Author(s)

A. ALENTADO MATEU 1 , L. ALVAREZ ARROYO 1 , R. MARTINEZ GOZALBEZ 2 , O. PEREZ OLASO 3 , R. LIMÓN RAMIREZ 4, B. MONTAÑÉS PAULS 1 .
1 HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO LA PLANA, FARMACIA, VILA-REAL, ESPAÑA.
2 HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO LA PLANA, INFORMÁTICA, VILA-REAL, ESPAÑA.
3 HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO LA PLANA, MICROBIOLOGIA, VILA-REAL, ESPAÑA.
4 HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO LA PLANA, MEDICINA PREVENTIVA, VILA-REAL, ESPAÑA.

Why was it done?

For years, Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) teams have been working to improve the quality of antimicrobial prescription by optimizing treatments, controlling bacteremia and managing infections caused by resistant or difficult to treat microorganisms.
It is essential to have a software tool that allows real-time monitoring of both treatments and certain cultures.

What was done?

The ASP team, in collaboration with the information technology unit designed, developed and implemented a computer application at our center to support the ASP team. This application screens inpatients, searching for any of the predefined parameter alerts based on the type of antibiotic prescribed, the microorganism causing the infection, positive blood cultures or patients who are difficult to manage.

How was it done?

This alert system is based on the integration of the various hospital clinical information systems. Admitted patients are selected after a medical prescription of certain predefined antibiotics (carbapenems, daptomycin, linezolid, piperacillin/tazobactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, etc); these data are obtained from the electronic prescription programme (Athos-Prisma®). Microbiological criteria (Gestlab@ programme) include multi-resistant microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), positive blood cultures, Pseudomonas, etc. Based on clinical criteria, patients who are difficult to manage can be manually included in the computer programme, mainly by the internal medicine and intensive care unit departments. The antimicrobial and microbiological criteria are dynamic and can be modified as needed.

What has been achieved?

From June 1 st 2023 to February 1 st 2024, 300 different patients have underwent interventions. In the patient’s electronic medical record from the ASP application, 355 ASP recommendations were made for 236 patients. ASP interventions included recommended isolation measures (242), modifying or suspending antibiotic treatment (68), maintaining adequate antibiotic treatment (22), initiating antibiotic treatment (11) and requesting complementary tests (12), such as imaging, cultures or serology.

What next?

This application is a fundamental communication tool for ASP teams allowings different recommendations for optimizing antimicrobial treatment to be made in the application. It automatically generates a note in the patient’s clinical history, making it accessible to all healthcare professionals and allowings for easy extrapolation to other hospitals, enabling its implementation in daily clinical practice.

Author(s)

Lanzone E. (1), Baldessarelli D. (2), Tinebra A. M. (1), Albini E. M. E. (1), Panarotto A. (1), Rossi C. (1) – (1) SC Farmacia Ospedaliera ASL Novara, (2) Scuola di Specializzazione Farmacia Ospedaliera Novara.

Why was it done?

A comprehensive analysis of systemic antibiotic use in hospitals during the first half of 2024 was conducted, revealing a significant increase in the consumption of WATCH class drugs, specifically carbapenems (ATC J01DH) and fluoroquinolones (J01MA). This prompted the implementation of rigorous monitoring for prescriptions of these drug classes.

What was done?

These antibiotics are key targets of the National Plan Against Antimicrobial Resistance (PNCAR 2022-2025), which mandates a reduction of at least 10% in consumption by 2025 compared to 2022. The initiative aimed to address the rising consumption and enhance antibiotic stewardship.

How was it done?

Data were extracted from the regional IT system, with consumption expressed in Defined Daily Doses (DDD) per 100 patient days. The project monitored the use of systemic antibiotics (ATC J01), focusing on carbapenems and fluoroquinolones. Motivated requests received by the Hospital Pharmacy (FO) were reviewed for therapeutic indications, dosage, treatment duration, and the availability of an antibiogram. All requests were recorded in an Excel sheet for effective data analysis and management.

What has been achieved?

In the first half of 2024, the Hospital Pharmacy received a total of 277 motivated requests for antibiotic prescriptions. Among these, 177 requests were aligned with the objectives of the PNCAR. Specifically, there were 54 requests for fluoroquinolones, including 35 for ciprofloxacin and 19 for levofloxacin. Within this subset, 16 requests included an antibiogram, while 27 were based on empirical data. Additionally, there were 6 requests for surgical prophylaxis, 1 for continuation of therapy, 1 accompanied by a positive urine culture, and 3 that were incorrectly filled out.
The analysis of requests also highlighted a significant number related to carbapenems, with a total of 123 submissions. Of these, 120 were for meropenem, 2 for imipenem in combination with cilastatin, and 1 for ertapenem. Notably, 80 of these requests included an antibiogram, with 74 deemed appropriate based on the established criteria.

What next?

Based on the collected data, modifications to the personalized motivated request form were proposed, introducing stricter criteria for empirical use of these antibiotics. This aims to limit their use to serious and well-defined cases, representing a significant step toward more effective antibiotic therapy and improved clinical outcomes while reducing the risk of resistance. The new form specifies that ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin requests can only be made under certain conditions, and carbapenems are restricted to cases of hemodynamic instability or severe respiratory failure.

Author(s)

CLARA NOTARIO DONGIL, ALEJANDRO MARCOS DE LA TORRE, MARÍA CARMEN CONDE GARCÍA, MARÍA MAR ALAÑÓN PARDO, BEATRIZ PROY VEGA, NATALIA ANDRÉS NAVARRO

Why was it done?

Most of the cultures performed in outpatients were not reviewed or were reviewed too late. An early detection for an adequate control of multidrug-resistant bacteria and the setting of a targeted antibiotic treatment, in case of being necessary, was the aim of this project. Hence basis for the implementation of an ASP is laid down, giving also advice to medical staff regarding appropriate antibiotic treatments.

What was done?

Multiresistant bacteria containment is a public health priority. Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs) can help to enhance patient outcomes by improving antibiotic prescribing. ASPs are common in hospitals, but are not usually available in primary care.

How was it done?

1- A circuit between microbiology laboratory staff, preventive medicine and pharmacy service was done. The first two collaborated by presenting data from lab results.
2- Cultures of multidrug-resistant species of outpatients were included. Results were interpreted by a hospital pharmacist on a daily basis.
3- A circuit of telephone calls between pharmacy and primary care was settled in order to communicate high epidemiological impact species detected. Pharmacist collaborates by giving advice regarding the right drug, right dose and right time, only when antibiotic treatment was necessary. Reports were registered on the medical history.
4- Variables collected in database were: age, sex, institutionalized, antibiotics received, kidney disease, culture type, specie.

What has been achieved?

During five months, 52 patients were included (52% male, 48% female). Mean age: 68 years. 11% institutionalized patients. 31% presented kidney disease.
Urine culture (58%),skin culture (13%), bronchial/sputum culture (12%), stool culture (12%), , and other cultures (5%) were analysed. Multidrug-resistant species (spp) were: Klebsiella spp (34%); Pseudomonas spp (8%); Mycobacterium spp (6%); other spp (52%).
17 pharmacist interventions were carried out, all of them related to appropriated treatment. 2 patients were hospitalized in order to receive parenteral antibiotic.

What next?

Optimizing antibiotics use is important to effectively treat infections. Identifying species that generate therapeutic difficulties is essential. Pharmacist advice could reduce treatment failures applying efforts to improve antibiotic use, being link of union between hospital and primary care. Other activities such as providing training to medical staff or spread results regarding to the use of antibiotics will be critical for ASP development.

Author(s)

Catarina Oliveira, Ana Mirco, Fátima Falcão

Why was it done?

-lactams have proven to be effective and safe antibiotics over their history, and as a consequence, these drugs are typically among the most frequently prescribed in hospital settings. Optimization of treatment with β-lactams can be achieved by their administration by continuous infusion. Furthermore, this approach leads to a reduction of the nursing time devoted to preparation and administration. However, information regarding continuous infusion of β-lactams is not readily available for most antibiotics, leading to doubts about dosing, renal adjustments and administration, particularly uncertainties related to dilution of the antibiotics as most patients benefit from fluid restriction. Also, it was indispensable to understand which antibiotics had stability to be administered through continuous infusion.

What was done?

A protocol for continuous infusion of β-lactams was established in a coronary care unit (CCU), replacing the previous method of intermittent dosing in most patients.

How was it done?

Firstly, we evaluated which antibiotics benefited from this approach and had, simultaneously, stability. The antibiotics selected were Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime, Cefepime, Cefuroxime, Piperacillin/tazobactam, Penicillin G, Ampicillin and Flucloxacillin. In order to stablish a protocol for continuous infusion of these antibiotics, an extensive literature review was performed. Information about loading and maintenance dose, reconstitution, dilution (solvent and maximum concentration), infusion rate, renal adjustments, stability and storage was collected and summarized in a table.

What has been achieved?

A ready-to-use version of the β-lactams continuous infusion protocol was developed. In addition, dosing adjustments in patients on continuous renal replacement therapy, commonly made in patients in the CCU, were included too. This protocol was made available to all health professionals through the hospital’s intranet as well as posted in the CCU in order to be easily accessible by doctors and nurses. Thus, continuous infusion is now the standard for most patients requiring therapy with β-lactams in the CCU.

What next?

The implementation of this protocol has an education purpose, allowing the best use of documented practices in prescribing, medication review and administration continuous infusion of β-lactams. This protocol can similarly be easily implemented in other medical units. In the near future, we plan to monitor the compliance to the protocol and consider further improvements if necessary.

Author(s)

Saskia Coenradie, Hans Groot, de, Amy Rieborn, Erna Groot, de, Martti Visbeek, Denise Abswoude, Christian Alderweireld, Annegien Kenter

Why was it done?

Allergies for drugs and especially allergies for antibiotics of the penicillin group are common questions in electronic patient data systems (EPDS) in hospitals. In many cases the verification of an allergy is seldom a thorough process and so many inappropriate penicillin allergies are recorded in EPDS. Literature reports that only 10% of recorded allegies are appropiate. This has a detrimental effect when infections occur and patients have to be treated with antibiotics. When a penicillin allergy is recorded in the EPDS a warning not to prescribe any antibiotic from the penicillin group is given. In most cases the physician has to choose another antibiotic that is normally not first choice. This can have worse patient outcomes. We conducted a feasibility study to investigate if a reported penicillin allergy in a patient’s record was appropriate or not using a standard allergy algorithm consisting of 10 questions with YES or NO as answers.

What was done?

A novel method is tested to decline the number of inappropriate alerts for penicillin allergy in our electronic patient data system

How was it done?

When the reported allergy in a patients record popped up in our EPDS, a pharmacy technician was asked to have a medication – and allergy verification conversation with the patient. Only patients that were admitted to the emergency ward or the acute admittance ward of our hospital were included to test this method on feasibility. The feasibility study started in March 2021 after permission from our board of directors and after a declaration of our medical ethics committee stated that no judgement of this committee was neccessary. We started on the emergency ward in March 2021. Because of slow inclusions we decided in september 2021 that another ward needed to be included in this feasibility study to achieve the number needed to prove this method feasible (80 patients). Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS statistics,(vs 25) and the primary outcome was the total number and percentage of inappropriate penicilline allergies.

What has been achieved?

Up till October 2021 29 patients were included in this feasibility study. Most of them had an inappropriate record of penicllin allergy after a pharmacy technician had a medication- and allergy-verfication conversation using the standard algorithm. We will continue with this feasibility study until 80 patients have been included and our statistical analysis can be done appropriately.

What next?

Continue with inclusions until the number needed to statistical analysis has been reached (80 patients). We will then perform our statistical analysis and hope to report back to you at the 27th EAHP congress in 2023 that this method is effective and reproducible. And most importantly, decreases the number of inappropriate penicillin allergy records in hospitals. We are confident that with this method we create a tool to decrease the number of inappropriate allergy records in our electronic prescription system in our hospital.

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Author(s)

Natalia Toledo Noda, Víctor Quesada Marqués, Héctor Alonso Ramos, Moisés Pérez León, María Victoria Morales León

Why was it done?

It has been observed that emergency physicians tend to prescribe higher doses of antibiotics even though a lower dose is enough for the most common pathologies. This implied a decrease in safety, a probable increase in bacterial resistance as well as an increase in cost.

What was done?

The dose of antibiotics that appeared by default in the pharmacological prescription program were adjusted with the aim of reducing overdose.

How was it done?

The most common pathologies in the emergency room were taken into account and the pharmacist, in agreement with the emergency physicians and following the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, programmed those doses by default in the order set. For example, 1g of ceftriaxone once a day instead of 2g is enough for urinary tract infections and community-acquired pneumonia and 1 or 2 doses of oral phosphomycin are enough to treat non-complicated urinary tract infection. Regarding weight-adjusted antibiotics (for example amikacin), it was proposed that the dose corresponding to 65kg should appear by default in the program, which is the average weight that our patients in the emergency room usually have. These measures were intended to make the prescription as safe as possible.

What has been achieved?

The measures adopted by the Pharmacy Service achieved a drastic reduction in the overdose of antibiotics. The potential for medication errors was decreased and, therefore, patient safety improved. Unnecessary calls to prescribers for clarifications and questions about orders were also avoided. In economic terms, it has been possible to save almost 40% of the cost of treatment per patient. However, the aim of this measure was never resourcing optimization since most antibiotics used in the emergency room do not have a high cost.

What next?

In addition to the treatment protocols according to pathologies that are usually predefined in order sets, these actions carried out (not just in antibiotics) can be useful in emergency departments and for medical professionals who are not as used to prescribing medication. The use of well-designed order sets requires vigilance and a team approach because if they are not carefully designed, reviewed, and maintained to reflect evidence-based care, they may contribute to errors.

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Author(s)

Marie Keane

Why was it done?

In the ICU there was a lot of misunderstanding around the administration of vancomycin by intermittent dosing, particularly around the timing of pre-dose vancomycin levels and appropriate dose adjustment. It could take several days for a patient to reach the therapeutic range of vancomycin.

What was done?

A protocol for the administration of vancomycin by continuous infusion was developed for patients on ICU, replacing the previous method of giving vancomycin by intermittent dosing; this was developed in consultation with the Anaesthetics and Microbiology Departments.

How was it done?

To develop a vancomycin continuous infusion dosing schedule for patients admitted to ICU, through a review of the available literature and with reference to vancomcyin continuous infusion protocols already established on ICUs in other hospitals. A proposal for administration of vancomycin continuous infusion needs to be included on the electronic clinical information system currently in use in the ICU. An IV drug monograph for vancomcyin by continuous infusion will be included in the ‘ Intravenous Medication Infusion Guidelines’; this will provide information on compatibility with other infusions if required. To recommend vancomycin continuous infusion in patients as agreed with the Anaesthetics and Microbiology Consultants at the daily ward review, this would require the patient to have a dedicated IV line.

What has been achieved?

A finalised version of the Vancomycin Continuous Infusion protocol has been developed in consultation with Anaesthetic and Microbiology Consultants. We have included additional information for patients on CRRT (continuous renal replacement therapy) that has been used in some patients on continuous vancomycin infusion. A standardised prescription for infusion of vancomycin is available on the electronic prescribing system. Vancomycin continuous infusion is now recommended for any patients requiring vancomycin therapy on the ICU.

What next?

We would propose to audit the number of patients on Vancomycin Continuous Infusion in the ICU, including time taken to reach therapeutic range, frequency of sampling and any other cost-saving initiatives perceived.