Antibiotic prescribing in 4 assisted-living communities: incidence and potential for improvement (original) (raw)
Related papers
Reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in the residential care setting: current perspectives
Clinical Interventions in Aging, 2014
Residential aged care facilities are increasingly identified as having a high burden of infection, resulting in subsequent antibiotic use, compounded by the complexity of patient demographics and medical care. Of particular concern is the recent emergence of multidrugresistant organisms among this vulnerable population. Accordingly, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs have started to be introduced into the residential aged care facilities setting to promote judicious antimicrobial use. However, to successfully implement AMS programs, there are unique challenges pertaining to this resource-limited setting that need to be addressed. In this review, we summarize the epidemiology of infections in this population and review studies that explore antibiotic use and prescribing patterns. Specific attention is paid to issues relating to inappropriate or suboptimal antibiotic prescribing to guide future AMS interventions.
Antibiotic Prescribing in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Research
Drugs & Aging, 2015
Objectives The objective of this review was to synthesize the findings of qualitative studies investigating the factors influencing antibiotic prescribing in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). These findings will inform the development of future antimicrobial stewardship strategies (AMS) in this setting. Methods We searched Embase, PubMed, PsycInfo, Social Science Citations Index and Google Scholar for all qualitative studies investigating health care professionals' views on antibiotic prescribing in LTCFs. The quality of the papers was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) assessment tool for qualitative research. Thematic synthesis was used to integrate the emergent themes into an overall analytical theme. Results The synthesis of eight qualitative studies indicated that health care professionals and administrators have identified factors that influence antibiotic prescribing in LTCFs. These factors include variations in knowledge and practice among health care professionals, and the LTCF context, which is unique given the complex patient population and restricted access to doctors and diagnostic tests. The social factors underpinning the interaction between nurses, residents' families and doctors also influence decision making around antibiotic prescribing. The study also found that there is an acknowledged need for collaborative, evidence-based AMS specific to LTCFs, as antibiotic prescribing is heavily influenced by factors unique to this setting. Conclusion This review highlighted the key contextual challenges for AMS in LTCFs. The findings provide an indepth insight into the factors-such as the LTCF context, social factors, variability in knowledge and prescribing practices, and antimicrobial resistance-that impact on antibiotic prescribing and AMS strategies. These factors must be considered in order to ensure the feasibility and applicability of future AMS interventions.
Antibiotic Prescribing In Dutch Nursing Homes: How Appropriate Is It?
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2014
Nursing homes antibiotic prescribing urinary tract infection respiratory tract infection a b s t r a c t Objective: To investigate the appropriateness of decisions to prescribe or withhold antibiotics for nursing home (NH) residents with infections of the urinary tract (UTI), respiratory tract (RTI), and skin (SI). Design: Prospective study. Setting: Ten NHs in the central-west region of the Netherlands. Participants: Physicians providing medical care to NH residents. Measurements: Physicians completed a registration form for any suspected infection over an 8-month period, including patient characteristics, signs and symptoms, and treatment decisions. An algorithm, developed by an expert panel and based on national and international guidelines, was used to evaluate treatment decisions for appropriateness of initiating or withholding antibiotics. Results: Appropriateness of 598 treatment decisions was assessed. Overall, 76% were appropriate, with cases that were prescribed antibiotics judged less frequently "appropriate" (74%) compared with cases in which antibiotics were withheld (90%) (P ΒΌ .003). Decisions around UTI were least often appropriate (68%, compared with 87% for RTI and 94% for SI [P < .001]). The most common situations in which antibiotic prescribing was considered inappropriate were those indicative of asymptomatic bacteriuria or viral RTI. Conclusion: Although the rate of appropriate antibiotic prescribing in Dutch NHs is relatively high compared with previous studies in other countries, our results suggest that antibiotic consumption can be reduced by improving appropriateness of treatment decisions, especially for UTI. Given the current antibiotic resistance developments in long-term care facilities, interventions reducing antibiotic use for asymptomatic bacteriuria and viral RTI are warranted.
BMC geriatrics, 2014
Insight into factors that influence antibiotic prescribing is crucial when developing interventions aimed at a more rational use of antibiotics. We examined factors that influence antibiotic prescribing in long-term care facilities, and present a conceptual model that integrates these factors. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with physicians (n = 13) and nursing staff (n = 13) in five nursing homes and two residential care homes in the central-west region of the Netherlands. An iterative analysis was applied to interviews with physicians to identify and categorize factors that influence antibiotic prescribing, and to integrate these into a conceptual model. This conceptual model was triangulated with the perspectives of nursing staff. The analysis resulted in the identification of six categories of factors that can influence the antibiotic prescribing decision: the clinical situation, advance care plans, utilization of diagnostic resources, physicians' perce...
The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 2015
To evaluate the effect of tailored interventions on the appropriateness of decisions to prescribe or withhold antibiotics, antibiotic use and guideline-adherent antibiotic selection in nursing homes (NHs). We conducted a quasi-experimental study in 10 NHs in the Netherlands. A participatory action research (PAR) approach was applied, with local stakeholders in charge of selecting tailored interventions based on opportunities for improved antibiotic prescribing that they derived from provided baseline data. An algorithm was used to evaluate the appropriateness of prescribing decisions, based on infections recorded by physicians. Effects of the interventions on the appropriateness of prescribing decisions were analysed with a multilevel logistic regression model. Pharmacy data were used to calculate differences in antibiotic use and recorded infections were used to calculate differences in guideline-adherent antibiotic selection. The appropriateness of 1059 prescribing decisions was a...