Start Smart, Then Focus: Antimicrobial Stewardship Practice at One NHS Foundation Trust in England Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Author
Abdelsalam Elshenawy, Rasha
Umaru, Nikkie
Aslanpour, Zoe
Attention
2299/27943
Abstract
Background Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), a major global public health threat causing 1.2 million deaths, calls for immediate action. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) promotes judicious antibiotic use, but the COVID-19 pandemic increased AMR by 15%. Our study evaluated AMS implementation and inappropriate antibiotic prescribing before-the-pandemic (PD) and during-the-pandemic (DP). Methods This retrospective study examined medical records of adult patients (age 25 and above) admitted to an NHS Foundation Trust in England for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) or pneumonia in 2019 and 2020. Our objective was to evaluate antibiotic prescribing practices BP and DP in 2019 and 2020. Primary outcomes included evaluating the prevalence of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and assessing the implementation of AMS using Public Health England's 'Start Smart, Then Focus' (SSTF) toolkit. Reliable data extraction was ensured by two independent reviewers using a validated data extraction tool. Results A total of 640 patient records (320 from 2019 and 320 from 2020) were analysed. The mean age of enrolled adults was 74.3 years in 2019 and 76.2 years in 2020. COVID pneumonia showed a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) of 20.24 (95% CI 5.82 to 128.19, p-value<0.001). Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, as per local guidelines, increased from 36% in 2019 to 64% in 2020 for the second course of antibiotics DP. Differences were observed in AMS interventions, with an OR of 3.36 (95% CI 1.30-9.25, p=0.015) for 'Continue Antibiotics' and an OR of 2.77 (95% CI 1.37-5.70, p=0.005) for 'De-escalation'. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted antibiotic prescribing, increasing inappropriate use and posing risks of antimicrobial resistance. Factors influencing prescribing practices must be considered, and proactive measures, including updating the SSTF toolkit and developing an AMS roadmap, are needed to address the challenges of AMR in the context of evolving infectious diseases.
Publication date
2023-06-12Published version
https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.06.09.23291146Other links
http://hdl.handle.net/2299/27943Metadata
Show full item recordRelated items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Analysis in Comparative Study on Antimicrobial Stewardship and Antibiotic Prescribing: 2019 vs. 2020 COVID-19 Era.
Abdelsalam Elshenawy, Rasha (Octopus, 2024-01-08)This research examines antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and antibiotic prescribing in a UK NHS Foundation Trust before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores the impact of the pandemic on AMR and AMS practices using ... -
Pharmacists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions Towards Antibiotic Prescribing, Antimicrobial Stewardship and Resistance at Secondary Care Settings in the UK
Abdelsalam Elshenawy, Rasha (2024-05-18)This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) of pharmacists regarding antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during the COVID-19 pandemic in secondary care settings ... -
A Pilot Test: Doctors, Nurses, and Pharmacists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions Towards Antibiotic Prescribing, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Stewardship During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a UK Secondary Care Setting
Abdelsalam Elshenawy, Rasha (OSFHOME, 2024-05-24)Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health challenge, projected to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050. Recognising the seriousness of this issue, the WHO developed a comprehensive global action plan ...