It is difficult to determine the impact of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Europe, because precise data are scarce. Mortality attributable to CAP varies widely between European countries and ...with the site of patient management. This review analysed the clinical and economic burden, aetiology and resistance patterns of CAP in European adults. All primary articles reporting studies in Europe published from January 1990 to December 2007 addressing the clinical and economic burden of CAP in adults were included. A total of 2606 records were used to identify primary studies. CAP incidence varied by country, age and gender, and was higher in individuals aged ≥65 years and in men. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common agent isolated. Mortality varied from <1% to 48% and was associated with advanced age, co-morbid conditions and CAP severity. Antibiotic resistance was seen in all pathogens associated with CAP. There was an increase in antibiotic-resistant strains, but resistance was not related to mortality. CAP was associated with high rates of hospitalisation and length of hospital stay. The review showed that the clinical and economic burden of CAP in Europe is high. CAP has considerable long-term effects on quality of life, and long-term prognosis is worse in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia.
Our objective was to assess junior doctors' perceptions of their antibiotic prescribing practice and of bacterial resistance. We surveyed 190 postgraduate doctors still in training at two university ...teaching hospitals, in Nice (France) and Dundee (Scotland, UK), and 139 of them (73%) responded to the survey. The main results presented in this abstract are combined for Nice and Dundee, because there was no statistical difference for these points between the two hospitals. Antibiotic resistance was perceived as a national problem by 95% of the junior doctors, but only 63% rated the problem as important in their own daily practice. Their perceptions of the causes of antibiotic resistance were sometimes at variance with available medical evidence, with excessive duration of antibiotic treatment and poor hand hygiene practices rarely being perceived as important drivers for resistance. Only 31s% and 26% of the doctors knew the correct prevalences of antibiotic misuse and of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in hospitals, respectively. They preferred educational interventions, such as specific teaching sessions, availability of guidelines or readily accessible advice from an infectious diseases specialist, to improve antibiotic prescribing, rather than restricted prescription of antibiotics. These data provide helpful information for the design of strategies to optimize adherence to good antimicrobial stewardship.
It has been increasingly recognized that antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) has to be a key component of any efforts that aim to mitigate the current global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. It has ...also become evident that AMR is a problem that cannot be tackled by single institutions or physicians, but needs concerted actions at regional, national and supra-national levels. However, it is easy to become discouraged, given the problems that are often encountered when implementing AMS. The aim of this review is to highlight some of the success stories of AMS strategies, and to describe the actions that have been taken, the outcomes that have been obtained, and the obstacles that have been met. Although the best approach to effective AMS remains elusive and may vary significantly among settings, these diverse examples from a range of healthcare contexts demonstrate that effective AMS is possible. Such examples will inform others and encourage them to formally evaluate and share their results with the global stewardship community.
To report the extent and components of global efforts in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in hospitals.
An Internet-based survey comprising 43 questions was disseminated worldwide in 2012.
Responses ...were received from 660 hospitals in 67 countries: Africa, 44; Asia, 50; Europe, 361; North America, 72; Oceania, 30; and South and Central America, 103. National AMS standards existed in 52% of countries, 4% were planning them and 58% had an AMS programme. The main barriers to implementing AMS programmes were perceived to be a lack of funding or personnel, a lack of information technology and prescriber opposition. In hospitals with an existing AMS programme, AMS rounds existed in 64%; 81% restricted antimicrobials (carbapenems, 74.3%; quinolones, 64%; and cephalosporins, 58%); and 85% reported antimicrobial usage, with 55% linking data to resistance rates and 49% linking data to infection rates. Only 20% had electronic prescribing for all patients. A total of 89% of programmes educated their medical, nursing and pharmacy staff on AMS. Of the hospitals, 38% had formally reviewed their AMS programme: reductions were reported by 96% of hospitals for inappropriate prescribing, 86% for broad-spectrum antibiotic use, 80% for expenditure, 71% for healthcare-acquired infections, 65% for length of stay or mortality and 58% for bacterial resistance.
The worldwide development and implementation of AMS programmes varies considerably. Our results should inform and encourage the further evaluation of this with a view to promoting a worldwide stewardship framework. The prospective measurement of well-defined outcomes of the impact of these programmes remains a significant challenge.
With increasing global interest in hospital antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes, there is a strong demand for core elements of AMS to be clearly defined on the basis of principles of ...effectiveness and affordability. To date, efforts to identify such core elements have been limited to Europe, Australia, and North America. The aim of this study was to develop a set of core elements and their related checklist items for AMS programmes that should be present in all hospitals worldwide, regardless of resource availability.
A literature review was performed by searching Medline and relevant websites to retrieve a list of core elements and items that could have global relevance. These core elements and items were evaluated by an international group of AMS experts using a structured modified Delphi consensus procedure, using two-phased online in-depth questionnaires.
The literature review identified seven core elements and their related 29 checklist items from 48 references. Fifteen experts from 13 countries in six continents participated in the consensus procedure. Ultimately, all seven core elements were retained, as well as 28 of the initial checklist items plus one that was newly suggested, all with ≥80% agreement; 20 elements and items were rephrased.
This consensus on core elements for hospital AMS programmes is relevant to both high- and low-to-middle-income countries and could facilitate the development of national AMS stewardship guidelines and adoption by healthcare settings worldwide.
These evidence-based guidelines have been produced after a systematic literature review of a range of issues involving prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). ...Prevention is structured into sections addressing general issues, equipment, patient procedures and the environment, whereas in treatment, the structure addresses the use of antimicrobials in prevention and treatment, adjunctive therapies and the application of clinical protocols. The sections dealing with diagnosis are presented against the clinical, radiological and microbiological diagnosis of HAP. Recommendations are also made upon the role of invasive sampling and quantitative microbiology of respiratory secretions in directing antibiotic therapy in HAP/ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) are a diverse group of infections, with a range of presentations and microbiological causes. Hospitalization is common for patients with a cSSTI, ...which is treated by drainage of the affected area and with antibiotics. Host factors such as co-morbidities, and microbial factors, in particular drug resistance, complicate the management of these infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important cSSTI pathogen in Europe, and its involvement can be associated with poor patient outcomes. European guidelines recommend vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, daptomycin, tigecycline or ceftaroline for treatment of MRSA cSSTIs. Of primary importance when treating cSSTIs is the agent’s clinical efficacy against the causative pathogens, as well as its bioavailability in the skin and associated structures. Linezolid is well-suited for the treatment of MRSA cSSTIs; it achieves high penetration into skin and soft tissues with 100% oral bioavailability, and therefore enables an intravenous to oral switch and outpatient treatment. When eligible patients are offered oral therapy the associated length of hospital stay and overall costs can be reduced. Linezolid has demonstrated clinical efficacy and favourable outcomes in patients for the treatment of MRSA cSSTIs including the treatment of lower extremity infections. Furthermore, efficacy has been documented in key defined populations, such as individuals with renal impairment and the obese. The safety profile of linezolid is well-documented, making this antibacterial a viable choice for the treatment of MRSA cSSTIs.
Summary PubMed, EMBASE and conference abstracts were reviewed systematically to determine the clinical and economic burden associated with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) acquired and treated ...in European healthcare facilities. Inclusion criteria were: published in the English language between 2000 and 2010, and study population of at least 20 patients with documented CDI acquired/treated in European healthcare facilities. Data collection was completed by three unblinded reviewers using the Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA statement. The primary outcomes were mortality, recurrence, length of hospital stay (LOS) and cost related to CDI. In total, 1138 primary articles and conference abstracts were identified, and this was narrowed to 39 and 30 studies, respectively. Data were available from 14 countries, with 47% of studies from UK institutions. CDI mortality at 30 days ranged from 2% (France) to 42% (UK). Mortality rates more than doubled from 1999 to 2004, and continued to rise until 2007 when reductions were noted in the UK. Recurrent CDI varied from 1% (France) to 36% (Ireland); however, recurrence definitions varied between studies. Median LOS ranged from eight days (Belgium) to 27 days (UK). The incremental cost of CDI was £4577 in Ireland and £8843 in Germany, after standardization to 2010 prices. Country-specific estimates, weighted by sample size, ranged from 2.8% to 29.8% for 30-day mortality and from 16 to 37 days for LOS. CDI burden in Europe was most commonly described using 30-day mortality, recurrence, LOS and cost data. The continued spread of CDI and resultant healthcare burden underscores the need for judicious use of antibiotics.
Introduction•Comparison of 12 week COVID-19 lockdown period and the same time period in 2019•Aims: to evaluate changes in both mechanism and diagnoses of injuries presenting to the orthopaedic ...department during this lockdown period, as well as to observe any changes in operative case-mix during this time.Methodology•5 NHS Foundation Trusts included in research contributing to the Major Trauma Network of North West London.•Giving a huge number of referrals studied (>6000 referrals); thus giving an acute representation of trauma and injury patterns during the lockdown period.•All data received from one trauma system with consistent data coding.Results•Referral Numbers○Overall referral numbers fell by 35.3% in lockdown period compared to 2019•Mechanism of Injury○All injury patterns reduced in number○Falls remained proportionally the most common injury pattern○Proportion of sports related accidents fell during lockdown○Whilst the proportion of pushbike related accidents increased○Mechanism injury analysis by age group also presented in manuscript (Table 1)•Injury Pattern○Remained consistent with reduced amounts of non-bony injury presentations (Table 2)•Number of Operations○Total number of operations fell by 38.8% during lockdown○Operative Case Mix○Operative case mix remained fairly similar between lockdown period and 2019○Fewer spinal operations were performed during the lockdown period○The proportion of NOF# operations to overall operations increased during the lockdown period•Rates of Operative Intervention○Rates of operative intervention for NOF# and Ankle fractures (open and closed injuries) remained similar between both study periods○Rates of operative intervention for distal radius fractures were reduced – suggesting a more conservative approachConclusions•The nationwide lockdown has led to a decrease in emergency orthopaedic referrals and associated injuries.•There has been a change in mechanism of injuries and a reduction in the overall number of acute trauma procedures performed.•This study should provide some insights to facilitate policy writing during the recovery phase and may help guide decision making regarding orthopaedic trauma care if lockdown measures are re-instated or similar emergency pandemics are encountered in the future.
The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in both mechanism and diagnoses of injuries presenting to the orthopaedic department during this lockdown period, as well as to observe any changes in operative case-mix during this time.
A study period of twelve weeks following the introduction of the nationwide “lockdown period”, March 23rd – June 14th, 2020 was identified and compared to the same time period in 2019 as a “baseline period”. A retrospective analysis of all emergency orthopaedic referrals and surgical procedures performed during these time frames was undertaken. All data was collected and screened using the ‘eTrauma’ management platform (Open Medical, UK). The study included data from a five NHS Foundation Trusts within North West London. A total of 6695 referrals were included for analysis.
The total number of referrals received during the lockdown period fell by 35.3% (n=2631) compared to the same period in 2019 (n=4064). Falls remained proportionally the most common mechanism of injury across all age groups in both time periods. The proportion sports related injuries compared to the overall number of injuries fell significantly during the lockdown period (p<0.001), however, the proportion of pushbike related accidents increased significantly (p<0.001). The total number of operations performed during the lockdown period fell by 38.8% (n=1046) during lockdown (n=1732). The proportion of patients undergoing operative intervention for Neck of Femur (NOF) and ankle fractures remained similar during both study periods. A more non-operative approach was seen in the management of wrist fractures, with 41.4% of injuries undergoing an operation during the lockdown period compared to 58.6% at baseline (p<0.001).
In conclusion, the nationwide lockdown has led to a decrease in emergency orthopaedic referrals and procedure numbers. There has been a change in mechanism of injuries, with fewer sporting injuries, conversely, there has been an increase in the number of pushbike or scooter related injuries during the lockdown period. NOF fractures remained at similar levels to the previous year. There was a change in strategy for managing distal radius fractures with more fractures being treated non-operatively.
PDF
