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Nursing home trial ties CRP testing to safe antibiotic reduction

Point-of-care testing for C-reactive protein (CRP) in nursing home residents with suspected lower respiratory tract infections resulted in a large reduction in antibiotic prescribing at initial consultation, according to the results of a cluster-randomized trial published this week in BMJ.

Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans

Antibiotics after mastectomy common, but with small benefit, study finds

An analysis of US health insurance data found that post-discharge prophylactic antibiotics are commonly prescribed after mastectomy, but provide only a small reduction in surgical-site infections (SSIs), researchers reported today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

Study finds CDC-based stewardship intervention is cost-effective

An intervention based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship yielded cost savings at 10 outpatient Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) sites, researchers reported today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

New online tool aims to help countries calculate cost of fighting AMR

The World Health Organization (WHO) today released a new tool to help countries calculate the costs of implementing multisectoral national action plans (NAPs) for antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Antibiotic prescribing guidelines, diagnostics linked to reduced resistance

Implementing institution-specific guidelines (ISGs) for antimicrobial prescribing and use of diagnostics at a tertiary care hospital was associated with significant declines in antibiotic resistance rates and Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs), German researchers reported yesterday in PLOS One.

Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans

Three more Ebola cases reported in the DRC

Three more Ebola cases, one of them fatal, were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC's) latest resurgence near Beni in North Kivu province, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) DRC office tweet today. The case total is now five including three deaths, said the World Health Organization (WHO) African regional office today on Twitter.

Overweight, obesity linked to more, longer mild COVID-19 symptoms

COVID-19 outpatients were more likely to have more respiratory symptoms if they were overweight or obese, according to a study published yesterday in Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses.

Data show low antibiotic prescribing, UTI misdiagnosis on mental health units

A review of antibiotic prescribing at Veterans' Health Administration (VHA) mental health units found that only 1 in 10 patients were exposed to antibiotics, but urinary tract infections (UTIs) appeared to be frequently misdiagnosed, researchers reported today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans

Data show low antibiotic prescribing, UTI misdiagnosis on mental health units

Originally published by CIDRAP News Oct 21

PAHO issues alert on carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is calling for increased surveillance and investigation of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Urinary antigen testing may help target antibiotics for pneumonia

Positive pneumococcal urinary antigen testing (PUAT) results among patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was associated with earlier time to de-escalation of antibiotics, according to a single-center study published last week in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

Infant formula linked to more antibiotic resistance genes

Formula feeding is associated with a 70% increase in antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) abundance in the gut microbiome of infants compared with breast milk, US and Finnish researchers reported this week in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Rapid test linked to improved antibiotic therapy for bloodstream infections

Use of a rapid diagnostic test in patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) was associated with shorter times to optimal antibiotic therapy and antibiotic de-escalation, researchers reported yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans

Rapid test linked to improved antibiotic therapy for bloodstream infections

Originally published by CIDRAP News Oct 28

Canadian studies find pandemic-related drops in antibiotic prescribing

Antibiotic prescribing during the early COVID-19 months in Canada dropped sharply, according to two new studies, one that looked at retail pharmacy trends across the country and one that focused on outpatient prescribing patterns in Ontario.

Trial supports low-dose, short-course antibiotics for kids' pneumonia

Among children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) who were discharged from the hospital within 48 hours but required further outpatient treatment, a lower dose of oral amoxicillin was non-inferior to a higher dose, and a 3-day duration was non-inferior to 7 days, according to the results of a randomized clinical trial published today in JAMA.

Study highlights benefits of penicillin allergy testing in pregnant women

Most pregnant women with a reported history of penicillin allergy who were tested were found not to be allergic and could tolerate penicillin during labor, according to a small retrospective study presented today at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans

Half of rheumatology patients report persistent symptoms after COVID-19

Over half of adults diagnosed as having a rheumatologic disease reported persistent COVID-19 symptoms at least a month after recovery from their infection, according to survey results presented late last week at the virtual American College of Rheumatology annual meeting.

UK report shows veterinary antibiotics have been cut in half since 2014

New data released today by the United Kingdom's Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) show that the use of antibiotics in UK livestock continues to fall.

AMR Industry Alliance report highlights progress, challenges

A new report from the AMR Industry Alliance (AMRIA) highlights some of the efforts that life sciences companies are pursuing to deliver on commitments to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

The 2021 AMRIA Progress Report draws on a survey completed by 53 alliance members and looks at efforts across four strategic pillars—research and science, access, appropriate use, and manufacturing and the environment.

Study highlights non-medical factors behind irresponsible antibiotic use

Non-prescription and irresponsible antibiotic use are prevalent across the world and are largely influenced by non-biomedical factors, an international team of researchers reported this week in Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans

Study highlights non-medical factors behind irresponsible antibiotic use

Originally published by CIDRAP News Nov 11