Biostatistics, and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, TurkeyCorrespondence: Adem KoseDepartment of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Elazig Yolu 10. Km, Battalgazi, Malatya, 44280, TurkeyTel +90 4223410660/ 4405Fax +90 4223411220Email adem.kose@inonu.edu.trBackground: We aimed to evaluate the level of theoretical knowledge of rational antibiotic use and awareness about emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) among the senior students at a medical school and the actively-working family physicians.Methods: This cross-sectional research was carried out between 1 February and 30 April 2019 in Malatya province. Two-hundred twenty-five senior students in the Inonu University Medical School (Group 1) and 230 actively-working family physicians in Malatya primary health care services who were found to be eligible (Group 2) were included in this study. Power analysiscalculated the minimum of 240 participants with a proportion difference of 0.18 between the groups, a type I error of 0.05 and a type II error of 0.20. A questionnaire including seven sections and 28 questions was applied to the participants.Results: Doctors were more hesitant in pre-graduation and more self-confident in the post-graduation period for the decision to start antibiotic treatment. In addition, doctors forget their theoretical knowledge of antibiotics over time and are unable to follow current developments after graduation. The most important concern in the pre-graduation period was the choice of antibiotics from the wrong group, while in the post-graduation period it is the fear of the presence of unproven infection.Conclusion: Physicians’ antibiotic prescribing habits, attitudes and behaviors vary before and after graduation. Sustainable education for antibiotic use for physicians after graduation can contribute positively to reduce of antimicrobial resistance rates and to increase awareness about the use of rational antibiotics.Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, multidrug resistance, knowledge, awareness, rational antibiotic use, MDR

Abstract Background Increasing antimicrobial resistance is a serious societal challenge affecting outpatient, inpatient and veterinary care. The German One-Health project, RAI (Rational use of Antibiotics via Information and Communication) addresses all three sectors. In the outpatient sector, General Practitioners (GPs) are the main prescribers of antibiotics and were therefore, targeted for this study. A multimodal intervention focusing on Acute Respiratory Tract infections (ARI) was designed and implemented. The aim of this study was to evaluate acceptance, rating and the self-reported impact of the intervention among GPs. Methods The intervention offered six tools: a GP training on rational antibiotic use, an app for self-monitoring, a leaflet and a set of posters (both for use as information materials in waiting rooms) and both digital and printed information prescriptions (material for ‘prescribing’ information instead of an antibiotic to the patient). The tools could be used according to individual preferences. The intervention was conducted between August 2016 and July 2017. Following the intervention, a three pages anonymous questionnaire was sent to all 271 participants. Items covered socio-demographic and professional background, use and judgement of the intervention tools (6 point Likert scale), impact of the intervention tools (4 point Likert scale). Results The response rate was 39% (n = 107). On average, respondents used 3.1 of the six available tools, with printed information prescriptions used most frequently (79%). Digital information prescriptions were used more frequently by men than by women (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.16–7.24; p = 0.02). Eighty-seven percent of respondents stated that information prescriptions supported doctor-patient communication. In a comparison of the overall impression of the different intervention tools the GP training on rational antibiotic use was rated best (1.67 on a 6 point scale with 1 = highest, 6 = lowest) and most often noted as having had a “strong” or “very strong” impact on personal antibiotic prescribing behavior. Conclusions The multimodal intervention addressing education and communication was well accepted among GPs and could help in fostering rational use of antibiotics in primary care.

Continuously increasing resistance of infectious agents together with rapid decrease in the number of novel antibacterial drugs makes the rational antibiotic selection one of the important challenges facing modern medicine. The urgency of the issue is also growing because of strategic and tactical mistakes in treatment of respiratory tract infections significantly affecting the disease outcome. The paper reports principles of respiratory tract infection antibiotic therapy based on contemporary federal guidelines on management of infectious respiratory tract diseases. Clinical example of rational antibiotic therapy selection in patient with community-acquired pneumonia is provided.

Background: Behavior change interventions that aim to improve rational antibiotic use in prescribers and users have been widely conducted in both high- and LMICs. However, currently, no review has systematically examined challenges unique to LMICs and offered insights into the underlying contextual factors that influence these interventions. We adopted an implementation research perspective to systematically synthesize the implementation barriers and facilitators in LMICs.Methods: We conducted literature searches in five electronic databases and identified studies that involved the implementation of behavior change interventions to improve appropriate antibiotic use in prescribers and users in LMICs and reported implementation barriers and facilitators. Behavior change interventions were defined using the behavior change wheel, and the coding and synthesis of barriers and facilitators were guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).Results: We identified 52 eligible studies, with the majority targeting prescribers practicing at tertiary facilities (N=39, 75%). The most commonly reported factors influencing implementation were found in the inner setting domain of the CFIR framework, particularly related to constraints in resources and the infrastructure of the facilities where interventions were implemented. Barriers related to the external policy environment (e.g., lack of national initiatives and policies on antibiotic use), and individual characteristics of target populations (e.g., reluctance to change prescribing behaviors) were also common, as well as facilitators related to intervention characteristics (e.g., embedding interventions in routine practice) and process (e.g., stakeholder engagement). We also provided insights into the interrelationships between these factors and the underlying causes contributing to the implementation challenges in LMICs.Conclusion: We presented a comprehensive overview of the barriers and facilitators of implementing behavior change interventions to promote rational antibiotic use in LMICs. Our findings suggest that facilitating the implementation of interventions to improve rational antibiotic use needs comprehensive efforts to address challenges at policy, organizational, and implementation levels. Specific strategies include (1) strengthening political commitment to prompt mobilization of domestic resources and formulation of a sustainable national strategy on AMR, (2) improving the infrastructure of health facilities that allow prescribers to make evidence-based clinical decisions, and (3) engaging local stakeholders to improve their buy-in and facilitate contextualizing interventions.Trial Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42021252715 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rational drug use is a process involving healthcare providers, legislators and the whole society. Here, we aimed to investigate the attitudes and behaviors related to 'Rational Drug Use' in Havutlu district of Adana province. Materials and Methods: In our study, we conducted a questionnaire consisting of 28 questions about the sociodemographic characteristics and the attitudes and behaviors related to "Rational Drug Use" we implemented. The sample size is 358. We also acquire the necessary statutory authorizations and approval of the ethics committee. The type of study is cross-sectional. In analysis, frequency analysis and chi-square test were used with SPSS version 19.0. Results: Average of 4.1±2.6 box medicine was left unused. 26% of the participants stated that they offered medication to their relatives, and the use of herbal medicines been found as 15.9%. 87.7% of the participants stated that the medication was overturned after the expiry date and 3.4% would continue to use it. The average annual antibiotic use of the participants was found to be 2.3±1.4. 59.8% of those who took antibiotic treatment stated that they terminated the treatment voluntarily without ending the treatment period. In order to be found at home, the prescription for medication seems to be significantly higher in women with a level of income below 1,000 TL (p=0.02) and with chronic disease (p lt;0.001). The presence of chronic illness appears to be associated with both herbal medication use (p lt;0.001) and home medication (p=0.008). Conclusion: When attitudes and behaviors related to rational drug use are examined, it is concluded that some variables have an influence and that inappropriate use is common throughout the society.

Abstract Background Gram-positive spectrum antibiotics such as vancomycin, teicoplanin, daptomycin, and linezolid are frequently used in empirical treatment combinations in critically ill patients. Such inappropriate and unnecessary widespread use, leads to sub-optimal utilisation. However they are covered by the antibiotics restriction programme. This prospective observational study, evaluates gram-positive anti-bacterial utilisations in intensive care units (ICUs) with various evaluation criteria, to determine the frequency of inappropriate usage and the intervention targets required to ensure optimum use. Methods This clinical study was conducted prospectively between 01.10.2018 and 01.10.2019 in the medical and surgical ICUs of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Turkey. The total bed capacity was 55. Patients older than 18 years and who were prescribed gram-positive spectrum antibiotics (vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, and daptomycin) were included. Patients under this age or immunosuppressed patients (neutropenic,- HIV-infected patients with hematologic or solid organ malignancies) were not included in the study. During the study period, 200 treatments were evaluated in 169 patients. The demographic and clinical features of the patients were recorded. Besides observations by the clinical staff, the treatments were recorded and evaluated by two infectious diseases specialists and two clinical pharmacists at 24-h intervals from the first day to the last day of treatment. SPSS software for Windows, (version 17, IBM, Armonk, NY) was used to analyse the data. Categorical variables were presented as number and percentage, and non-categorical variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation. Results It was found that inappropriate gram-positive antibiotic use in ICUs was as high as 83% in terms of non-compliance with the selected quality parameters. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the factors associated with inappropriate antibiotic use, increased creatinine levels were found to increase the risk of such use. Conclusions In spite of the restricted antibiotics programme, inappropriate antibiotic use in ICUs is quite common. Thus, it is necessary to establish local guidelines in collaboration with different disciplines for the determination and follow-up of de-escalation of such use and optimal treatment doses.

Objectives Within the context of the wide use of fluoroquinolones (FQs) and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, French recommendations concerning the appropriate use of systemic FQs in adults were published in 2015. This study assessed the impact of antibiotic stewardship intervention on the use of FQs over a 5-year period. Methods Five annual audits were performed to evaluate FQ prescriptions. Following the baseline audit, a campaign of appropriate antibiotic use was initiated with courses on antibiotics including FQs. All audits included quantitative and qualitative evaluations to calculate an index of therapeutic adequacy (ITA) with six criteria: indication, molecule type, dosage, duration, route of administration and association. These audits were performed annually from 2015 to 2019. Key findings The number of prescriptions decreased substantially from 90 in 2015 to 17 in 2019. This reduction was consistent with consumption data, such that the defined daily dose for 1000 bed days diminished from 67 in 2015 to 42 in 2019. Between 2015 and 2016, the ITA decreased significantly from 3.27 to 1.79 (P = 0.001), corresponding to an improvement in prescription quality. The ITA stabilised between 2016 and 2019. Moreover, improvements were observed in the proportion of entirely conforming prescriptions, conformity of indications, choice of molecule type among FQs and proportion of prescriptions with non-conforming treatment durations. Conclusions Between 2015 and 2019, we observed quantitative and qualitative improvements in FQ prescriptions within the hospital. Prescription follow-up through annual audits, combined with training courses, contributed to consistent results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship programs refer to antibiotic policies, antibiotic management programs, and antibiotic control programs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Project ICARE, all hospitals reported having an antibiotic formulary, and 91% used at least one other antimicrobial control strategy. Materials and Methods: The present study is a retrospective and observational study. All information was noted and surveyed sporadically. Any deviations from the agreed criteria were communicated, discussed, and documented. Antibiotic stewardship started from an inpatient setting. In the first phase, the patient pool from inpatient was addressed. For the prospective audit, two components had been recognized to have an evidence level 1. These were multidisciplinary rounds of infectious diseases patients and the use of antimicrobials. Result: In Medicine ward, the most common class of drugs was beta-lactam; in betalactam, a combination of piperacillin/tazobactam, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and macrolides was used with a mean dose of 1408.18 g. While in orthopedics, most common drugs for prophylaxis use were found to be cephalosporins (cefazolin first generation) with a mean dose of 937.07 ± 741.81 g to reduce surgical site infections. Prophylactic use of beta-lactam (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid) was prescribed for the most of the cases of Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgery with mean dose of 1019.63 g as well as in pediatrics with mean dose of 579.47 g. Conclusions: Antimicrobial stewardships have a significant impact on the reduction of targeted and empiric antibiotic use, healthcare costs, and antimicrobial resistance in inpatient settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing antimicrobial resistance is a serious societal challenge affecting outpatient, inpatient and veterinary care. The German One-Health project, RAI (Rational use of Antibiotics via Information and Communication) addresses all three sectors. In the outpatient sector, General Practitioners (GPs) are the main prescribers of antibiotics and were therefore, targeted for this study. A multimodal intervention focusing on Acute Respiratory Tract infections (ARI) was designed and implemented. The aim of this study was to evaluate acceptance, rating and the self-reported impact of the intervention among GPs. Methods: The intervention offered six tools: a GP training on rational antibiotic use, an app for self-monitoring, a leaflet and a set of posters (both for use as information materials in waiting rooms) and both digital and printed information prescriptions (material for 'prescribing' information instead of an antibiotic to the patient). The tools could be used according to individual preferences. The intervention was conducted between August 2016 and July 2017. Following the intervention, a three pages anonymous questionnaire was sent to all 271 participants. Items covered socio-demographic and professional background, use and judgement of the intervention tools (6 point Likert scale), impact of the intervention tools (4 point Likert scale). Results: The response rate was 39% (n = 107). On average, respondents used 3.1 of the six available tools, with printed information prescriptions used most frequently (79%). Digital information prescriptions were used more frequently by men than by women (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.16–7.24; p = 0.02). Eighty-seven percent of respondents stated that information prescriptions supported doctor-patient communication. In a comparison of the overall impression of the different intervention tools the GP training on rational antibiotic use was rated best (1.67 on a 6 point scale with 1 = highest, 6 = lowest) and most often noted as having had a "strong" or "very strong" impact on personal antibiotic prescribing behavior. Conclusions: The multimodal intervention addressing education and communication was well accepted among GPs and could help in fostering rational use of antibiotics in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gram-positive spectrum antibiotics such as vancomycin, teicoplanin, daptomycin, and linezolid are frequently used in empirical treatment combinations in critically ill patients. Such inappropriate and unnecessary widespread use, leads to sub-optimal utilisation. However they are covered by the antibiotics restriction programme. This prospective observational study, evaluates gram-positive anti-bacterial utilisations in intensive care units (ICUs) with various evaluation criteria, to determine the frequency of inappropriate usage and the intervention targets required to ensure optimum use.Methods: This clinical study was conducted prospectively between 01.10.2018 and 01.10.2019 in the medical and surgical ICUs of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Turkey. The total bed capacity was 55. Patients older than 18 years and who were prescribed gram-positive spectrum antibiotics (vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, and daptomycin) were included. Patients under this age or immunosuppressed patients (neutropenic,- HIV-infected patients with hematologic or solid organ malignancies) were not included in the study. During the study period, 200 treatments were evaluated in 169 patients. The demographic and clinical features of the patients were recorded. Besides observations by the clinical staff, the treatments were recorded and evaluated by two infectious diseases specialists and two clinical pharmacists at 24-h intervals from the first day to the last day of treatment. SPSS software for Windows, (version 17, IBM, Armonk, NY) was used to analyse the data. Categorical variables were presented as number and percentage, and non-categorical variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation.Results: It was found that inappropriate gram-positive antibiotic use in ICUs was as high as 83% in terms of non-compliance with the selected quality parameters. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the factors associated with inappropriate antibiotic use, increased creatinine levels were found to increase the risk of such use.Conclusions: In spite of the restricted antibiotics programme, inappropriate antibiotic use in ICUs is quite common. Thus, it is necessary to establish local guidelines in collaboration with different disciplines for the determination and follow-up of de-escalation of such use and optimal treatment doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) represent a significant complication of diabetes mellitus, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Understanding antibiotic prescribing patterns and microbial susceptibility is crucial for effective management., Objective: This study aimed to assess antibiotic prescribing trends and microbial susceptibility patterns in DFIs in a tertiary care center in Puducherry., Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over two months, involving patients with DFIs attending surgery OPD and admitted inpatient wards. Data on demographics, comorbidities, ulcer characteristics, antibiotic prescriptions, and microbial culture results were collected. Descriptive statistics and appropriate statistical tests were used for analysis., Results: Of 110 patients included, most were males (80, 72.7%) aged 51-60 years (43, 39.1%). Common risk factors included poor glycemic control (85, 77.3%), barefoot walking (29, 26.4%), and a family history of diabetes (46, 41.8%). Gram-negative organisms (78, 70.9%) predominated, with Escherichia coli  (17, 15.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12, 10.9%), and Staphylococcus aureus (10, 9.1%) being common isolates. Polypharmacy was observed, with (63) 57.3% receiving multiple antibiotics, mainly via the parenteral route (16, 64.5%). Ceftriaxone (31, 28.2%) and cefotaxime (21, 19.1%) were frequently prescribed. Antibiotic resistance varied among isolates., Conclusion: This study underscores the predominance of gram-negative organisms in DFIs and highlights the need for rational antibiotic prescribing. Cephalosporins were commonly used, emphasizing the importance of empirical therapy. Understanding local microbial patterns and susceptibility is crucial for guiding antibiotic selection and optimizing clinical outcomes. In addition, addressing modifiable risk factors is imperative for preventing DFIs and reducing associated complications. This study provides valuable insights for strengthening antimicrobial stewardship programs and improving patient care in diabetic foot management. Furthermore, the present study highlights the importance of essentially deprescribing the prescriptions both from the patient, their primary carer, and the treating physician/surgeon's perspective., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Nagaya et al.)

Background: As future practitioners, undergraduate medical students have a key role in the antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP). However, at present, there are not much data about their knowledge and perception of antibiotic resistance and ASP. Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey administered to the prefinal- and final-year undergraduate medical students of a tertiary care institution. Results: One hundred and ninety-seven students participated in our study constituting 70% response rate. The mean difference in knowledge score between prefinal- and final-year students was 0.77 (95% confidence interval: 0.30–1.24, P = 0.0016). Thirty-seven (39.7%) prefinal- and 57 (54.8%) final-year students knew the correct definition of antimicrobial stewardship. Majority of the participants, i.e., 66 (70.9%) prefinal-year and 80 (76.9%) final-year students perceived antibiotic resistance as a public health problem. Principal component analysis revealed the greater role of attitude-related questions. Conclusion: Good knowledge and positive attitude are paramount for the effective implementation of the antibiotic stewardship program. Our study revealed that the knowledge gap exists among the undergraduate students about the rational use of the antibiotic stewardship program. It was also revealed that the role of attitude plays a more significant role than knowledge for the proper understanding of the program. A sustained effort is required to make them aware of the rational use of antibiotics by incorporating the knowledge and practice of the ASP into their study curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Patients with head trauma are routinely, and commonly treated with prophylactic antibiotics, which may also be used for the treatment of infection that may be developed during hospital stay. The relevant antibiotic may, however, some side effects and adverse event. The present study aimed to investigate whether the side effects and adverse events of the prophylactic antibiotics were considered as a complication or medical negligence. Material and Methods: Descriptive statistics were used for the evaluation of the data. Results: No studies were found in the literature. Ceftriaxone, ampicillin-sulbactam, and cefazolin sodium were preferred for antibiotherapy. Meropenem or vancomycin was solely administered to patients when observed active pathogens in cultureantibiogram. Clinicians should be cautioned the potential side effects and adverse events of some drugs frequently used in clinics. Conclusion: Otherwise, they may legally be held liable for medical negligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillin, the first antibiotic introduced into clinical practice opened a new era in medicine. The 'golden age' of antibiotic discoveries in the 1950s, 60s and 70s significantly helped our fight against bacterial infections. In parallel with the introduction of new drugs, resistance strains were identified. This was, however, neglected because of the belief that pharmaceutical companies would continuously supply us with new products. In contrary, a pipeline of new antibiotics slowly dried out and in the 1980s we realized that the proportion of resistant bacteria was increasing faster than the supply of new antibiotics. New mechanisms of resistance emerged and multidrug and pandrug resistant bacterial strains started to spread globally. Antimicrobial resistance is recognized now as one of the greatest threats to public health worldwide. The WHO and EU as well as national agencies are calling for actions which should be immediately undertaken if we do not want to lose the battle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Most of Viral infections in non-critical children are self-limiting. Yet, many times, due to lack of clinical knowledge, antibiotics are prescribed which leads to antimicrobial resistance. Aim is to study the demographic and clinical profile and outcome in non-critical children admitted with suspected viral infection. Materials and method: It was a prospective observational study carried out in the pediatric ward of Shardaben Hospital between November 2014 and August 2015. Results: Out of the total 3143 patients, 1760(56%) were non-critical with suspected viral infection on admission. The fever was regular in 89% patients, while 88% patients got better on 3rd day of admission. 82% children were not sick in the inter-febrile period. The fever was high grade at onset in 75% patients and 91% responded to paracetamol. In 4.6% of patients fever found to be non-viral but none of the patients required PICU care. There was no mortality. Conclusion: Viral fever is usually high grade at onset, with non-sick inter-febrile period and natural improvement by 3rd or 4th day of illness. With these clues, viral infection can be suspected and antibiotic misuse can be avoided even in hospitalized children.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to explore the prescribing practices, knowledge, and attitudes of primary care doctors and community pharmacists, regarding antibiotic use in acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and diarrhea in children to better understand causes of misuse and identify provider suggestions to change such behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two focus group discussions (FGDs) each were conducted with primary care government doctors (GDs), private general practitioners (GPs), pediatricians, and community pharmacists in Delhi. Each FGD had 8-12 participants and lasted 2 h. Furthermore, 22 individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with providers of varying type and experience at their workplaces. Thematic and summative qualitative content analysis was done. RESULTS: All groups admitted to overusing antibiotics, GPs appearing to use more antibiotics than GDs and pediatricians for URTI and diarrhea in children. Pharmacists copy the prescribing of neighborhood doctors. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) knowledge was poor for all stakeholders except pediatricians. Causes for prescribing antibiotics were patient pressure, profit motive, lack of follow-up and in addition for GDs, workload, no diagnostic facility, and pressure to use near-expiry medicines. Knowledge was gained through self-experience, copying others, information from pharmaceutical companies, and for some, training, continuous medical education/conferences. All groups blamed other professional groups/quacks for antibiotic overuse. Interventions suggested were sensitizing and empowering prescribers through training of providers and the public about the appropriate antibiotic use and AMR and implementing stricter regulations. CONCLUSIONS: A package of interventions targeting providers and consumers is urgently needed for awareness and change in behavior to reduce inappropriate community antibiotic use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The use of the term ‘antimicrobial stewardship’ has grown exponentially in recent years, typically referring to programmes and interventions that aim to optimize antimicrobial use. Although antimicrobial stewardship originated within human healthcare, it is increasingly applied in broader contexts including animal health and One Health. As the use of the term ‘antimicrobial stewardship’ becomes more common, it is important to consider what antimicrobial stewardship is, as well as what it is not. Aims To review the emergence and evolution of the term ‘antimicrobial stewardship’. Sources We searched and reviewed existing literature and official documents, which mostly focused on antibiotics. We contacted the authors of the first publications that mentioned antimicrobial stewardship. Content We describe the historical background behind how antimicrobial stewardship came into use in clinical settings. We discuss challenges emerging from the varied descriptions of antimicrobial stewardship in the literature, including an over-emphasis on individual prescriptions, an under-emphasis on the societal implications of antimicrobial use, and language translation problems. Implications To help address these challenges, we suggest viewing antimicrobial stewardship as a strategy, a coherent set of actions which promote using antimicrobials responsibly. We stress the continuous need for ‘responsible use’ to be defined and translated into context-specific and time-specific actions. Furthermore, we present examples of actions that can be undertaken within antimicrobial stewardship across human and animal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Presentation of antibiotic utilization data by reliable and comparable analyses constitutes an important way of ensuring rational use of antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate antibiotic consumption (AC) of Turkey by each city/region and to investigate any association of such consumption with socio-economic factors. Method: For 81 provinces and 12 regions in Turkey, AC data from IMS (Intercontinental Medical Statistics) in 2011 was analyzed in accordance with 'ATC/DDD, DID' (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Doses, DID = DDD/1000 inhabitants/day) methodology supported by World Health Organization. Association between provincial AC rates and socio-economic development index (SEDI)-2011 and between regional AC rates and some health indicators were analyzed. Results: While provincial AC data of Turkey was detected to vary between 17.2 and 55.2 DID (Hakkari and Usak, respectively), regional AC ranged from 28.4 to 48.9 DID (Middle Eastern Anatolia and Western Anatolia, respectively). Mostly consumed antibiotic group among all regions were beta-lactamase inhibitor/penicillin combinations (range: 9.9-17.6 DID). SEDI and AC of each city showed positive correlation (rho = 0.683, p < 0.001). While regional AC was positively associated with percentage of 14-year-old population ( p = 0.002) and pharmacist density ( p < 0.001), it was negatively associated with physician density ( p = 0.038). Conclusion: It is remarkable that Turkey, at both provincial and regional levels, exhibits important variations in AC, which is proportional to socio-economic status. Besides, the consumption is found to be closely associated with recognized critical factors of access to healthcare. These findings are expected to provide important insights to the activities promoting rational use of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Escherichia coli are the most common uropathogen worldwide accounting for 80% of the Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). Nosocomial infections caused by Multi-drug resistant Gram negative bacteria expressing Extended Spectrum β Lactamase enzyme, pose a serious therapeutic challenge to clinicians due to limited therapeutic options. Stringent adherence to Hospital Antibiotic Policy in treating Urinary Escherichia coli ESBLs is a borne necessity. Aim: A clinical audit was undertaken in the form of a crosssectional study to evaluate the compliance on appropriate antibiotic prescription and strict adherence to Hospital Antibiotic Policy for therapeutic management of the patients infected with urinary Escherichia coli ESBL producers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional medical audit on adherence to treatment of Escherichia coli ESBL producers from in-patients diagnosed to have urinary tract infections for a duration of 7 months was conducted as a prospective study. Clinical data, culture and sensitivity reports of the patient diagnosed with urinary Escherichia coli ESBLs were compared with the treatment chart to ensure strict adherence to hospital antibiotic policy for appropriate therapy by physicians. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 20 software. Results: The incidence of uncomplicated cystitis, pyelonephritis and complicated pyelonephritis cases were 65.24% (107 out of 164), 20.7% (34 out of 164) and 14.02% (23 out of 164) respectively. Resistance to individual fluoroquinolones like norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin were found to be 60%, 59% and 47.5% respectively. As per hospital antibiotic policy, fluoroquinolones were prescribed in only 23% of the patients for the treatment of urinary Escherichia coli ESBLs. Conclusion: Irrational utilization of antibiotics and nonadherence to antibiotic policy could have been the significant risk factors for drug resistance. Optimized antibiotic use, Microbiology laboratory support and periodic antibiotic audit led by effective infection control team would hasten the development of drug resistance.

It is that diabetes mellitus increases tendency to develop infections and thrombosis. Impairment of various mechanisms and agents of humoral and cellular immune systems can be expected. Disturbances of platelet function, coagulation factors, and vascular structure predispose diabetics to thrombotic events. The course of both infections and thrombotic events is often worse than in non-diabetic patients. Presently described is 94-year-old male patient with diabetes who had orbital cellulitis that became complicated with cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST). He was admitted to endocrinology clinic with diagnoses of orbital cellulitis, urinary tract infection, hyperosmolar nonketotic state, acute renal failure, and compensated metabolic acidosis secondary to uremia. Despite immediate antibiotherapy, hydration, and additional required treatment, patient did not respond and died as a result of CST. There must be awareness, especially for diabetic patients, that orbital infections may spread to nearby cavernous sinuses and cause potentially lethal septic CST. Early diagnosis and immediate treatment are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is on the brink of a post antibiotic era and antibiotic resistance is no longer a prediction for the future; it is happening right now, across the world, and has the potential to put public health efforts into disarray. Despite the wealth of programmes and information, South Africa is not exempt from the threat of increasing antimicrobial resistance. An overview of the persisting issue of antimicrobial resistance, the current trends in antimicrobial stewardship and strategies for rational antibiotic use is provided. Specific emphasis is placed on the role of the pharmacist in containing antimicrobial resistance across the different practice settings, and working in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to understand the impact of implementation of the Essential Medicine Policy (EMP) on the rational use of antibiotics in primary medical institutions in China. A retrospective survey was conducted in 39 primary medical institutions to compare the efficacy of EMP in rational antibiotic use. All institutions completed the survey 1 year before and 1 year after implementation of the EMP. In particular, antibiotic use and its rationality were closely examined. The institutions mainly dealt with common diseases, especially non-infectious chronic diseases. Antibiotic usage was very inappropriate both before and after EMP implementation. Before and after EMP implementation, respectively, the median outpatient cost was US$6.34 and US$5.05, 52.50% (2005/3819) and 53.41% (1865/3492) of the outpatient prescriptions contained antibiotics, and 76.23% (1132/1485) and 78.83% (1106/1403) of inpatients were administered antibiotics. In addition, 98.38% (425/432) and 97.52% (512/525) of surgical inpatients were administered antibiotics, respectively, and 80.76% (638/790) and 75.19% (503/669) of patients with a cold were prescribed antibiotics, respectively. The most commonly used antibiotics were broad-spectrum and injectable agents, including cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and penicillins. This profile showed little change following implementation of the EMP. In conclusion, inappropriate antibiotic use is a serious problem in primary medical institutions in China. Whilst enforcing the EMP reduced the cost of medical services, it had little effect on promoting the rational use of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Described in the present study is an analysis of appropriateness of antibiotics use for patients in whom infectious agent was detected. Data from patients in orthopedics and traumatology departments of two different hospitals in the same district were evaluated according to rational antibiotic drug use and culture antibiogram results. Methods: Data of patients diagnosed with infection between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015 in orthopedics and traumatology departments of two different hospitals were analyzed. Patients diagnosed with malignancy or who were discharged from other departments were excluded. A standard form was created to collect demographic data, culture antibiogram results, details of infectious agent, source of culture material, posology of antibiotic used, duration and appropriateness of use, and length of hospital stay. Costs were estimated based on 2014 Ministry of Health price list, and mean price of antibiotics per patient was recorded. Descriptive analyses were also completed. Results: It was determined that appropriate antibiotics for detected infectious agent were not always selected. Though there were cheaper effective antibiotics that could have been used according to antibiogram results, more expensive antibiotics were often chosen, which results in higher costs. Conclusion: Multidisciplinary approach in patient care and use of evidence-based guidelines should be increased. Teams should be formed and led by infectious disease and pharmacology specialists. New strategies should be developed immediately in health economics and new pharmacoeconomic models should be initiated in orthopedics and traumatology departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Escherichia coli are the most common uropathogen worldwide accounting for 80% of the Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). Nosocomial infections caused by Multi-drug resistant Gram negative bacteria expressing Extended Spectrum β Lactamase enzyme, pose a serious therapeutic challenge to clinicians due to limited therapeutic options. Stringent adherence to Hospital Antibiotic Policy in treating Urinary Escherichia coli ESBLs is a borne necessity. Aim: A clinical audit was undertaken in the form of a crosssectional study to evaluate the compliance on appropriate antibiotic prescription and strict adherence to Hospital Antibiotic Policy for therapeutic management of the patients infected with urinary Escherichia coli ESBL producers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional medical audit on adherence to treatment of Escherichia coli ESBL producers from in-patients diagnosed to have urinary tract infections for a duration of 7 months was conducted as a prospective study. Clinical data, culture and sensitivity reports of the patient diagnosed with urinary Escherichia coli ESBLs were compared with the treatment chart to ensure strict adherence to hospital antibiotic policy for appropriate therapy by physicians. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 20 software. Results: The incidence of uncomplicated cystitis, pyelonephritis and complicated pyelonephritis cases were 65.24% (107 out of 164), 20.7% (34 out of 164) and 14.02% (23 out of 164) respectively. Resistance to individual fluoroquinolones like norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin were found to be 60%, 59% and 47.5% respectively. As per hospital antibiotic policy, fluoroquinolones were prescribed in only 23% of the patients for the treatment of urinary Escherichia coli ESBLs. Conclusion: Irrational utilization of antibiotics and nonadherence to antibiotic policy could have been the significant risk factors for drug resistance. Optimized antibiotic use, Microbiology laboratory support and periodic antibiotic audit led by effective infection control team would hasten the development of drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: The objective of this study is to show the alterations in frequency and cost of antibiotic use in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units of a state hospital after it started to service as an education and research hospital. We also aimed to raise an awareness related to rational antibiotic use. METHODS: The surveillance of antibiotic use and comparison of costs were evaluated in 392 patients in between August 2013-January 2014. The rate and cost of antibiotic use during last 90 days before the protocol of state hospital to research and education hospital and the first 90 days after protocol were evaluated. Antibiotics were assessed according to the treatment protocols of the Committee of Rational Drug Use, Infection Control Committee and Antibiotic Control Committee. Antibiotics were provided from administrative system and the data related to costs were obtained from Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance. The demographic data and the data related to indication for admission to intensive care units, antibiotic dosages and pathogens causing infections were also obtained. For statistical analysis, SPSS program was used and descriptive analysis were made. In comparison of the groups, Mann Whitney U and chi-square tests were used. The data were evaluated within a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: In first and second period, 143 patients were hospitalized for 3.18±1.13 days and 105 patients were hospitalized for 2.69±4.14 days in pediatric intensive care unit(PICU); 79 patients were hospitalized for 17.29±3.61 days and 65 patients stayed for 21.29±3.29 days in neonatal intensive care unit(NICU), respectively. In the first and second period, cost of antibiotics in PICU was found 341.81±744.49 (med:14.91) and 585.35±796.62 (med:256.44) (p=0.02) Turkish Liras (TL); in NICU 137.92±178.78 (med:14.59) and 247.40±370.13(med:19.23) (p=0.76) TL respectively. CONCLUSİON: In the second period, in PICU, duration of hospitalization was found to decrease and costs of antibiotics were higher. In NICU, the duration of hospitalization was longer and although statistically insignificant, costs of antibiotics were slightly higher. Differences between the two periods in term of cost showed that, PICUs and ICUs should revisit their antibiotic preferences from the viewpoint of a pediatric infectious disease physician. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) represents a serious chronic disease with typical chronic and recurrent course The number of patiens with recurrent CDI is still growing and currently used therapeutic approaches are not always effective. We successfully cured two patients by fecal microbiota transplantation and discuss the role of fecal microbiota transplantation in the CDI treatment algorithm. Novel CDI treatments discovery, necessity of strictly rational antibiotic use and probiotic use in prevention of CDI and its re-currencies are also mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prevention of nosocomial infection is key to providing good quality, safe healthcare. Infection control programmes (hand-hygiene campaigns and antibiotic stewardship) are effective in reducing nosocomial infections in developed countries. However, the effectiveness of these programmes in developing countries is uncertain. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for preventing nosocomial infections in developing countries. Methods: A systematic search for studies which evaluated interventions to prevent nosocomial infection in both adults and children in developing countries was undertaken using PubMed. Only intervention trials with a randomized controlled, quasi-experimental or sequential design were included. Where there was adequate homogeneity, a meta-analysis of specific interventions was performed using the Mantel-Haenzel fixed effects method to estimate the pooled risk difference. Results: Thirty-four studies were found. Most studies were from South America and Asia. Most were before-and-after intervention studies from tertiary urban hospitals. Hand-hygiene campaigns that were a major component of multifaceted interventions (18 studies) showed the strongest effectiveness for reducing nosocomial infection rates (median effect 49%, effect range 12·7-100%). Hand-hygiene campaigns alone and studies of antibiotic stewardship to improve rational antibiotic use reduced nosocomial infection rates in three studies [risk difference (RD) of -0·09 (95%CI -0·12 to -0·07) and RD of -0·02 (95%CI -0·02 to -0·01), respectively]. Conclusions: Multifaceted interventions including hand-hygiene campaigns, antibiotic stewardship and other elementary infection control practices are effective in developing countries. The modest effect size of hand-hygiene campaigns alone and negligible effect size of antibiotic stewardship reflect the limited number of studies with sufficient homogeneity to conduct meta-analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Antibiotics are the most frequently used drugs in our country, as being all over the world. It has been shown that the rate of inappropriate use of antibiotics is around 40% to 60% in hospitals. Excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics causes emergence of resistant organisms, significant adverse effects, increased costs and increased morbidity and mortality. Methods: This study was carried out at Midyat State Hospital between June 2007 and June 2008. The period of time between June 2006 and June 2007 and between June 2007 and June 2008 are defined as Period I and II, respectively. Antibiotics which were given to inpatients and for surgical prophylaxis were followed up. Subsequently, usage ratios of antibiotics in Period I and II were compared for a cost-utility analysis. Results: The total cost of inappropriate antibiotic use per year was calculated as 55 750.4 TL in our hospital. However, the most frequent cause of inappropriate use in surgical prophylaxis was related to prolonged use of prophylactic antibiotics (16.2%). Conclusions: Several strategies for regulating antimicrobial prescribing practices may be proposed, such as formulary replacement or restriction, healthcare provider education, feedback activities, and approval from an infectious diseases physician. However, a multidisciplinary antibiotic team organized for hospitals to approve the appropriate antibiotic use may be another alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of nitrofurantoin were determined by agar dilution in 269 canine and feline isolates of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, two of the most common bacterial species associated with urinary tract infection (UTI) in small animals. The MIC90 for E. coli and S. pseudintermedius were 32 and 16μg/ml, respectively. All isolates, including multidrug-resistant strains of known genetic background, displayed MICs below the drug concentrations reported in canine urine following oral administration of nitrofurantoin. Preliminary data on mutant prevention concentration (MPC) and many years of nitrofurantoin usage in human medicine suggest that emergence of resistant mutants during treatment is not a critical issue for this drug. The study provides species-specific data on nitrofurantoin MIC distribution that can be used for setting dog- and cat-specific breakpoints. Although nitrofurantoin is not an appropriate first-line agent for empirical treatment of canine UTI due to toxicity and poor pharmacokinetic properties, it may be indicated for treatment of UTI caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, which are otherwise difficult to treat using conventional veterinary antimicrobial agents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide challenge for health services and systems alike. To reduce the overuse of antibiotics, multifaceted interventions are often used to achieve sustainable effects. It can be assumed that these effects are influenced by contextual factors. Embedded in the cluster randomized trial ARena (Sustainable reduction of antibiotic-induced antimicrobial resistance), the aim of this present study was to identify contextual factors associated with practitioners' perceptions of antibiotic prescribing in German primary health care.Methods: In a prospective observational study, data were generated in a three-wave survey study between January 2018 and July 2019. Analysis was performed using logistic regression models. The outcome of interest was the physician perceived impact of participating in the ARena project on decision-making regarding antibiotic prescribing, the independent variables of interest included individual characteristics, intervention arm allocation, primary care network (PCN) environment and characteristics of the medical practice.Results: Forty Six point eight percent (n = 126) of participants indicated to have perceived an impact on their decision-making regarding antibiotic prescribing by participating in the ARena project. Bivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that work experience (odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.006-1.103), PCN environment (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.256-3.363), structural conditions (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.161-2.371), environment of existing processes (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.011-2.094), and externally defined general conditions (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.035-2.378) were associated with physicians' perceived impact of participating in the ARena project on decision-making regarding antibiotic prescribing. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, only work experience OR 1.05 (95% CI 1.001-1.104) continuously showed a significant influence.Conclusions: This study indicates that contextual factors at individual, practice, and system level influence physicians' perceptions of antibiotic prescribing. Longer work experience appeared to be a significant influencing factor to be considered in antimicrobial stewardship programs.Trial Registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN58150046 (registered 13.09.2017). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]