Antimicrobial Stewardship Teams in Veterans Affairs and Nonfederal Hospitals in the United States: A National Survey of Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Hawes AM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10783152 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Antimicrobial Stewardship Teams in Veterans Affairs and Nonfederal Hospitals in the United States: A National Survey of Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices.
Hawes Armani M AM Greene M Todd MT Ratz David D Fowler Karen E KE Kendall Ronald E RE Patel Payal K PK
Open forum infectious diseases 20240108 1
In a cross-sectional survey of US acute care hospitals, antimicrobial stewardship programs were present in most Veterans Affairs and nonfederal hospitals but varied in team composition, scope, and impact. Diagnostic stewardship was common across hospitals. Veterans Affairs hospitals had increased reach in outpatient settings. Telestewardship remains an opportunity in all hospital systems. ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundOutpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) regimens typically prioritize ease of antimicrobial administration, tolerability, safety, and accessibility over using the narrowest-spectrum antimicrobial. In light of this, OPAT providers often utilize different techniques to promote antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in their OPAT programs. This study aims to characterize the AMS practices of OPAT programs across the United States that might meet The Joint Commission requirements for outpatient AMS metrics.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional electronic survey of the Vizient AMS network. A total of 95 possible questions were designed to inquire about demographics, OPAT program structure, AMS initiatives, performance metrics, and resources.ResultsSeventy-four survey responses were received, with 58 (78.4%) of the respondents indicating their institution offered OPAT services. Respondents reported having at least 1 AMS protocol and tracking at least 1 metric in 91% and 74% of OPAT programs, respectively. Only 40% of programs reported billing for OPAT-related services. Approximately 45% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that their OPAT program had the resources needed to care for the population it serves. Respondents identified data analytics (69%), funding for expansion of services (67%), and pharmacists (62%) as resources of greatest need for their OPAT programs.ConclusionsThis survey collectively describes the AMS practices currently employed by OPAT programs across the United States. The results provide specific examples of AMS initiatives, metrics, and resources that institutions may reference to advance the practices of their OPAT programs to meet The Joint Commission Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship standards.
| S-EPMC11232693 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceMany veterans enrolled in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system have access to non-VA care through insurance and VA-purchased community care. Prior comparisons of VA and non-VA hospital outcomes have been limited to subpopulations.ObjectiveTo compare outcomes for 6 acute conditions in VA and non-VA hospitals for younger and older veterans using VA and all-payer discharge data.Design, setting, and participantsThis cohort study used a repeated cross-sectional analysis of hospitalization records for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage, heart failure (HF), pneumonia, and stroke. Participants included VA enrollees from 11 states at VA and non-VA hospitals from 2012 to 2017. Analysis was conducted from July 1, 2022, to October 18, 2023.ExposuresTreatment in VA or non-VA hospital.Main outcome and measuresThirty-day mortality, 30-day readmission, length of stay (LOS), and costs. Average treatment outcomes of VA hospitals were estimated using inverse probability weighted regression adjustment to account for selection into hospitals. Models were stratified by veterans' age (aged less than 65 years and aged 65 years and older).ResultsThere was a total of 593 578 hospitalizations and 414 861 patients with mean (SD) age 75 (12) years, 405 602 males (98%), 442 297 hospitalizations of non-Hispanic White individuals (75%) and 73 155 hospitalizations of non-Hispanic Black individuals (12%) overall. VA hospitalizations had a lower probability of 30-day mortality for HF (age ≥65 years, -0.02 [95% CI, -0.03 to -0.01]) and stroke (age <65 years, -0.03 [95% CI, -0.05 to -0.02]; age ≥65 years, -0.05 [95% CI, -0.07 to -0.03]). VA hospitalizations had a lower probability of 30-day readmission for CABG (age <65 years, -0.04 [95% CI, -0.06 to -0.01]; age ≥65 years, -0.05 [95% CI, -0.07 to -0.02]), GI hemorrhage (age <65 years, -0.04 [95% CI, -0.06 to -0.03]), HF (age <65 years, -0.05 [95% CI, -0.07 to -0.03]), pneumonia (age <65 years, -0.04 [95% CI, -0.06 to -0.03]; age ≥65 years, -0.03 [95% CI, -0.04 to -0.02]), and stroke (age <65 years, -0.11 [95% CI, -0.13 to -0.09]; age ≥65 years, -0.13 [95% CI, -0.16 to -0.10]) but higher probability of readmission for AMI (age <65 years, 0.04 [95% CI, 0.01 to 0.06]). VA hospitalizations had a longer mean LOS and higher costs for all conditions, except AMI and stroke in younger patients.Conclusions and relevanceIn this cohort study of veterans, VA hospitalizations had lower mortality for HF and stroke and lower readmissions, longer LOS, and higher costs for most conditions compared with non-VA hospitalizations with differences by condition and age group. There were tradeoffs between better outcomes and higher resource use in VA hospitals for some conditions.
| S-EPMC10692833 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundAntimicrobial stewardship in the community is essential as most antibiotic prescribing occurs in the outpatient setting. Pharmacists are recognized as co-leaders for implementing efforts to improve antimicrobial use.Objectivesthe purpose of this study is to evaluate current antimicrobial stewardship practices in community pharmacies across the United States and identify perceptions and challenges faced by community pharmacists.Methodsa survey based on the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship was created and distributed.ResultsSixty-one community pharmacists participated in the survey. The majority of pharmacists practiced in chain pharmacies. Based on the responses, a minority of pharmacies met the requirements of the CDC core elements: commitment (27.9%), action (24.6%), tracking and reporting (14.8%), and education and expertise (23% for providing pharmacist resources and 9.8% for providing patient resources). Regarding perception, 67.9% felt antimicrobial stewardship is important in the community and would participate in antimicrobial stewardship activities if the opportunity was provided (88.5%). Challenges faced by community pharmacists include the lack of time, staff, training, and technology support; pushback from prescribers and patients; and the lack of leadership, financial incentives, funding, and legal requirements.Conclusionsmany challenges exist in community pharmacies inhibiting the full potential of pharmacists in implementing antimicrobial stewardship.
| S-EPMC9965000 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends pneumococcal urinary antigen testing (UAT) when identifying pneumococcal infection would allow for antibiotic de-escalation. However, the frequencies of UAT and subsequent antibiotic de-escalation are unknown.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted with community-acquired or healthcare-associated pneumonia to 170 US hospitals in the Premier database from 2010 to 2015, to describe variation in UAT use, associations of UAT results with antibiotic de-escalation, and associations of de-escalation with outcomes.ResultsAmong 159 894 eligible admissions, 24 757 (15.5%) included UAT performed (18.4% of intensive care unit [ICU] and 15.3% of non-ICU patients). Among hospitals with ≥100 eligible patients, UAT proportions ranged from 0% to 69%. Compared to patients with negative UAT, 7.2% with positive UAT more often had a positive Streptococcus pneumoniae culture (25.4% vs 1.9%, P < .001) and less often had resistant bacteria (5.2% vs 6.8%, P < .05). Of patients initially treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, most were still receiving broad-spectrum therapy 3 days later, but UAT-positive patients more often had coverage narrowed (38.4% vs 17.0% UAT-negative and 14.6% untested patients, P < .001). Hospital rate of UAT was strongly correlated with de-escalation following a positive test. Only 3 patients de-escalated after a positive UAT result were subsequently admitted to ICU.ConclusionsUAT is not ordered routinely in pneumonia, even in ICU. A positive UAT result was associated with less frequent resistant organisms, but usually did not lead to antibiotic de-escalation. Increasing UAT and narrowing therapy after a positive UAT result are opportunities for improved antimicrobial stewardship.
| S-EPMC7901240 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe purpose of this paper is to assess the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) activities in community pharmacies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE, was conducted using a validated questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of four AMS outpatient core elements, namely, commitment, action, tracking and reporting, and education and expertise, with each element containing different associated items. Pharmacy teams' responses were categorized into three levels: low, satisfactory, or high.ResultsFifty-five pharmacy teams participated. Respondents confirmed implementation of at least one item of each AMS outpatient core element: commitment (94.5%), action (94.5%), tracking and reporting (67.3%), and education and expertise (81.8%). In supporting AMS implementation, surveyed teams scored high (81.8%) for action, satisfactory (65.5%) for education and expertise, low (43.6%) for tracking and reporting, and satisfactory (76.4%) for commitment. Attending antimicrobial stewardship programs was found to be a statistically significant predictor of implementation of antimicrobial stewardship activities (p = 0.048).ConclusionsThe majority of community pharmacies met the core elements of outpatient antimicrobial stewardship to some degree. There is a significant association between participation in antimicrobial stewardship programs and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship activities by pharmacists in practice.
| S-EPMC10451195 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundOutpatient antimicrobial prescribing is an important target for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions to decrease antimicrobial resistance. The objective of this study was to design, implement, and evaluate the impact of AMS interventions focused on asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) and acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in the primary care setting.MethodsThis stepped-wedge trial evaluated the impact of multifaceted educational interventions to providers on adult patients presenting to primary care clinics for ARIs and ASB. The primary outcome was percentage of overall antibiotic prescriptions as a composite of prescriptions for ASB, acute bronchitis, upper respiratory infection not otherwise specified, uncomplicated sinusitis, and uncomplicated pharyngitis. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the primary outcome; a composite safety endpoint of related hospital, emergency department, or primary care visits within 4 weeks; antibiotic selection appropriateness; and patient satisfaction surveys.ResultsA total of 887 patients were included (405 preintervention and 482 postintervention). After controlling for type I error using Bonferroni correction, the primary outcome was not significantly different between groups (56% vs 49%). There was a statistically significant decrease in prescriptions for acute bronchitis (20.99% vs 12.66%; P = .0003). Appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions for uncomplicated sinusitis (odds ratio [OR], 4.96 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.79-13.75]; P = .0021) and pharyngitis (OR, 5.36 [95% CI, 1.93-14.90]; P = .0013) was improved in the postintervention vs the preintervention group. The composite safety outcome and patient satisfaction surveys did not differ between groups.ConclusionsMultifaceted educational interventions targeting providers can improve antibiotic prescribing for indications rarely requiring antimicrobials without increasing re-visits or patient satisfaction surveys.
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Project description:Saudi hospitals and healthcare facilities are facing increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of new multi-drug resistant strains. This is placing an unprecedented threat to successful treatments and outcomes of patients accessing those facilities. The inappropriate use of antimicrobials is fueling this crisis, warranting urgent implementation of interventions to preserve antimicrobials and reduce resistance rates. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) can improve antimicrobial use, treatment success rates and reduce the levels of antimicrobial resistance. The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) devised a national antimicrobial stewardship plan to implement ASPs in hospitals, but little is known about the progress of implementation and the factors affecting it. This study aims to assess the level and the factors affecting the adoption and implementation of ASPs in Saudi hospitals at a national level. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2017 using an online questionnaire sent to all MOH hospitals. Overall, 147 out 247 MOH hospitals responded to the survey (54%). Only 26% of the hospitals reported the implementation of ASPs. Hospitals lack the knowledge, technological and staff resources to adopt and implement ASPs. Alternative models of ASP adoption could be explored to improve the rates of implementation of ASPs.
| S-EPMC7923167 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundProspective audit and feedback is a core antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) strategy; however its impact is difficult to measure.MethodsOur quasi-experimental study measured the effect of an ASP on clinical outcomes, antimicrobial use, resistance, costs, patient safety (adverse drug events [ADE] and Clostridium difficile infection [CDI]), and process metrics pre- (9/10-10/11) and post-ASP (9/12-10/13) using propensity adjusted and matched Cox proportional-hazards regression models and interrupted time series (ITS) methods.ResultsAmong our 2,696 patients, median length of stay was 1 day shorter post-ASP (5, interquartile range [IQR] 3-8 vs. 4, IQR 2-7 days, p<0.001). Mortality was similar in both periods. Mean broad-spectrum (-11.3%), fluoroquinolone (-27.0%), and anti-pseudomonal (-15.6%) use decreased significantly (p<0.05). ITS analyses demonstrated a significant increase in monthly carbapenem use post-ASP (trend: +1.5 days of therapy/1,000 patient days [1000PD] per month; 95% CI 0.1-3.0). Total antimicrobial costs decreased 14%. Resistance rates did not change in the one-year post-ASP period. Mean CDI rates/10,000PD were low pre- and post-ASP (14.2 ± 10.4 vs. 13.8 ± 10.0, p = 0.94). Fewer patients experienced ADEs post-ASP (6.0% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.06).ConclusionsProspective audit and feedback has the potential to improve antimicrobial use and outcomes, and contain bacterial resistance. Our program demonstrated a trend towards decreased length of stay, broad-spectrum antimicrobial use, antimicrobial costs, and adverse events.
| S-EPMC4792438 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceSurgical site infections (SSIs) are potentially preventable complications that are associated with excess morbidity and mortality.ObjectiveTo determine the excess costs associated with total, deep, and superficial SSIs among all operations and for high-volume surgical specialties.Design, setting, and participantsSurgical patients from 129 Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals were included. The Veterans Health Administration Decision Support System and VA Surgical Quality Improvement Program databases were used to assess costs associated with SSIs among VA patients who underwent surgery in fiscal year 2010.Main outcomes and measuresLinear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate incremental costs associated with SSIs, controlling for patient risk factors, surgical risk factors, and hospital-level variation in costs. Costs of the index hospitalization and subsequent 30-day readmissions were included. Additional analysis determined potential cost savings of quality improvement programs to reduce SSI rates at hospitals with the highest risk-adjusted SSI rates.ResultsAmong 54,233 VA patients who underwent surgery, 1756 (3.2%) experienced an SSI. Overall, 0.8% of the cohort had a deep SSI, and 2.4% had a superficial SSI. The mean unadjusted costs were $31,580 and $52,620 for patients without and with an SSI, respectively. In the risk-adjusted analyses, the relative costs were 1.43 times greater for patients with an SSI than for patients without an SSI (95% CI, 1.34-1.52; difference, $11,876). Deep SSIs were associated with 1.93 times greater costs (95% CI, 1.71-2.18; difference, $25,721), and superficial SSIs were associated with 1.25 times greater costs (95% CI, 1.17-1.35; difference, $7003). Among the highest-volume specialties, the greatest mean cost attributable to SSIs was $23,755 among patients undergoing neurosurgery, followed by patients undergoing orthopedic surgery, general surgery, peripheral vascular surgery, and urologic surgery. If hospitals in the highest 10th percentile (ie, the worst hospitals) reduced their SSI rates to the rates of the hospitals in the 50th percentile, the Veterans Health Administration would save approximately $6.7 million per year.Conclusions and relevanceSurgical site infections are associated with significant excess costs. Among analyzed surgery types, deep SSIs and SSIs among neurosurgery patients are associated with the highest risk-adjusted costs. Large potential savings per year may be achieved by decreasing SSI rates.
| S-EPMC7393605 | biostudies-literature
Project description:This cohort study examines changes in the use of Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA hospitals by VA enrollees and mortality associated with these policies.
| S-EPMC9187948 | biostudies-literature