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Huang Z, George MM, Tan YR, Natarajan K, Devasagayam E, Tay E, Manesh A, Varghese GM, Abraham OC, Zachariah A, Yap P, Lall D, Chow A. Are physicians ready for precision antibiotic prescribing? A qualitative analysis of the acceptance of artificial intelligence-enabled clinical decision support systems in India and Singapore. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2023; 35:76-85. [PMID: 37640155 PMCID: PMC10684720 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2023.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) can augment antibiotic decision-making capabilities, but physicians' hesitancy in adopting them may undermine their utility. We conducted a cross-country comparison of physician perceptions on the barriers and facilitators in accepting an AI-enabled CDSS for antibiotic prescribing. METHODS We conducted in-depth interviews with physicians from the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Singapore, and Christian Medical College Vellore (CMCV), India, between April and December 2022. Our semi-structured in-depth interview guides were anchored on Venkatesh's UTAUT model. We used clinical vignettes to illustrate the application of AI in clinical decision support for antibiotic prescribing and explore medico-legal concerns. RESULTS Most NCID physicians felt that an AI-enabled CDSS could facilitate antibiotic prescribing, while most CMCV physicians were sceptical about the tool's utility. The hesitancy in adopting an AI-enabled CDSS stems from concerns about the lack of validated and successful examples, fear of losing autonomy and clinical skills, difficulty of use, and impediment in work efficiency. Physicians from both sites felt that a user-friendly interface, integration with workflow, transparency of output, a guiding medico-legal framework, and training and technical support would improve the uptake of an AI-enabled CDSS. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the acceptance of AI-enabled CDSSs depends on the physician's confidence with the tool's recommendations, perceived ease of use, familiarity with AI, the organisation's digital culture and support, and the presence of medico-legal governance of AI. Progressive implementation and continuous feedback are essential to allay scepticism around the utility of AI-enabled CDSSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilian Huang
- Infectious Diseases Research and Training Office, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore; Department of Preventive and Population Medicine, Office of Clinical Epidemiology, Analytics, and Knowledge [OCEAN], Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | - Mithun Mohan George
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Yi-Roe Tan
- International Digital Health & AI Research Collaborative (I-DAIR), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Karthiga Natarajan
- Infectious Diseases Research and Training Office, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore; Department of Preventive and Population Medicine, Office of Clinical Epidemiology, Analytics, and Knowledge [OCEAN], Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | - Emily Devasagayam
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Evonne Tay
- Infectious Diseases Research and Training Office, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore; Department of Preventive and Population Medicine, Office of Clinical Epidemiology, Analytics, and Knowledge [OCEAN], Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | - Abi Manesh
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - George M Varghese
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Anand Zachariah
- Department of Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Peiling Yap
- International Digital Health & AI Research Collaborative (I-DAIR), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dorothy Lall
- Department of Community Health, Christian Medical College Vellore - Chittoor Campus, Andhra Pradesh, India.
| | - Angela Chow
- Infectious Diseases Research and Training Office, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore; Department of Preventive and Population Medicine, Office of Clinical Epidemiology, Analytics, and Knowledge [OCEAN], Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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Ng TM, Ang LW, Heng ST, Kwa ALH, Wu JE, Seah XFV, Lee SY, Seah J, Choo R, Lim PL, Thoon KC, Chlebicki MP, Somani J, Lee TH, Lye DC. Antibiotic utilisation and resistance over the first decade of nationally funded antimicrobial stewardship programmes in Singapore acute-care hospitals. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2023; 12:82. [PMID: 37612738 PMCID: PMC10464409 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-023-01289-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe the time series of broad-spectrum antibiotic utilisation and incidence of antibiotic-resistant organisms during the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASP) in Singapore. METHODS An observational study was conducted using data from 2011 to 2020 in seven acute-care public hospitals. We applied joinpoint regressions to investigate changes in antibiotic utilisation rate and incidence density of antibiotic-resistant organisms. RESULTS Across the seven hospitals, quarterly broad-spectrum antibiotic utilisation rate remained stable. Half-yearly incidence density of antibiotic-resistant organisms with two joinpoints at first half (H1) of 2012 and second half (H2) of 2014 decreased significantly in the second and third period with a half-yearly percentage change (HPC) of -2.9% and - 0.5%, respectively. Across the five hospitals with complete data, half-yearly broad-spectrum antibiotic utilisation rate with one joinpoint decreased significantly from H1 of 2011 to H2 of 2018 (HPC - 4.0%) and H2 of 2018 to H2 2020 (HPC - 0.5%). Incidence density of antibiotic-resistant organisms decreased significantly in the two joinpoint periods from H1 of 2012 to H2 of 2014 (HPC - 2.7%) and H2 of 2014 to H2 of 2020 (HPC - 1.0%). Ceftriaxone with one joinpoint decreased significantly from H1 of 2011 to H1 of 2014 (HPC - 6.0%) and H1 of 2014 to H2 of 2020 (HPC - 1.8%) and ceftriaxone-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae decreased significantly in later periods, from H2 of 2016 to H2 of 2020 (HPC - 2.5%) and H1 of 2012 to H2 of 2015 (HPC - 4.6%) respectively. Anti-pseudomonal antibiotics with one joinpoint decreased significantly from H1 of 2011 to H2 of 2014 (HPC - 4.5%) and H2 of 2014 to H2 of 2020 (HPC - 0.8%) and that of quinolones with one joinpoint at H1 of 2015 decreased significantly in the first period. C. difficile with one joinpoint increased significantly from H1 of 2011 to H1 of 2015 (HPC 3.9%) and decreased significantly from H1 of 2015 to H2 of 2020 (HPC - 4.9%). CONCLUSIONS In the five hospitals with complete data, decrease in broad-spectrum antibiotic utilisation rate was followed by decrease in incidence density of antibiotic-resistant organisms. ASP should continue to be nationally funded as a key measure to combat antimicrobial resistance in acute care hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tat Ming Ng
- Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Li Wei Ang
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore
- Ministry of Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Andrea Lay-Hoon Kwa
- Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke- National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jia En Wu
- National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Robin Choo
- Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Poh Lian Lim
- Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore
- Ministry of Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Koh Cheng Thoon
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke- National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Jyoti Somani
- National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tau Hong Lee
- Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David C Lye
- Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore
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Chua AQ, Verma M, Azupardo K, Lota MM, Hsu LY, Legido-Quigley H. A Qualitative Study on the Policy Process and Development of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in Singapore. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1322. [PMID: 37627742 PMCID: PMC10451339 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12081322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The global public health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been accelerated by many interrelated factors spanning across One Health-human health, animal health, and the environment. Singapore launched its own National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP) on AMR in November 2017 with the aim of tackling the growing threat of AMR in Singapore through coordinated approaches. However, little is known about the policy process and development of the NSAP in Singapore. In this study, we analysed these aspects using an AMR governance framework. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 participants across the One Health spectrum. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Areas that were well executed included (1) good coordination across various agencies, (2) a dedicated office to coordinate the work on the NSAP, and (3) a high level of governmental support. Areas that were lacking included (1) a lack of participation from certain sectors, (2) insufficient awareness around the AMR issue, (3) constraints in information sharing, and (4) a lack of ideal indicators to track the progress in addressing AMR. Improvements in these areas will provide a more holistic One Health engagement in support of the effective planning and implementation of the NSAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin Qijia Chua
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549, Singapore; (M.V.); (L.Y.H.); (H.L.-Q.)
| | - Monica Verma
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549, Singapore; (M.V.); (L.Y.H.); (H.L.-Q.)
| | - Karen Azupardo
- College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, 625 Pedro Gil St, Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines; (K.A.); (M.M.L.)
| | - Maria Margarita Lota
- College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, 625 Pedro Gil St, Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines; (K.A.); (M.M.L.)
| | - Li Yang Hsu
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549, Singapore; (M.V.); (L.Y.H.); (H.L.-Q.)
| | - Helena Legido-Quigley
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549, Singapore; (M.V.); (L.Y.H.); (H.L.-Q.)
- The George Institute for Global Health UK, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane White City, London W12 0BZ, UK
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Koh SWC, Ng TSM, Loh VWK, Goh JC, Low SH, Tan WZ, Wong HC, Durai P, Sun LJ, Young D, Tambyah PA. Antibiotic treatment failure of uncomplicated urinary tract infections in primary care. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2023; 12:73. [PMID: 37528415 PMCID: PMC10394943 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-023-01282-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Higher resistance rates of > 20% have been noted in Enterobacteriaceae urinary isolates towards ciprofloxacin and co-trimoxazole (C + C) in Singapore, compared with amoxicillin-clavulanate and nitrofurantoin (AC + N). This study examined if treatment failure varied between different antibiotics, given different resistant rates, for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) managed in primary care. We also aimed to identify gaps for improvement in diagnosis, investigations, and management. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted from 2019 to 2021 on female patients aged 18-50 with uncomplicated UTIs at 6 primary care clinics in Singapore. ORENUC classification was used to exclude complicated UTIs. Patients with uncomplicated UTIs empirically treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate, nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin or co-trimoxazole were followed-up for 28 days. Treatment failure was defined as re-attendance for symptoms and antibiotic re-prescription, or hospitalisation for UTI complications. After 2:1 propensity score matching in each group, modified Poisson regression and Cox proportional hazard regression accounting for matched data were used to determine risk and time to treatment failure. RESULTS 3194 of 4253 (75.1%) UTIs seen were uncomplicated, of which only 26% were diagnosed clinically. Urine cultures were conducted for 1094 (34.3%) uncomplicated UTIs, of which only 410 (37.5%) had bacterial growth. The most common organism found to cause uncomplicated UTIs was Escherichia coli (64.6%), with 92.6% and 99.4% of isolates sensitive to amoxicillin-clavulanate and nitrofurantoin respectively. Treatment failure occurred in 146 patients (4.57%). Among 1894 patients treated with AC + N matched to 947 patients treated with C + C, patients treated with C + C were 50% more likely to fail treatment (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.10-2.01), with significantly higher risk of experiencing shorter time to failure (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.12-2.33), compared to patients treated with AC + N. CONCLUSION Treatment failure rate was lower for antibiotics with lower reported resistance rates (AC + N). We recommend treating uncomplicated UTIs in Singapore with amoxicillin-clavulanate or nitrofurantoin, based on current local antibiograms. Diagnosis, investigations and management of UTIs remained sub-optimal. Future studies should be based on updating antibiograms, highlighting its importance in guideline development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sky Wei Chee Koh
- National University Polyclinics, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Tracy Si Min Ng
- Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- Emergency Department, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Victor Weng Keong Loh
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jun Cong Goh
- National University Polyclinics, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Si Hui Low
- National University Polyclinics, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei Zhi Tan
- National University Polyclinics, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hung Chew Wong
- Biostatistics Unit, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pradeep Durai
- Division of Urology, Department of General Surgery, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Louisa Jin Sun
- Infectious Diseases, Alexandra Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Doris Young
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Paul Anantharajah Tambyah
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Division of Infectious Disease, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
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Chua AQ, Verma M, Villanueva SYA, Roxas E, Hsu LY, Legido-Quigley H. A Qualitative Study on the Implementation of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in Singapore. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1258. [PMID: 37627680 PMCID: PMC10451196 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12081258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat that affects humans, animals, and the environment across the One Health spectrum. Singapore launched its own National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP) on AMR in 2017 with the aim of tackling the growing threat of AMR in Singapore through coordinated approaches. However, little is known about the implementation of the NSAP. In this study, we analysed the implementation of the NSAP with guidance from an AMR governance framework. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 participants across the One Health spectrum. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Overall, the implementation of activities against AMR was more advanced with respect to human health compared to other sectors such as (1) AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) surveillance systems in hospitals; (2) the hospital antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) service and legislation to optimise AMU; (3) the national children and adults vaccination programme for IPC; (4) multiple avenues for education and awareness for both professionals and public; and (5) extensive research and collaboration networks with many sources of funding. Areas that were lacking presented problems including (1) an incomplete surveillance system for AMR and AMU across all sectors; (2) the need for better AMS and legislation in some sectors; (3) insufficient innovation in education for sustained behavioural modification; and (4) the need for more open research collaborations and the translation of research into policy outcomes. Improvements in these areas will enhance the overall implementation of the NSAP through a more holistic One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin Qijia Chua
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore; (M.V.); (L.Y.H.); (H.L.-Q.)
| | - Monica Verma
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore; (M.V.); (L.Y.H.); (H.L.-Q.)
| | | | - Evalyn Roxas
- College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, 625 Pedro Gil St, Manila 1000, Philippines; (S.Y.A.V.); (E.R.)
| | - Li Yang Hsu
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore; (M.V.); (L.Y.H.); (H.L.-Q.)
| | - Helena Legido-Quigley
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore; (M.V.); (L.Y.H.); (H.L.-Q.)
- The George Institute for Global Health UK, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane White City, London W12 0BZ, UK
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Koh SWC, Lee VME, Low SH, Tan WZ, Valderas JM, Loh VWK, Sundram M, Hsu LY. Prescribing Antibiotics in Public Primary Care Clinics in Singapore: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12040762. [PMID: 37107127 PMCID: PMC10135213 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12040762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibiotic prescription practices in primary care in Singapore have received little scholarly attention. In this study, we ascertained prescription prevalence and identified care gaps and predisposing factors. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on adults (>21 years old) at six public primary care clinics in Singapore. Prescriptions >14 days were excluded. Descriptive statistics were used to showcase the prevalence data. We used chi-square and logistic regression analyses to identify the factors affecting care gaps. RESULTS A total of 141,944 (4.33%) oral and 108,357 (3.31%) topical antibiotics were prescribed for 3,278,562 visits from 2018 to 2021. There was a significant reduction in prescriptions (p < 0.01) before and after the pandemic, which was attributed to the 84% reduction in prescriptions for respiratory conditions. In 2020 to 2021, oral antibiotics were most prescribed for skin (37.7%), genitourinary (20.2%), and respiratory conditions (10.8%). Antibiotic use in the "Access" group (WHO AWaRe classification) improved from 85.6% (2018) to 92.1% (2021). Areas of improvement included a lack of documentation of reasons for antibiotic use, as well as inappropriate antibiotic prescription for skin conditions. CONCLUSION There was a marked reduction in antibiotic prescriptions associated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further studies could address the gaps identified here and evaluate private-sector primary care to inform antibiotic guidelines and the local development of stewardship programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sky Wei Chee Koh
- National University Polyclinics, National University Health System, Singapore 609606, Singapore
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Vivien Min Er Lee
- National University Polyclinics, National University Health System, Singapore 609606, Singapore
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Si Hui Low
- National University Polyclinics, National University Health System, Singapore 609606, Singapore
| | - Wei Zhi Tan
- National University Polyclinics, National University Health System, Singapore 609606, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - José María Valderas
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Victor Weng Keong Loh
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Meena Sundram
- National University Polyclinics, National University Health System, Singapore 609606, Singapore
| | - Li Yang Hsu
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore
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Chan KS, Junnarkar SP, Low JK, Huey CWT, Shelat VG. Aging is Associated with Prolonged Hospitalisation Stay in Pyogenic Liver Abscess-A 1:1 Propensity Score Matched Study in Elderly Versus Non-Elderly Patients. Malays J Med Sci 2022; 29:59-73. [PMID: 36474543 PMCID: PMC9680999 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2022.29.5.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mortality of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is high ranging 10%-40%. Old age predicts outcomes in many diseases but there is paucity of data on PLA outcomes. We aim to compare the morbidity and mortality between elderly and non-elderly in PLA. METHODS This is a retrospective study from 2007-2011 comparing elderly (≥ 65 years old) and non-elderly (< 65 years old) with PLA. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. Baseline clinical profile and outcomes were compared. RESULTS There were 213 patients (elderly patients = 90 [42.3%], non-elderly patients = 123 [57.7%]). Overall median age is 62 (interquartile range [IQR] = 53-74) years old. PSM resulted in 102 patients (51 per arm). Length of hospitalisation stay (LOS) was significantly longer in elderly patients in both unmatched (16 [IQR = 10-24.5] versus 11 [IQR = 8-19] days; P < 0.001) and matched cohorts (17 [IQR = 13-27] versus 11 [IQR = 7-19] days; P = 0.001). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in elderly patients in the unmatched cohort (elderly patients = 21.1%, non-elderly patients = 7.3%; P = 0.003) but was insignificant following PSM (elderly patients = 15.7%, non-elderly patients = 9.8%; P = 0.219). Duration of antibiotic therapy and need for percutaneous drainage (PD) were comparable before and after PSM. CONCLUSION Age ≥ 65 years old is associated with longer LOS. In-hospital mortality though higher in elderly patients, was not statistically significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Siang Chan
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | | | - Jee Keem Low
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | | | - Vishal G Shelat
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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Chan KS, Shelat VG. Klebsiella pneumoniae Bacteremia is Associated with Higher Mortality in Acute Calculous Cholangitis as Compared to Escherichia coli Bacteremia. World J Surg 2022; 46:1678-1685. [PMID: 35419623 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-022-06559-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute cholangitis (AC) is a potentially life-threatening infection involving the biliary system. The two commonest bacteria involved are Escherichia coli (EC) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP). Microbiology is a prognostic factor for several pathologies but not for AC. We aim to investigate clinical outcomes between KP bacteremia vs. EC bacteremia in AC. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with calculous AC (January-December 2016). Study outcomes include the length of hospitalization stay, in-hospital mortality, 30-day, and 90-day mortality. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to establish correlations. RESULTS We included 141 patients (KP (n = 29), EC (n = 112)) with overall median age of 82.2 and similar gender distribution. Most patients had Grade II AC (n = 59, 41.8%). Patient demographics were comparable. KP bacteremia had lower median platelet count (KP:168 × 109/L vs. EC:200 × 109/L; p = 0.025). Overall 30-day and 90-day mortality were 9.2 and 10.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed KP bacteremia had higher 30-day (Odds ratio (OR) 6.09, (95% Confidence Interval (CI):1.27-29.10), p = 0.024) and 90-day mortality (OR 6.10, 95% CI: 1.39-26.76, p = 0.017). The length of hospitalization stay was comparable. Subgroup analysis of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram patients showed comparable outcomes. CONCLUSION KP bacteremia is associated with lower platelet count and higher 30-day and 90-day mortality than EC. More studies are required to establish if inferior outcomes of KP bacteremia are associated with antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Siang Chan
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore
| | - Vishal G Shelat
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore.
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Charles FR, Lim JX, Chen H, Goh SG, He Y, Gin KYH. Prevalence and characterization of antibiotic resistant bacteria in raw community sewage from diverse urban communities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 825:153926. [PMID: 35217051 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Community sewage is a useful medium for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance of populations residing in urban dwellings as it provides the resolution of tracking sources of AMR from different waste streams within a community. Antibiotic resistance profiles of 4 opportunistic pathogens were compared from 3 sewage sources: raw community sewage from 2 housing estates, a foreign workers dormitory and a pet centre. Sewage was collected from receiving manholes and a culture-based method was used to quantify opportunistic pathogens Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus spp. K. pneumoniae was the most prevalent opportunistic pathogen detected while P. aeruginosa was the least abundant across the sample. A total of 892 bacterial isolates were selected for antibiotic susceptibility testing using the VITEKⓇ 2 Compact System (bioMérieux, Singapore). E. coli isolated from the pet centre exhibited higher resistance towards all 16 antibiotics tested, and P. aeruginosa showed at least 75% resistance towards the classes of antibiotics, except for carbapenems, aminoglycosides and quinolones (below 30%). For K. pneumoniae, resistance towards the classes of antibiotics was below 10%, except for penicillin and nitrofurans. Enterococcus spp. had high resistance towards gentamicin and clindamycin (both almost 100%), while resistance towards vancomycin was below 18% for all 4 locations. Multidrug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa and Enterococcus spp. showed the highest prevalence with percentages above 96%. MDR E. coli and MDR K. pneumoniae was lower, ranging between 9% to 54% and 8% to 23% respectively. Highest prevalence of MDR E. coli and K. pneumoniae were detected in the pet centre, with a percentage of 54% and 23% respectively. These results show that wastewater based surveillance is not only a useful method of understanding emerging trends of AMR across the community but also provides the resolution of capturing AMR data from key sewage sources based on population demographics. This information could provide a basis for devising better control measures to mitigate the spread of MDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Rathinam Charles
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building, 5A Engineering Drive 1, 117411, Singapore
| | - Jit Xin Lim
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building, 5A Engineering Drive 1, 117411, Singapore
| | - Hongjie Chen
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building, 5A Engineering Drive 1, 117411, Singapore
| | - Shin Giek Goh
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building, 5A Engineering Drive 1, 117411, Singapore
| | - Yiliang He
- Rm.427, China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 3 Yinlian Road, Lingang, Shanghai, China
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building, 5A Engineering Drive 1, 117411, Singapore; Energy and Environmental Sustainability Solutions for Megacities (E2S2), Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602, Singapore.
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10
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Ng WHW, Chew KL, Yong JHY, Li JX. Impact of antibiotic susceptibility reporting on broad spectrum antibiotic use in serratia and morganella bacteremia. J Chemother 2022; 34:311-318. [PMID: 35193457 DOI: 10.1080/1120009x.2022.2044238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
To minimize broad-spectrum antibiotic use, our microbiology laboratory changed antibiotic susceptibility reporting for AmpC-beta-lactamase producing Serratia marcescens and Morganella morganii in blood cultures to include results of narrow spectrum 3rd generation cephalosporins. We assessed the impact of this change on broad-spectrum antibiotic use and clinical outcomes. All adult patients with Serratia marcescens or Morganella morganii in blood culture 2 years pre- and post-change of susceptibility reporting were retrospectively reviewed. Exclusion: more than one pathogen isolated in their blood culture, did not receive antibiotics or died within 48 hours of positive blood culture. Outcomes: Rates of broad-spectrum antibiotic use, in-hospital mortality, clinical response and microbiologic success. There were 30 patients pre-change and 46 patients post-change of reporting. Cefepime use (broad-spectrum) decreased from 46.7% to 6.5% (p < 0.001) and 3rd generation cephalosporin (narrow-spectrum) use increased (3.3% vs 34.8%, p = 0.0013) in the post-change cohort. This demonstrates the potential role of selective susceptibility reporting in antimicrobial stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Hui Wen Ng
- Department of Pharmacy, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ka Lip Chew
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Microbiology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joy Hui Yan Yong
- Department of Pharmacy, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Janice Xuanhui Li
- Department of Pharmacy, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
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11
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Cai Y, Hoo GSR, Lee W, Tan BH, Yoong J, Teo YY, Graves N, Lye D, Kwa AL. Estimating the economic cost of carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales healthcare associated infections in Singapore acute-care hospitals. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0001311. [PMID: 36962882 PMCID: PMC10021918 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Quantifying the costs of hospital associated infections (HAIs) caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) can aid hospital decision makers in infection prevention and control decisions. We estimate the costs of a CRE HAI by infection type and the annual costs of CRE HAIs to acute-care hospitals in Singapore. We used tree diagrams to estimate the costs (in Singapore dollar) of different CRE HAI types from the health service perspective and compared them to the costs of carbapenem-susceptible HAIs. We used two approaches to estimate costs-direct costs of consumables for infection prevention and treatment; and costs associated with lost bed days. Cost of a HAI were extrapolated to annual CRE HAI incidence in Singapore acute-care hospitals to estimate the annual cost to the hospitals. We found that the cost of a CRE HAI based on direct cost and lost bed days are SGD$9,913 (95% CI, SGD$9,431-10,395) and SGD$10,044 (95% CI, SGD$9,789-10,300) respectively. CRE HAIs are markedly higher than the carbapenem-susceptible HAIs for all infection types. In both approaches, CRE pneumonia was the costliest infection. Based on a CRE HAI incidence of 233 per 100,000 inpatient admissions, CRE HAIs costed SGD$12.16M (95% CI, SGD$11.84-12.48M) annually based on direct costs, and SGD$12.33M (95% CI, SGD$12.01-12.64M) annually based on lost bed days. In conclusion, we described the cost of CRE HAIs in Singapore hospitals and identified infections with the highest costs. The findings may be useful in informing future economic evaluations of competing CRE HAI prevention and treatment programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiying Cai
- Programme in Health Services & Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Grace S R Hoo
- Department of Pharmacy, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Winnie Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ban Hock Tan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joanne Yoong
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Research for Impact, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yik-Ying Teo
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicholas Graves
- Programme in Health Services & Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Lye
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea L Kwa
- Department of Pharmacy, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Singhealth Duke-NUS Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
- Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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12
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Wong LH, Tay E, Heng ST, Guo H, Kwa ALH, Ng TM, Chung SJ, Somani J, Lye DCB, Chow A. Hospital Pharmacists and Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Qualitative Analysis. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10121441. [PMID: 34943655 PMCID: PMC8698014 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10121441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) in hospitals are predominantly led by specific ASP physicians and pharmacists. Limited studies have been conducted to appreciate non-ASP-trained hospital pharmacists' perspectives on their roles in antimicrobial stewardship. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 74 pharmacists, purposively sampled from the 3 largest acute-care public hospitals in Singapore, to explore facilitators and barriers faced by them in antimicrobial stewardship. Applied thematic analysis was conducted and codes were categorised using the social-ecological model (SEM). At the intrapersonal level, pharmacists identified themselves as reviewers for drug safety before dispensing, confining to a restricted advisory role due to lack of clinical knowledge, experience, and empowerment to contribute actively to physicians' prescribing decisions. At the interpersonal level, pharmacists expressed difficulties conveying their opinions and recommendations on antibiotic therapy to physicians despite frequent communications, but they assumed critical roles as educators for patients and their caregivers on proper antibiotic use. At the organisational level, in-house antibiotic guidelines supported pharmacists' antibiotic interventions and recommendations. At the community level, pharmacists were motivated to improve low public awareness and knowledge on antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance. These findings provide important insights into the gaps to be addressed in order to harness the untapped potential of hospital pharmacists and fully engage them in antimicrobial stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lok Hang Wong
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Office of Clinical Epidemiology, Analytics, and Knowledge, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore; (L.H.W.); (E.T.); (H.G.)
| | - Evonne Tay
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Office of Clinical Epidemiology, Analytics, and Knowledge, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore; (L.H.W.); (E.T.); (H.G.)
- Infectious Disease Research and Training Office, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore 308443, Singapore;
| | - Shi Thong Heng
- Department of Pharmacy, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore; (S.T.H.); (T.M.N.)
| | - Huiling Guo
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Office of Clinical Epidemiology, Analytics, and Knowledge, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore; (L.H.W.); (E.T.); (H.G.)
| | - Andrea Lay Hoon Kwa
- Department of Pharmacy, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608, Singapore;
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Tat Ming Ng
- Department of Pharmacy, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore; (S.T.H.); (T.M.N.)
| | - Shimin Jasmine Chung
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608, Singapore;
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Jyoti Somani
- Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore;
| | - David Chien Boon Lye
- Infectious Disease Research and Training Office, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore 308443, Singapore;
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Angela Chow
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Office of Clinical Epidemiology, Analytics, and Knowledge, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore; (L.H.W.); (E.T.); (H.G.)
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +65-6357-7477; Fax: +65-6357-7957
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13
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Lim JM, Duong MC, Cook AR, Hsu LY, Tam CC. Public knowledge, attitudes and practices related to antibiotic use and resistance in Singapore: a cross-sectional population survey. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e048157. [PMID: 34518255 PMCID: PMC8438872 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The WHO's Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) includes increasing overall public awareness of appropriate antibiotic use and resistance as a key priority area. We aimed to measure public knowledge, attitudes and practices of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in Singapore, as well as their healthcare-seeking behaviours relating to respiratory illnesses, providing baseline data against which to measure the progress of future interventions. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. SETTING The general population in Singapore. PARTICIPANTS Between May and June 2019, we conducted a survey via an online panel in Singapore with 706 respondents. RESULTS Our findings indicated common misconceptions surrounding antibiotic effectiveness and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance-most participants thought that resistance occurs when our bodies become resistant to antibiotics (62.5%) or when antibiotics become less powerful (48.5%). In multivariable analyses, better knowledge scores were associated with more favourable antibiotic attitudes (β=0.29; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.37). In addition, more favourable attitude scores were associated with lower odds of both expecting (OR: 0.84, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.99) and being prescribed antibiotics by a primary care doctor (OR: 0.76, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.90). CONCLUSIONS This study presents important information about population perceptions towards antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in Singapore. Results from this study emphasise the importance of effective public communication strategies to promote responsible antibiotic use locally and should be used to inform future implementation of programmes and activities as laid out in Singapore's National Strategic Action Plan on AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane M Lim
- National University Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Singapore
- National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Minh Cam Duong
- National University Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Singapore
- National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Alex R Cook
- National University Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Singapore
- National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Li Yang Hsu
- National University Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Singapore
- National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Clarence C Tam
- National University Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Singapore
- National University Health System, Singapore
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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14
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Wang Y, Dai Y, Yang J, Zhou H, Chen Z, Li G. A survey of Chinese pharmacists participating in anti-infective therapy and its related information technology support. J Clin Pharm Ther 2020; 45:707-714. [PMID: 32403187 DOI: 10.1111/jcpt.13152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE Anti-infective therapy is the major daily work for most clinical pharmacists in China, and information technology (IT) support for them is very important. However, the current situation of pharmacists' roles in anti-infective therapy and related IT support are seldom reported. The aim of the study was to investigate the current situation of pharmacists participating in anti-infective therapy and the corresponding hospital IT support, which may help identify and solve related problems and facilitate pharmacists to play better roles. METHODS A 15-item questionnaire was distributed online to clinical pharmacists from Chinese hospitals. Pharmacists answered the questions on the WeChat platform. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A total of 272 valid questionnaires were returned, and the respondents were from 27 provinces (or autonomous regions or municipalities) of China covering over 15 specialties. Most of the respondents (76.1%) were from tertiary hospitals and 72.4% of all the respondents participated in anti-infective therapy. They mainly performed drug selection (95.4%), dose adjustment (88.8%) and adverse drug reaction monitoring (84.8%) for anti-infective therapy, in ways such as consultation (71.1%), drug consult (86.3%) and prescription evaluation (88.8%). Most pharmacists (93.0%) thought that the modules of anti-infective therapy in hospital IT system needed to be advanced, in the aspects of doctor-pharmacist interaction, convenience for pharmacists to control drug expenses and integration of multi-functions for anti-infective therapy. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION The roles of Chinese clinical pharmacists in anti-infective therapy are becoming increasingly clear, and establishing smart, pharmacist-friendly and highly-integrated electronic interfaces will facilitate the establishment of pharmacist-driven anti-infective therapy team, thus improving work efficiency and user experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanting Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Dai
- Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyan Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Guohui Li
- Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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15
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Singh SR, Chua AQ, Tan ST, Tam CC, Hsu LY, Legido-Quigley H. Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in Singapore: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Policy Context, Challenges, Facilitators, and Proposed Strategies. Antibiotics (Basel) 2019; 8:E201. [PMID: 31671826 PMCID: PMC6963657 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics8040201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat that warrants urgent attention. However, the multifaceted nature of AMR often complicates the development and implementation of comprehensive policies. In this study, we describe the policy context and explore experts' perspectives on the challenges, facilitators, and strategies for combating AMR in Singapore. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 participants. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed thematically, adopting an interpretative approach. Participants reported that the Ministry of Health (MOH) has effectively funded AMR control programs and research in all public hospitals. In addition, a preexisting One Health platform, among MOH, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (restructured to form the Singapore Food Agency and the Animal & Veterinary Service under NParks in April 2019), National Environment Agency, and Singapore's National Water Agency, was perceived to have facilitated the coordination and formulation of Singapore's AMR strategies. Nonetheless, participants highlighted that the success of AMR strategies is compounded by various challenges such as surveillance in private clinics, resource constraints at community-level health facilities, sub-optimal public awareness, patchy regulation on antimicrobial use in animals, and environmental contamination. This study shows that the process of planning and executing AMR policies is complicated even in a well-resourced country such as Singapore. It has also highlighted the increasing need to address the social, political, cultural, and behavioral aspects influencing AMR. Ultimately, it will be difficult to design policy interventions that cater for the needs of individuals, families, and the community, unless we understand how all these aspects interact and shape the AMR response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Rajkumar Singh
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore.
| | - Alvin Qijia Chua
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore.
| | - Sok Teng Tan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore.
| | - Clarence C Tam
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore.
| | - Li Yang Hsu
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore.
| | - Helena Legido-Quigley
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore.
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK.
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