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Pandey S, Wisniewski R, Morjaria S, Bianchi AL, Newman T, Tan C, Rosa WE, Finlayson CS. Factors Associated with Antimicrobial Use at the End-Of-Life Among Hospitalized Cancer Patients. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2024; 41:8-15. [PMID: 36812451 PMCID: PMC10442462 DOI: 10.1177/10499091231160185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Antimicrobials are frequently administered at end-of-life (EOL) and their non-beneficial use may subject patients to unnecessary harms. Studies analyzing factors for antimicrobial prescribing in solid tumor cancer patients at the EOL are lacking. Thus, we aimed to identify factors and patterns associated with antimicrobial use in hospitalized adults with cancer at EOL. Methods: We used a retrospective cohort design to review electronic medical records of terminal hospitalized patients ≥18 years with solid tumors admitted to non-intensive care units in a metropolitan comprehensive cancer center during 2019 and assessed antimicrobial use in the last 7 days of life. Results: Among 633 cancer patients, 59% (n = 376) received antimicrobials (AM+) within the last 7 days of life. AM + patients were older (P = .012), mostly of male gender (55%), and non-Hispanic ethnicity (87%). AM + patients were significantly more likely to have a foreign device, suspected signs of infection, neutropenia, positive blood culture result, documented advance directive; receive laboratory or radiologic testing, and a palliative care or infectious disease consultation (all P < .05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the presence of documented goals of care discussions, or EOL discussions/EOL care orders. Conclusion: Antimicrobial use at the EOL is common in solid tumor cancer patients at the EOL and is associated with increased utilization of invasive interventions. There is an opportunity for infectious disease specialists to build primary palliative care skills and partner with antimicrobial stewardship programs to better advise patients, decision makers, and primary teams on the use of antimicrobials at the EOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shila Pandey
- Supportive Care Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Renee Wisniewski
- Supportive Care Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sejal Morjaria
- Infectious Disease Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anabella Lucca Bianchi
- Infectious Disease Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Employee Health & Wellness Services, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tiffanny Newman
- Department of Strategy and Innovation, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carrie Tan
- Department of Pharmacy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - William E. Rosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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2
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Thomas D, Kamalumpundi V, Thampi A, Lockman K, Carter MB, Vidwan N, Broderick A. Antibiotic stewardship in Indian palliative care: a single-center retrospective study. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol 2023; 3:e196. [PMID: 38028900 PMCID: PMC10654949 DOI: 10.1017/ash.2023.468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Objective Characterize antibiotic prescribing behaviors at an Indian palliative care center after the initiation of the Antibiotic Order Form (AOF): an antibiotic stewardship program involving a paper form to track antibiotic use and to provide prescription guidelines. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS) is a palliative care organization in Kerala, India. Methods Antibiotic prescription data and patient data were collected for adult patients treated at TIPS between January 1, 2017, and October 31, 2019. Descriptive statistics and a Zero-Inflated Poisson regression model were used to analyze antibiotic prescriptions. AOF completion and prescription concordance with institutional guidelines were also evaluated. Results Out of 7,450 unique patients, 675 (9%) were prescribed 1,448 antibiotics. Age was the strongest factor in determining the number of antibiotic courses with each additional year of age decreasing the expected antibiotic prescription count by 2% per year. The most common antibiotics prescribed were topical metronidazole (44%) and penicillins (29%). Among patients who died, 5% were prescribed antibiotics within the final month of life. In total, 32% of antibiotic prescriptions were documented in AOFs, and 18% were concordant with all institutional antibiotic prescribing guidelines. Conclusions This study is the first to analyze an antibiotic stewardship intervention in a palliative care setting within a low- and middle-income country. This retrospective study provides a benchmark of antibiotic use within Indian palliative care and highlights areas for future stewardship research including topical metronidazole use within palliative care and higher rates of antibiotic use among younger palliative care patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Thomas
- University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mary B. Carter
- University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Navjyot Vidwan
- University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Ann Broderick
- Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Iowa City VA Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA
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3
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Baez Gonzalez J, Clark MD, Bruera E. Fluoroquinolone-Induced Seizure in a Patient Receiving End-of-Life Care: A Case Report. J Palliat Med 2023; 26:1590-1592. [PMID: 37319353 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
When caring for patients nearing the end of live (EOL), healthcare providers must carefully assess the potential benefits and drawbacks of common medical interventions, such as starting antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic use during this stage can be a challenging and multifaceted situation, encompassing important clinical, social, and ethical considerations. While physicians may be motivated to prescribe antibiotics to terminally ill patients in hopes of prolonging survival and alleviating symptoms, it's crucial to recognize that these drugs can have significant implications for individuals at the EOL. Factors like advanced age, frailty, and multiple medication use make these patients more vulnerable to adverse events caused by antibiotics. For instance, fluoroquinolones, a specific type of antibiotics, have been linked to central nervous system toxicity and neurological side effects, including seizures. Geriatric patients, who often have underlying risk factors, are particularly susceptible to fluoroquinolone-induced seizures. However, there have also been reports of otherwise healthy individuals experiencing seizures as a result of fluoroquinolone use. This report sheds light on the complexities associated with initiating antibiotic therapy in patients nearing the EOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joannis Baez Gonzalez
- Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew D Clark
- Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Eduardo Bruera
- Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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4
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Lee S, Datta R. Frontiers in antimicrobial stewardship: antimicrobial use during end-of-life care. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol 2023; 3:e164. [PMID: 38028928 PMCID: PMC10644156 DOI: 10.1017/ash.2023.207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Seohyuk Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rupak Datta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
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5
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Kwon MK, Jung KH, Choi S, Kim H, Woo CY, Lee M, Ji JG, Son HJ. Antibiotics use patterns in end-of-life cancer patients and medical staff's perception of antimicrobial stewardship programs. Korean J Intern Med 2023; 38:758-768. [PMID: 37586810 PMCID: PMC10493437 DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2023.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS While most cancer patients with end-of-life (EOL) care receive antibiotic treatments, antibiotic use should be decided appropriately considering the benefits, side effects, resistance, and cost effects. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) are important for patients with EOL care, but there is limited study analyzing actual antibiotic use in EOL care and the perceptions of Korean medical staff. METHODS Electronic medical records of 149 deceased cancer patients hospitalized in the medical hospitalist units at Asan Medical Center in Seoul from May 2019 to September 2021 were reviewed. Basic information, antibiotic use, duration, and changes were investigated. We surveyed medical staff's perceptions of antibiotics in cancer patients with EOL. RESULTS Of the 149 cancer patients with EOL care, 146 (98.0%) agreed with physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST). In total, 143 (95.9%) received antibiotics, 110 (76.9%) received combination antibiotic treatment, and 116 (81.1%) were given antibiotics until the day of death. In a survey of 60 medical staff, 42 (70.0%) did not know about ASP, and 24 (40.0%) thought ASP was important in EOL care. Nineteen doctors (31.7%) discussed the use or discontinuation of antibiotics with patients or caregivers when writing POLST, but only 8 patients (5.6%) stopped antibiotics after POLST. CONCLUSION Most cancer patients with EOL care continue to receive antibiotics until just before their death. A careful approach is needed, considering the benefits and side effects of antibiotic use, and the patient's right to self-decision. It is necessary to actively improve awareness of ASP and its importance for medical staff.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Kwan Kwon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Kyung Hwa Jung
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Uijeongbu,
Korea
| | - Sungim Choi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang,
Korea
| | - Hyeonjeong Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Chang-Yun Woo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Mingee Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Jeong Geun Ji
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Hyo-Ju Son
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Uijeongbu,
Korea
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6
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Kim JH, Yoo SH, Keam B, Heo DS. Antibiotic prescription patterns during last days of hospitalized patients with advanced cancer: the role of palliative care consultation. J Antimicrob Chemother 2023:7176305. [PMID: 37220755 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Issues regarding antibiotic use in end-of-life patients with advanced cancer present a challenging ethical dilemma in academic referral centres. This study aimed to investigate the role of palliative care consultation on antibiotic prescription patterns among hospitalized patients with advanced cancer during their last days of life. METHODS This retrospective cohort study included adult patients with metastatic solid cancer admitted to a tertiary referral hospital for at least 4 days and subsequently died and who were given antibiotics 4 days before death between January 2018 and December 2021. Patients were divided into palliative care consultation (PC) and non-consultation (non-PC) groups. The outcomes were the proportion of patients who received antibiotic combination treatment, antibiotic escalation and antibiotic de-escalation within 3 days of death. Propensity score analysis with the inverse probability of the treatment weighting method was used to compare the outcomes. RESULTS Among the 1177 patients enrolled, 476 (40.4%) received palliative care consultation and 701 (59.6%) did not. The PC group received considerably less antibiotic combination treatment (49.0% versus 61.1%, adjusted OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.53-0.90, P = 0.006) and antibiotic escalation (15.8% versus 34.8%, adjusted OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.30-0.57, P < 0.001) than the non-PC group. Additionally, the PC group reported significantly higher antibiotic de-escalation (30.7% versus 17.4%, adjusted OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.28-2.36, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Receiving palliative care consultation may minimize aggressive antibiotic prescription patterns in the last days of patients with advanced cancer in an academic referral centre setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Han Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Woman University College of Medicine, Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Shin Hye Yoo
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bhumsuk Keam
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Seog Heo
- Patient-Centered Clinical Research Coordinating Center, National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency, Seoul, Korea
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Wi YM, Kwon KT, Hwang S, Bae S, Kim Y, Chang HH, Kim SW, Cheong HS, Lee S, Jung DS, Sohn KM, Moon C, Heo ST, Kim B, Lee MS, Hur J, Kim J, Yoon YK. Use of Antibiotics Within the Last 14 Days of Life in Korean Patients: A Nationwide Study. J Korean Med Sci 2023; 38:e66. [PMID: 36880107 PMCID: PMC9988432 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial prescriptions for serious chronic or acute illness nearing its end stages raise concerns about the potential for futile use, adverse events, increased multidrug-resistant organisms, and significant patient and social cost burdens. This study investigated the nationwide situation of how antibiotics are prescribed to patients during the last 14 days of life to guide future actions. METHODS This nationwide multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted at 13 hospitals in South Korea from November 1 to December 31, 2018. All decedents were included in the study. Antibiotic use during the last two weeks of their lives was investigated. RESULTS A total of 1,201 (88.9%) patients received a median of two antimicrobial agents during the last two weeks of their lives. Carbapenems were prescribed to approximately half of the patients (44.4%) in the highest amount (301.2 days of therapy per 1,000 patient-days). Among the patients receiving antimicrobial agents, 63.6% were inappropriate and only 327 patients (27.2%) were referred by infectious disease specialists. The use of carbapenem (odds ratio [OR], 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-2.03; P = 0.006), underlying cancer (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.20-2.01, P = 0.047), underlying cerebrovascular disease (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.23-2.89, P = 0.004), and no microbiological testing (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.15-2.73; P = 0.010) were independent predictors for inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. CONCLUSION A considerable number of antimicrobial agents are administered to patients with chronic or acute illnesses nearing their end-of-life, a high proportion of which are prescribed inappropriately. Consultation with an infectious disease specialist, in addition to an antimicrobial stewardship program, may be necessary to induce the optimal use of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Mi Wi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Korea
| | - Ki Tae Kwon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
| | - Soyoon Hwang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Sohyun Bae
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yoonjung Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hyun-Ha Chang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Shin-Woo Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hae Suk Cheong
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Shinwon Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Dong Sik Jung
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Kyung Mok Sohn
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Chisook Moon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Sang Taek Heo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, Korea
| | - Bongyoung Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi Suk Lee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jian Hur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jieun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Kyung Yoon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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8
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Larnard J, Stead W, Branch-Elliman W. Considering Patient, Family, and Provider Goals and Expectations in a Rapidly Changing Clinical Context: A Framework for Antimicrobial Stewardship at the End of Life. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2023; 37:139-151. [PMID: 36805010 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic administration is often a part of end-of-life (EOL) care, including among patients who are not critically ill. Guideline-issuing bodies recommend that antimicrobial stewardship providers (ASPs) provide support to prescribers making decisions about whether or not to treat infections in this population. Relatively little is known about the rationale for antimicrobial prescribing during the EOL period in noncritical care settings, although patient and family preferences are often an influencing factor. The effectiveness of antimicrobials in improving quantity or quality of life in this population is unclear and likely context-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Larnard
- Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis Street, Suite GB, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Wendy Stead
- Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis Street, Suite GB, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Westyn Branch-Elliman
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, VA Boston Healthcare System, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
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Marra AR, Clore GS, Balkenende E, Goedken CC, Livorsi DJ, Goto M, Vaughan-Sarrazin MS, Broderick A, Perencevich EN. Association of entry into hospice or palliative care consultation during acute care hospitalization with subsequent antibiotic utilization. Clin Microbiol Infect 2023; 29:107.e1-107.e7. [PMID: 35931374 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to estimate antibiotic use during the last 6 months of life for hospitalized patients under hospice or palliative care and identify potential targets (i.e. time points) for antibiotic stewardship during the end-of-life period. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of nationwide Veterans Affairs (VA) patients who died between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019 and who had been hospitalized within 6 months prior to death. Data from the VA's integrated electronic medical record were collected, including demographics, comorbid conditions, and duration of inpatient antibiotics administered, along with outpatient antibiotics dispensed. A propensity score-matched cohort analysis was conducted to compare antibiotic use between hospitalized patients placed into palliative care or hospice matched to hospitalized patients not receiving palliative care or hospice. RESULTS There were 9808 and 40 796 propensity score-matched patient pairs in the hospice and palliative care groups, respectively. Within 14 days of placement or consultation, 41% (4040/9808) of hospice patients and 48% (19 735/40 796) of palliative care patients received at least one antibiotic, while 25% (2420/9808) matched nonhospice and 27% (10 991/40 796) matched nonpalliative care patients received antibiotics. Entry into hospice was independently associated with a 12% absolute increase in antibiotic prescribing, and entry into palliative care was associated with a 17% absolute increase during the 14 days post-entry vs. pre-entry period. DISCUSSION We observed that patients receiving end-of-life care had high levels of antibiotic exposure across this VA population, particularly during admissions when they received hospice or palliative care consultation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre R Marra
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA; Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Gosia S Clore
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Erin Balkenende
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Cassie Cunningham Goedken
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Daniel J Livorsi
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Michihiko Goto
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Mary S Vaughan-Sarrazin
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Ann Broderick
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Eli N Perencevich
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
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10
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Larnard J, Blackshear L, Lee MSL, Buss MK, Stead W. Perceptions and Reality of Antimicrobial Prescribing During the Transition to Comfort Measures Only at an Academic Medical Center. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 10:ofac692. [PMID: 36686640 PMCID: PMC9850271 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Little is known about antimicrobial prescribing when patient care is transitioned to comfort measures only (CMO). We used a multidisciplinary survey and retrospective cohort study to gain insight into antimicrobial prescribing in this population at an academic medical center to inform future antimicrobial stewardship interventions. Methods A survey focusing on antimicrobial prescribing during the transition to CMO was electronically distributed to providers in medical subspecialities and responses were compared across specialties. A retrospective chart review was performed of patients admitted to an academic medical center in 2020 who were on antimicrobials in the 48 hours prior to CMO. We investigated the percentage of patients who remained on antimicrobials after the transition to CMO and rationale for continuing antimicrobials. Results We received 113 survey responses (35% response rate). Forty-one percent of respondents indicated that they "sometimes" or "often" continued antimicrobials during the transition to CMO. Patient/family preference and symptom palliation were the most common factors cited by respondents when deciding whether to continue antimicrobials in this population. Of the 546 patient charts reviewed, 140 (26%) patients were alive 48 hours after CMO order, and 19 (14%) of those patients remained on antimicrobials. Five of 19 (26%) patients had documentation that antimicrobials were continued due to patient/family preference and 5 of 19 (26%) patients had documentation that antimicrobials were continued for palliation of symptoms. Conclusions Patient/family preference and symptom palliation are important factors in prescribing antimicrobials when patient care is transitioned to CMO. More evidence is needed regarding palliative benefits of antibiotics to inform provider discussions of benefits and harms of antimicrobial use in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Larnard
- Correspondence: Jeffrey Larnard, MD, Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite GB, Boston, MA 02215 ()
| | - Leslie Blackshear
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew Shou Lun Lee
- Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mary K Buss
- Department of Palliative Care, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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11
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Kim JH, Yoo SH, Keam B, Heo DS. The impact of palliative care consultation on reducing antibiotic overuse in hospitalized patients with terminal cancer at the end of life: a propensity score-weighting study. J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 78:302-308. [PMID: 36424671 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A substantial number of hospitalized patients with terminal cancer at the end-of-life phase receive antibiotics, even with imminent death. We evaluated the impact of palliative care consultation on antibiotic use in hospitalized patients with terminal cancer during the end-of-life phase. METHODS We identified adult patients with metastatic solid cancer who died at a tertiary medical centre in Seoul, Republic of Korea, following at least 4 days of hospitalization (January 2018-December 2020). Patients were divided into palliative and non-palliative care consultation groups. Propensity score-weighted, multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to compare the proportion of patients receiving antibiotics within 3 days before death between the two groups. RESULTS Among 1143 patients analysed, 940 (82.2%) received antibiotics within 3 days before death. The proportion of patients receiving antibiotics was significantly lower (propensity score-weighted P < 0.001) in the palliative care consultation group (344/468; 73.5%) than in the non-palliative care consultation group (596/675; 88.3%). The decrease in the proportion of patients receiving antibiotics in the palliative care consultation group was significant for a carbapenem (42.4% versus 22.4%; P < 0.001), a glycopeptide (23.3% versus 11.1%; P < 0.001) and a quinolone (30.5% versus 19.4%; P = 0.012). In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, receiving palliative care consultation (adjusted OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.33-0.65; P < 0.001) was independently associated with reduced antibiotic use during the end-of-life phase. CONCLUSIONS Palliative care consultation may reduce aggressive antibiotic use in hospitalized patients with terminal cancer during the end-of-life phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Han Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Woman University College of Medicine, Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Shin Hye Yoo
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bhumsuk Keam
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Seog Heo
- Patient-Centered Clinical Research Coordinating Center, National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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12
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Campoa E, Teixeira J, Luz P, Magalhaes J. End-of-Life Antibiotherapy: Factors Associated With Prescription. Cureus 2022; 14:e31634. [DOI: 10.7759/cureus.31634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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13
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Muacevic A, Adler JR. Factors That Influence the Prescription of Antibiotic Therapy at the End-of-Life: Construction and Validation of a Scale. Cureus 2022; 14:e31689. [PMID: 36561599 PMCID: PMC9764265 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.31689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION End-of-life care is frequently discussed in clinical practice. Non-beneficial treatments and the need for decision-making regarding therapeutic institutions are increasingly addressed. There are no guidelines regarding prescribing or de-prescribing antibiotic therapy at the end of life, which depends on clinical decisions. In this study, we developed a scale to assess the factors influencing clinicians' decisions when prescribing antimicrobial agents. METHODS This is a quantitative, exploratory, and descriptive study. After the literature review, the scale was constructed with an analysis of internal consistency and temporal stability. It was applied online together with a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire. Statistical analysis of the scale, its construction, and final validation were performed. RESULTS A total of 196 physicians participated in this study (76.5% female, 78.6% aged <40 years), 60.2% specialists, and 35.7% without palliative care training. Almost all of the participants (89.9%) reported having end-of-life care concerns with a high frequency. In this study, a scale was developed to assess factors associated with the prescription of antibiotic therapy in end-of-life patients. This scale revealed the presence of 3 factors: infection, patient/illness, and symptoms. Together, the three factors explain 57.4% of the clinician's decisions. The factors associated with symptoms were the most predominant in decision-making compared to those associated with infection. CONCLUSIONS Among the multiple factors that may influence the institution of antibiotic therapy at the end of life, symptomatic control is the most important factor.
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14
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Latuga NM, Grant PC, Levy K, Luczkiewicz DL. Treatment of Positive Urine Cultures at End-of-Life and the Effect on Terminal Delirium Management. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2022; 39:1014-1022. [PMID: 34889644 DOI: 10.1177/10499091211057848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The decision to initiate antibiotics in hospice patients that are very near end-of-life is a complex ethical and stewardship decision. Antibiotics may be ordered to improve urinary tract infection-related symptoms, such as delirium. However, infection symptoms may be managed using antipsychotics, antipyretics, antispasmodics, and analgesics instead. Currently, there are no studies that compare symptom management between those who receive antibiotics and those who do not. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients admitted to a hospice inpatient unit. Charts were included if the patient was admitted for delirium and had a Palliative Performance Scale score ≤40%, the urine culture was positive for organism growth, and the patient died while in the HIU. Clinical and demographic data was collected. Medication use was tallied for the 5 days prior to the date of death. Results: Sixty-one charts met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-five patients received antibiotics (ABX+) and 26 did not (ABX-). There was no difference in any medication consumption between groups during the 5 days prior to death. The ABX+ group died 8.2 days after obtaining the urine sample vs 6 days (P =0.046). The ABX+ group had more documented urinary tract-specific infection symptoms (66% vs 38%, P =0.042). More than half of antibiotic courses were discontinued prematurely. Conclusion: The results of this study do not show a difference in overall medication consumption between groups, which suggests that antibiotics may not help improve terminal delirium symptoms in those with a suspected urinary tract infection at end-of-life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pei C Grant
- Research Department, Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kathryn Levy
- Research Department, Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Planning and Research, 34276Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY, USA
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15
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Chiang JK, Kao YH. Factors associated with death places among elderly patients receiving home-based care. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e29630. [PMID: 35905239 PMCID: PMC9333526 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000029630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The quality of end-of-life (EOL) care for patients receiving home-based care is a critical issue for health care providers. Dying in a preferred place is recognized as a key EOL care quality indicator. We explore the factors associated with death at home or nursing facilities among elderly patients receiving home-based care. This retrospective study was based on a medical chart review between January 2018 and December 2019 of elderly patients. Multivariate analysis was conducted by fitting multiple logistic regression models with the stepwise variable selection procedure to explore the associated factors. The 205 elderly patients receiving home-based care were enrolled for analysis. The mean participant age was 84.2 ± 7.8 years. Multiple logistic regression indicated that significant factors for elderly home-based patients who died at home or nursing facilities were receiving palliative service (odds ratio [OR], 3.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-7.51; P = .007), symptoms of nausea or vomiting (OR, 5.38; 95% CI, 1.12-25.84; P = .036), fewer emergency department visits (OR, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.03-0.16; P < .001), and less intravenous third-generation cephalosporin use (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.03-0.75; P = .021) in the last month of life. Patients with dementia had a lower probability of dying at home or nursing facilities than patients with other diagnosis (OR, 0.34, 95% CI, 0.13-0.90; P = .030). Among elderly home-based patients, receiving palliative service, with nausea or vomiting, and fewer emergency department visits in the last month of life favored home or nursing facilities deaths. Practitioners should be aware of the factors with higher probabilities of dying at home and in nursing facilities. We suggested that palliative services need to be further developed and extended to ensure that patients with dementia can receive adequate EOL care at home and in nursing facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Kun Chiang
- Department of Family Medicine, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Yee-Hsin Kao
- Department of Family Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital (Managed by Show Chwan Medical Care Corporation), Tainan, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Yee-Hsin Kao, Department of Family Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital (Managed by Show Chwan Medical Care Corporation), 670 Chung Te Road, Tainan 70173, Taiwan (e-mail: )
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16
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Moen MK, Løhre ET, Jakobsen G, Thronæs M, Klepstad P. Antibiotic Therapy in Integrated Oncology and Palliative Cancer Care: An Observational Study. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14071602. [PMID: 35406374 PMCID: PMC8996984 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Approximately one-quarter of the patients with advanced cancer acutely admitted to the Palliative Care Unit at St. Olav’s University Hospital received intravenous antibiotics. We observed that physiological variables and paraclinical findings in patients with and without infections differed at admission but observed no differences in patient-reported outcome measures. Patients admitted for infection had no shorter life expectancy than patients without infections. We did not observe any difference in the prescription of antibiotics to patients with ongoing anti-cancer therapy (integrated pathway) compared to patients with no ongoing cancer therapy (palliative care pathway). This information increases the knowledge about the use of antibiotic therapy in palliative cancer care. Abstract Decision-making for antibiotic therapy in palliative cancer care implies avoiding futile interventions and to identify patients who benefit from treatment. We evaluated patient-reported outcome-measures (PROMs), physiological findings, and survival in palliative cancer care patients hospitalized with an infection. All acute admissions during one year, directly to a University Hospital unit that provided integrated services, were included. Serious infection was defined as a need to start intravenous antibiotics. PROMs, clinical and paraclinical variables, and survival were obtained. Sixty-two of 257 patients received intravenous antibiotic treatment. PROMs were generally similar in the infection group and the non-infection group, both in respect to intensities at admission and improvements during the stay. There were more physiological and paraclinical deviations at admission in patients in the infection group. These deviations improved during the stay. Survival was not poorer in the infection group compared to the non-infection group. Patients in integrated cancer care were as likely to be put on intravenous antibiotics but had longer survival. In integrated oncology and palliative cancer services, patients with an infection had similar outcomes as those without an infection. This argues that the use of intravenous antibiotics is appropriate in many patients admitted to palliative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Kjølberg Moen
- Clinic of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, St. Olav’s University Hospital, 7030 Trondheim, Norway;
- Correspondence:
| | - Erik Torbjørn Løhre
- Cancer Clinic, St. Olav’s University Hospital, 7030 Trondheim, Norway; (E.T.L.); (G.J.); (M.T.)
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU—Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gunnhild Jakobsen
- Cancer Clinic, St. Olav’s University Hospital, 7030 Trondheim, Norway; (E.T.L.); (G.J.); (M.T.)
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU—Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Morten Thronæs
- Cancer Clinic, St. Olav’s University Hospital, 7030 Trondheim, Norway; (E.T.L.); (G.J.); (M.T.)
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU—Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Pål Klepstad
- Clinic of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, St. Olav’s University Hospital, 7030 Trondheim, Norway;
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU—Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
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17
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Maciel MG, Fruitg M, Lawall RP, Maciel AT. Characterization of Antibiotic Use, Documented Infection and Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Palliative Care Patients Admitted to a Private Hospital in Brazil: A Retrospective, Cohort Study. Indian J Palliat Care 2021; 27:530-537. [PMID: 34898948 PMCID: PMC8655641 DOI: 10.25259/ijpc_112_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Antibiotic use in palliative care patients is a frequent dilemma. The benefits of their use in terms of quality of end-of-life care or survival improvement are not clear and the potential harm and futility of this practice not well established. Our aim was to characterise the prevalence of antibiotic use, documented infection and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) colonisation among palliative care patients admitted to a private hospital in Brazil. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of all palliative care patients admitted to our hospital during 1 year, including demographic characteristics, diagnosis of infectious disease at admission, antibiotic use during hospital stay, infectious agents isolated in cultures, documented MDRO colonisation and hospital mortality. Results: A total of 114 patients were included in the analysis. Forty-five (39%) were male and the median age was 83 years. About 78% of the patients had an infectious diagnosis at hospital admission and 80% of the patients not admitted with an infectious diagnosis used antibiotics during their stay, out of which a great proportion of large spectrum antibiotics. Previous MDRO colonisation and hospital mortality were similar between patients admitted with or without an infectious diagnosis. Conclusion: Infection is the leading cause of hospital admission in palliative care patients. However, antibiotics prescription is also very prevalent during hospital stay of patients not admitted with an infectious condition. Mortality is very high regardless of the initial reason for hospital admission. Therefore, the impact of multiple large spectrum antibiotics prescription and consequent significant cost burden should be urgently confronted with the real benefit to these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Graziele Maciel
- Department of Geriatric and Palliative Care, Hospital São Camilo Ipiranga, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mayra Fruitg
- Department of Geriatric and Palliative Care, Hospital São Camilo Ipiranga, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rebeca Pissolati Lawall
- Department of Geriatric and Palliative Care, Hospital São Camilo Ipiranga, São Paulo, Brazil
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18
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Lantz TL, Noble BN, McPherson ML, Tjia J, Colangeli HN, Ferris RE, Bearden DT, Furuno JP. Frequency and Characteristics of Patients Prescribed Antibiotics on Admission to Hospice Care. J Palliat Med 2021; 25:584-590. [PMID: 34818067 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2021.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Little is known about antibiotic prescribing on hospice admission despite known risks and limited evidence for potential benefits. Objective: To describe the frequency and characteristics of patients prescribed antibiotics on hospice admission. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: Adult (age ≥18 years) decedents of a national, for-profit hospice chain across 19 U.S. states who died between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019. Measures: The primary outcome was having an antibiotic prescription on hospice admission. Patient characteristics of interest were demographics, hospice referral location, hospice care location, census region, primary diagnosis, and infectious diagnoses on admission. We used multivariable logistic regression to quantify associations between study variables. Results: Among 66,006 hospice decedents, 6080 (9.2%) had an antibiotic prescription on hospice admission. Fluoroquinolones (22%) were the most frequently prescribed antibiotic class. Patients more likely to have an antibiotic prescription on hospice admission included those referred to hospice care from the hospital (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.29) compared with an assisted living facility, those receiving hospice care in a private home (aOR 3.85, 95% CI 3.50-4.24), nursing home (aOR 3.65, 95% CI 3.24-4.11), assisted living facility (aOR 4.04, 95% CI 3.51-4.64), or hospital (aOR 2.43, 95% CI 2.18-2.71) compared with inpatient hospice, and those with a primary diagnosis of liver disease (aOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.82-2.74) or human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) (aOR 3.89, 95% CI 2.27-6.66) compared with those without these diagnoses. Conclusions: Approximately 9% of hospice patients had an antibiotic prescription on hospice admission. Patients referred to hospice from a hospital, those receiving care in a noninpatient hospice facility, and those with liver disease or HIV/AIDS were more likely to have an antibiotic prescription. These results may inform future antimicrobial stewardship interventions among patients transitioning to hospice care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler L Lantz
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Brie N Noble
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Mary Lynn McPherson
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer Tjia
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worchester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hailey N Colangeli
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Ryan E Ferris
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - David T Bearden
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, Portland, Oregon, USA.,Department of Pharmacy Services, Oregon Health and Science University Hospitals and Clinics, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jon P Furuno
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Kates OS, Krantz EM, Lee J, Klaassen J, Morris J, Mezheritsky I, Sweet A, Tverdek F, Loggers ET, Pergam SA, Liu C. Association of Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment With Inpatient Antimicrobial Use at End of Life in Patients With Cancer. Open Forum Infect Dis 2021; 8:ofab361. [PMID: 34395710 PMCID: PMC8360239 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antimicrobial utilization at end of life is common, but whether advance directives correlate with usage is unknown. We sought to determine whether Washington State Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form completion or antimicrobial preferences documented therein correlate with subsequent inpatient antimicrobial prescribing at end of life. Methods This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of adult patients at a cancer center who died between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2019. We used negative binomial models adjusted for age, sex, and malignancy type to test the relationship between POLST form completion ≥30 days before death, antimicrobial preferences, and antimicrobial days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 inpatient-days in the last 30 days of life. Results Among 1295 eligible decedents with ≥1 inpatient-day during the last 30 days of life, 318 (24.6%) completed a POLST form. Of 318, 120 (37.7%) were completed ≥30 days before death, 35/120 (29.2%) specified limited antimicrobials, 55/120 (45.8%) specified full antimicrobial use, and 30/120 (25%) omitted antimicrobial preference. Eighty-three percent (1070/1295) received ≥1 inpatient antimicrobial. The median total and intravenous (IV) antimicrobial DOT/1000 inpatient-days were 1077 and 667. Patients specifying limited antimicrobials had significantly lower total antimicrobial DOT (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.68; 95% CI, 0.49-0.95; P = .02) and IV antimicrobial DOT (IRR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.38-0.86; P = .008) compared with those without a POLST. Conclusions Indicating a preference for limited antimicrobials on a POLST form ≥30 days before death may lead to less inpatient antimicrobial use in the last 30 days of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia S Kates
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Krantz
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Juhye Lee
- Department of Basic Sciences and Computational Biology Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - John Klaassen
- Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jessica Morris
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Ania Sweet
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Frank Tverdek
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth T Loggers
- Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Division of Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Steven A Pergam
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Catherine Liu
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington, USA
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20
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospice patients are frequently confronted with potentially infectious complications necessitating antibiotic consideration. Information regarding the appropriate use of antibiotics and their impact on symptom management in hospice patients are unknown. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate and describe the use of an antibiotic initiation tool in patients admitted to outpatient hospice services. The primary outcome assessed the percentage of antibiotics that were appropriately initiated based on Loeb's Minimum Criteria (LMC) for Antibiotic Initiation Tool. Secondary outcomes included the number of patients with documented symptom resolution following antibiotic completion, the number of antibiotic courses that were successfully completed, and treatment-related adverse events. METHODS This was a retrospective, multisite, descriptive analysis of hospice patients treated with antibiotics between April 2019 and September 2020. RESULTS Two hundred and thirty patients were assessed for inclusion, with 172 meeting eligibility criteria and receiving a total of 201 antibiotic courses. Based on LMC, 84 of the 201 (42%) antibiotics ordered were appropriate, with 60% of these LMC-approved courses resulting in symptom resolution. Out of 201 total courses, 99 (49%) resulted in symptom resolution. Overall, 160 (80%) antibiotic courses were successfully completed. CONCLUSION In this study, antibiotic initiation in hospice patients frequently did not meet LMC. Less than half of the antibiotics prescribed led to symptom resolution despite antibiotic course completion in most patients. There is no consensus or guidelines directing appropriate antibiotic decision-making in hospice patients. The appropriate use of antibiotics in terminally ill patients warrants additional research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Clark
- Pharmacy Clinical Programs, 4002The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zachery Halford
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, 4107Union University College of Pharmacy, Jackson, TN, USA
| | - Chris Herndon
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, 33140Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy, Edwardsville, IL, USA.,Department of Community and Family Medicine, St. Louis School of Medicine, Edwardsville, IL, USA
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21
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Datta R, Topal J, McManus D, Sanft T, Dembry LM, Morrison LJ, Quagliarello V, Juthani-Mehta M. Education needed to improve antimicrobial use during end-of-life care of older adults with advanced cancer: A cross-sectional survey. Palliat Med 2021; 35:236-241. [PMID: 32928066 DOI: 10.1177/0269216320956811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial use during end-of-life care of older adults with advanced cancer is prevalent. Factors influencing the decision to prescribe antimicrobials during end-of-life care are not well defined. AIM To evaluate factors influencing medicine subspecialists to prescribe intravenous and oral antimicrobials during end-of-life care of older adults with advanced cancer to guide an educational intervention. DESIGN 18-item single-center cross-sectional survey. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS Inpatient medicine subspecialists in 2018. RESULTS Of 186 subspecialists surveyed, 67 (36%) responded. Most considered withholding antimicrobials at the time of clinical deterioration during hospitalization (n = 54/67, 81%), viewed the initiation of additional intravenous antimicrobials as escalation of care (n = 44/67, 66%), and believed decision-making should involve patients or surrogates and providers (n = 64/67, 96%). Fifty-one percent (n = 30/59) of respondents who conducted advance care planning did not discuss antimicrobials. Barriers to discussing end-of-life antimicrobials included the potential to overwhelm patients or families, challenges of withdrawing antimicrobials, and insufficient training. CONCLUSIONS Although the initiation of additional intravenous antimicrobials was viewed as escalation of care, antimicrobials were not routinely discussed during advance care planning. Educational interventions that promote recognition of antimicrobial-associated adverse events, incorporate antimicrobial use into advance care plans, and offer communication simulation training around the role of antimicrobials during end-of-life care are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupak Datta
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Prevention Program, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jeffrey Topal
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Pharmacy Services, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Dayna McManus
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tara Sanft
- Yale Medical Oncology, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Louise Marie Dembry
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Prevention Program, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Laura J Morrison
- Palliative Care Program, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Manisha Juthani-Mehta
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
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22
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Morioka S, Mori M, Suzuki T, Yokomichi M, Hamano J, Morita T. Determinants of Physicians' Attitudes Toward the Management of Infectious Diseases in Terminally Ill Patients With Cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage 2020; 60:1109-1116.e2. [PMID: 32634472 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.06.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Antimicrobials are frequently prescribed to terminally ill patients with cancer; however, physicians' practice patterns regarding antimicrobial use vary widely. This study aimed to systematically identify factors that determine physicians' attitudes toward the management of infectious diseases in terminally ill patients with cancer. METHODS A nationwide cross-sectional survey involving 600 oncologists, 600 infectious diseases physicians, 600 palliative care physicians, and 220 home care physicians was conducted between November 2017 and January 2018. The primary endpoint was physicians' attitudes toward the management of infectious diseases in terminally ill patients with cancer with a few weeks of prognosis. Physicians' beliefs regarding management of infectious diseases as well as physician-perceived "good death" were also assessed (1 = strongly disagree to 6 = strongly agree). RESULTS There were 895 (44.3%) analyzable response, and average scores of physicians' attitudes ranged between 2.69 and 4.32. In total, 241 (27%; 95% CI = 24-30) to 691 (78%; 95% CI = 75-81) respondents showed proactive attitudes toward various infectious diseases management. In linear regression analysis, determinants of proactive attitudes included the following: physicians' belief that examination and treatment will improve quality of life and prognosis and reduce suffering (β = 0.32, t = 9.99, P = 0.00); greater physician-perceived importance on receiving enough treatment (β = 0.09, t = 2.88, P = 0.00) and less importance on dying a natural death (β = -0.07, t = -2.14, P = 0.03) for a "good death"; working at a tertiary care hospital (β = 0.16, t = 4.40, P = 0.00); and not being a home care physician (β = -0.20, t = -5.51, P = 0.00) or palliative care physician (β = -0.12, t = -3.64, P = 0.00). CONCLUSIONS Physicians have divergent attitudes toward the management of infectious diseases in terminally ill patients with cancer. Reflection by physicians on their own beliefs and perceptions regarding infectious disease management and a "good death" may help provide the best end-of-life care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinichiro Morioka
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Centre for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Masanori Mori
- Palliative Care Team, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Tomomi Suzuki
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Marika Yokomichi
- Seirei Hospice, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Jun Hamano
- Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Morita
- Palliative Care Team, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
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Fairweather J, Cooper L, Sneddon J, Seaton RA. Antimicrobial use at the end of life: a scoping review. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2020:bmjspcare-2020-002558. [PMID: 33257407 DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine antibiotic use in patients approaching end of life, in terms of frequency of prescription, aim of treatment, beneficial and adverse effects and contribution to the development of antimicrobial resistance. DESIGN Scoping review DATA SOURCES: An information scientist searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, The Cochrane library, PubMed Clinical Queries, NHS Evidence, Epistemonikos, SIGN, NICE, Google Scholar from inception to February 2019 for any study design including, but not limited to, randomised clinical trials, prospective interventional or observational studies, retrospective studies and qualitative studies. The search of Ovid MEDLINE was updated on the 10 June 2020. STUDY SELECTION Studies reporting antibiotic use in patients approaching end of life in any setting and clinicians' attitudes and behaviour in relation to antibiotic prescribing in this population DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers screened studies for eligibility; two reviewers extracted data from included studies. Data were analysed to describe antibiotic prescribing patterns across different patient populations, the benefits and adverse effects (for individual patients and wider society), the rationale for decision making and clinicians behaviours and attitudes to treatment with antibiotics in this patient group. RESULTS Eighty-eight studies were included. Definition of the end of life is highly variable as is use of antibiotics in patients approaching end of life. Prescribing decisions are influenced by patient age, primary diagnosis, care setting and therapy goals, although patients' preferences are not always documented or adhered to. Urinary and lower respiratory tract infections are the most commonly reported indications with outcomes in terms of symptom control and survival variably reported. Small numbers of studies reported on adverse events and antimicrobial resistance. Clinicians sometimes feel uncomfortable discussing antibiotic treatment at end of life and would benefit from guidelines to direct care. CONCLUSIONS Use of antibiotics in patients approaching the end of life is common although there is significant variation in practice. There are a myriad of intertwined biological, ethical, social, medicolegal and clinical issues associated with the topic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lesley Cooper
- Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group, Healthcare Improvement Scotland Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jacqueline Sneddon
- Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group, Healthcare Improvement Scotland Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Ho V, Chen C, Ho S, Hooi B, Chin LS, Merchant RA. Healthcare utilisation in the last year of life in internal medicine, young-old versus old-old. BMC Geriatr 2020; 20:495. [PMID: 33228566 PMCID: PMC7685638 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-020-01894-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With increasing cost of healthcare in our aging society, a consistent pain point is that of end-of-life care. It is particularly difficult to prognosticate in non-cancer patients, leading to more healthcare utilisation without improving quality of life. Additionally, older adults do not age homogenously. Hence, we seek to characterise healthcare utilisation in young-old and old-old at the end-of-life. Methods We conducted a single-site retrospective review of decedents under department of Advanced Internal Medicine (AIM) over a year. Young-old is defined as 65–79 years; old-old as 80 years and above. Data collected was demographic characteristics; clinical data including Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), FRAIL-NH and advance care planning (ACP); healthcare utilisation including days spent in hospital, hospital admissions, length of stay of terminal admission and clinic visits; and quality of end-of-life care including investigations and symptomatic control. Documentation was individually reviewed for quality of communication. Results One hundred eighty-nine older adult decedents. Old-old decedents were mostly females (63% vs. 42%, p = 0.004), higher CCI scores (7.7 vs 6.6, p = 0.007), similarly frail with lower polypharmacy (62.9% vs 71.9%, p = 0.01). ACP uptake was low in both, old-old 15.9% vs. young-old 17.5%. Poor prognosis was conveyed to family, though conversation did not result in moderating extent of care. Old-old had less healthcare utilisation. Adjusting for sex, multimorbidity and frailty, old-old decedents had 7.3 ± 3.5 less hospital days in their final year. Further adjusting for cognition and residence, old-old had 0.5 ± 0.3 less hospital admissions. When accounted for home care services, old-old spent 2.7 ± 0.8 less hospital days in their last admission. Conclusion There was high healthcare utilisation in older adults, but especially young-old. Enhanced education and goal-setting are needed in the acute care setting. ACP needs to be reinforced in acute care with further research to evaluate if it reduces unnecessary utilisation at end-of-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanda Ho
- Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Cynthia Chen
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sara Ho
- Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Benjamin Hooi
- Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Loo Swee Chin
- Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Reshma Aziz Merchant
- Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Marra AR, Puig-Asensio M, Balkenende E, Livorsi DJ, Goto M, Perencevich EN. Antibiotic use during end-of-life care: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2021; 42:523-9. [PMID: 33172507 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2020.1241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis measuring the burden of antibiotic use during end-of-life (EOL) care. METHODS We searched PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCO platform), and Embase (Elsevier platform), through July 2019 for studies with the following inclusion criteria in the initial analysis: antibiotic use in the EOL care patients (advanced dementia, cancer, organ failure, frailty or multi-morbidity). If the number of patients in palliative care consultation (PCC) was available, antibiotic use data were pooled to compare the proportion of patients who received antibiotics under PCC compared to those not receiving PCC. Random-effect models were used to obtain pooled mean differences, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 value. RESULTS Overall, 72 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review: 22 EOL studies included only patients with cancer; 17 studies included only patients with advanced dementia; and 33 studies included "mixed populations" of EOL patients. Although few studies reported antibiotic using standard metrics (eg, days of therapy), 48 of 72 studies (66.7%) reported antibiotic use in >50% of all patients. When the 3 studies that evaluated antibiotic use in PCC were pooled together, patients under PCC was more likely to receive antibiotics compared to patients not under PCC (pooled odds ratio, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.02-2.93). CONCLUSIONS Future studies are needed to evaluate the benefits and harms of using antibiotics for patients during EOL care in diverse patient populations.
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Chiba M, Negishi M, Miyagawa S, Suzuki S, Sasai E, Sugai K, Hagiwara S. Status and cost analysis of antimicrobial treatment of terminally ill patients with hematological malignancy in an acute hospital. J Infect Chemother 2020; 26:1288-1293. [PMID: 32830046 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2020.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Terminally ill patients with hematological malignancy tend to be treated aggressively. We aimed to clarify the status and costs of antimicrobial treatment of patients dying with hematological malignancies. METHODS This retrospective study was conducted in a Japanese acute hospital between September 2010 and August 2015. A total of 141 patients who stayed for 14 days or longer and died in the hospital were investigated. RESULTS The median patient age was 67 years (range, 22-93). Most patients were treated with antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents (98%, 75%, and 27% of the patients, respectively) in the last 14 days of their lives. The frequency of antibiotics used in the last 7 days did not differ from that of the week before. The median cost of antimicrobials was 245,000 JPY (2227 USD), which reflected 16% of the total medical costs spent over the last 14 days. A subgroup analysis of the patients according to care policy (aggressive care policy (A) and palliative care policy (P), respectively) showed that the total medical cost in group P in the last 7 days decreased from that of the preceding week; however, the cost of antimicrobials did not lessen even in the last 7 days. CONCLUSIONS Most patients dying with hematological malignancy were treated with a broad spectrum of antimicrobials. It appeared to be difficult to reduce, let alone discontinue antimicrobial treatment even in patients treated according to the palliative care policy. The optimal use of antibiotics for hematological patients in their end-of-life should be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyuki Chiba
- Department of Nursing, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miyako Negishi
- Department of Nursing, National Hospital Organization Saga Hospital, Saga, Japan
| | - Sanae Miyagawa
- Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Suzuki
- Hospital Information Management Office, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Emiko Sasai
- Department of Nursing, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunori Sugai
- Hospital Information Management Office, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shotaro Hagiwara
- Division of Hematology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Hematology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
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Lopez S, Vyas P, Malhotra P, Finuf K, Magalee C, Nouryan C, Hirsch B. A Retrospective Study Analyzing the Lack of Symptom Benefit With Antimicrobials at the End of Life. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2020; 38:391-395. [PMID: 32830525 DOI: 10.1177/1049909120951748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infections are common in terminally ill patients (pts), and although antibiotics are frequently prescribed, their benefit for symptom relief is not clear. Antimicrobials at the end of life (EOL) may increase the risk of antimicrobial resistance and Clostrioides difficile infection. Our aim was to determine the frequency of symptom occurrence at the EOL when comparing pts who did or did not receive antibiotics (AB+ or AB-). METHODS We reviewed electronic medical records of pts admitted to a palliative care unit of a quarternary care hospital between 01/09/2017 and 07/16/2017 and assessed antimicrobial use in the last 14 days of life. Differences in demographics and symptom control between AB+ and AB- pts were analyzed using chi-square analyses; p-values were computed using Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS Of a total of 133 pts included, 90 (68%) received antimicrobials (AB+). The indication for antibiotics was documented in only 12% of pts. The AB+ and AB- groups were similar with respect to demographics, including sex, and Charleston Comorbidity Index except for age (p = 0.01) and race (p = 0.03). Documented infections were similar between AB+ and AB- groups, except urinary tract infections. No statistically significant differences were noted in documented symptoms including pain, dyspnea, fever, lethargy, and alteration of mental state or length of stay. CONCLUSION Our study did not show differences in frequencies of documented symptoms with use of antimicrobials at EOL. Antimicrobial stewardship programs and further research can help with developing EOL care antimicrobial guidelines supporting patients and providers through shared decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Lopez
- Department of Medicine, 24945Northwell Heath, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pooja Vyas
- Department of Medicine, 24945Northwell Heath, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Kayla Finuf
- Department of Medicine, 24945Northwell Heath, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Bruce Hirsch
- Department of Medicine, 24945Northwell Heath, New York, NY, USA
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Abstract
Aim: In this study our aim was to evaluate the nosocomial infections and to understand factors affecting the cost of used antibiotics in palliative care unit.Materials and methods: Between 2016 and 2017, 113 patients were included in the study in palliative care unit of University of Health Sciences Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Research and Training Hospital. Patients medical records were analyzed retrospectively for nosocomial infections, chronic diseases, presence of decubitis ulcers, opioid use, enteral, parenteral feedings, mortality and antibiotic cost.Results: Nosocomial infections were observed in 74.3% of the cases and 92.0% of patients used antibiotics. The mean duration of antibiotic use was 23.13 ± 18.06 days; and the average antibiotic cost was 2009.72 ± 2153.37 TL. Length of stay, male sex, presence of decubitus ulcers, tracheostomy, enteral and parenteral nutrition significantly increased antibiotic cost. Antibiotic cost and mortality were not related statistically.Conclusions: A vicious circle in palliative care involves the following order: length of stay, increased rate of infection, use of antibiotics, infection with resistant microorganisms, use of broad spectrum antibiotics, increased length of stay; all affecting each other. Therefore, using antibiotics for aggressive treatment of infections in palliative care is contraindicated as it opposes to real philosophy of palliative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozgur Dagli
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Health Sciences University Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Eyyup Tasdemir
- Department of Internal Medicine, Palliative Unit, Health Sciences University Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
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Morioka S, Mori M, Suzuki T, Yokomichi M, Hamano J, Morita T. Diversity of physicians' attitudes toward the management of infectious diseases in terminally ill patients with cancer. J Hosp Infect 2020; 105:S0195-6701(20)30213-9. [PMID: 32360358 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S Morioka
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Centre for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - M Mori
- Palliative Care Team, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - T Suzuki
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - M Yokomichi
- Seirei Hospice, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - J Hamano
- Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaragi, Japan
| | - T Morita
- Palliative Care Team, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
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Taverner J, Ross L, Bartlett C, Luthe M, Ong J, Irving L, Smallwood N. Antimicrobial prescription in patients dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Intern Med J 2019; 49:66-73. [PMID: 29740931 DOI: 10.1111/imj.13959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite rising antimicrobial resistance, treatment guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are frequently ignored. Patients with terminal conditions are often prescribed antimicrobials despite the goal of care to reduce burdensome treatments. The appropriate use of antimicrobials in patients who die from an exacerbation of COPD is unknown. AIM To review antimicrobial prescription during the final admission in patients who died from an acute exacerbation of COPD. METHODS A retrospective medical record audit was performed for 475 patients who died over 12 years (2004-2015). Patients were analysed within three groups: Group 1 - pneumonia on chest radiograph, Group 2 - infective exacerbation of COPD +/- raised inflammatory markers (white cell count, C-reactive protein) and Group 3 - non-infective exacerbation of COPD. RESULTS A total of 221 patients died from COPD. The median age was 80 years, and 136 (60%) were male. Median respiratory function: forced expiratory volume in 1 s 0.8 L (41.0%), forced vital capacity 2.0 L (74.0%) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide 8 (40.5%). A total of 109 (49.3%) patients used home oxygen and 156 (70.6%) were ex-smokers. Of the cohort, 90.5% received antimicrobials. In Groups 1, 2 and 3, 68 (94.4%), 108 (92.3%) and 24 (75.0%) patients received antimicrobials respectively. Guideline-concordant therapy was administered to 31.7% of patients (Group 1: 79.2%, Group 2: 4.3%, Group 3: 25.0%), 60.2% of patients received ceftriaxone and 44.8% received azithromycin. The median duration of therapy was 4 days and 27.1% received antimicrobials at the time of death. CONCLUSION Antimicrobials are overprescribed, and non-guideline antimicrobials are overused in patients who die from COPD. Further education of medical staff, regular medication reviews and the use of disease severity scores or clinical pathways may improve antimicrobial stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Taverner
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lauren Ross
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claire Bartlett
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marco Luthe
- Clinical Costing Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jeffrey Ong
- Clinical Costing Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louis Irving
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Natasha Smallwood
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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31
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Tark A, Agarwal M, Dick AW, Stone PW. Variations in Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Program across the Nation: Environmental Scan. J Palliat Med 2019; 22:1032-1038. [PMID: 30789297 PMCID: PMC6735313 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is an advance care planning tool that is designed to document end-of-life (EoL) care wishes of those living with limited life expectancies. Although positive impacts of POLST program has been studied, variations in state-specific POLST programs across the nation remain unknown. Objective: Identify state variations in POLST forms and determine if variations are associated with program maturity status. Design: Environmental scan. Measurements: Using the national POLST website, state-specific POLST program characteristics were examined. With available sample POLST forms, EoL care options were abstracted. Results: Of all 51 states (50 United States states and Washington, D.C examined), the majority (n = 48, 98%) were actively participating in POLST; 3 states (5.9%) had Mature status, 19 states and District of Columbia (39.2%) were Endorsed, 24 states were in the developing phase (47.1%), and 4 states (7.8%) were nonconforming. Forty-five states (88.2%) had forms available for review. Antibiotic and intravenous fluid options were identified in 32 (71.1%), and 33 (73.3%) POLST forms, respectively. Hospital transfer and use of oxygen were mentioned in all forms. Use of respiratory devices (i.e., continuous positive airway pressure and bi-level positive airway pressure) were mentioned on 27 (60%) forms, whereas ventilator or intubation use were mentioned in 36 POLST forms (80%). No associations were found between POLST maturity status and provision of treatment options. Conclusions: Variations in integration of infection and symptom management options were identified. Further research is needed to determine if there are regional factors associated with provision of treatment options on POLST forms and if there are differences in actual rates of infection or symptoms reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aluem Tark
- Center for Health Policy and Center for Improving Palliative Care for Vulnerable Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York
| | - Mansi Agarwal
- Center for Health Policy and Center for Improving Palliative Care for Vulnerable Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York
| | | | - Patricia W. Stone
- Center for Health Policy and Center for Improving Palliative Care for Vulnerable Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York
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Fedorowsky R, Bachner YG, Borer A, Ciobotaro P, Kushnir T. Use of antibiotics among end-of-life hospitalized patients with advanced directives: Status examination and association with infectious disease consultation and physician burnout. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019; 40:1222-8. [PMID: 31455445 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2019.203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overuse of antibiotics in end-of-life patients with advanced directives increases bacterial resistance and causes morbidity and mortality. Consultations with infectious disease (ID) physicians and burnout, which can affect antibiotic days of therapy (DOT) prescribed by physicians, have not been examined so far. OBJECTIVES To assess antibiotic use by physicians in end-of-life (EOL) patients with advanced directives and to investigate the association between ID consultations, physician burnout, and antibiotic DOT in those patients. DESIGN A descriptive correlational study. SETTING Acute-care and post-acute-care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS The study included 213 physicians and 932 their hospitalized patients in the last 2 weeks of life. METHODS We distributed questionnaires and analyzed the data collected regarding ID consultation, EOL antibiotics prescription with and without an advanced directive, and physician burnout to 278 physicians, and 213 were completed (response rate 76%). RESULTS Of the 932 deaths, 435 of 664 (>50%) were EOL patients with advanced directives. Of these patients, 74% received antibiotics, 29.9% had bacterial resistance cultures, and antibiotics were discontinued in only 5%. Half of the physicians lacked knowledge concerning antibiotics use issues and had significantly fewer consultations with ID physicians in EOL patients with advanced directives (mean rate, 0.27) than those without advanced directives (mean rate, 0.47). ID physicians reported significantly higher emotional exhaustion levels (mean rate, 29) than other medical specialties (mean rate, 19.2). Antibiotic DOT was significantly higher when patients had ID consultations (mean rate, 21.6) than in patients who did not (mean rate, 16.2). In post-acute-care hospitals and/or geriatric wards, antibiotic DOT was significantly higher than in other types of hospitals and/or wards. Depersonalization level was negatively related to antibiotic DOT (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Antibiotics are overused in EOL patients with advanced directives. ID physician burnout and impact of ID consultation should be further assessed.
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Nowill AE, Fornazin MC, Spago MC, Dorgan Neto V, Pinheiro VRP, Alexandre SSS, Moraes EO, Souza GHMF, Eberlin MN, Marques LA, Meurer EC, Franchi GC, de Campos-Lima PO. Immune Response Resetting in Ongoing Sepsis. J Immunol 2019; 203:1298-1312. [PMID: 31358659 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Cure of severe infections, sepsis, and septic shock with antimicrobial drugs is a challenge because morbidity and mortality in these conditions are essentially caused by improper immune response. We have tested the hypothesis that repeated reactivation of established memory to pathogens may reset unfavorable immune responses. We have chosen for this purpose a highly stringent mouse model of polymicrobial sepsis by cecum ligation and puncture. Five weeks after priming with a diverse Ag pool, high-grade sepsis was induced in C57BL/6j mice that was lethal in 24 h if left untreated. Antimicrobial drug (imipenem) alone rescued 9.7% of the animals from death, but >5-fold higher cure rate could be achieved by combining imipenem and two rechallenges with the Ag pool (p < 0.0001). Antigenic stimulation fine-tuned the immune response in sepsis by contracting the total CD3+ T cell compartment in the spleen and disengaging the hyperactivation state in the memory T subsets, most notably CD8+ T cells, while preserving the recovery of naive subsets. Quantitative proteomics/lipidomics analyses revealed that the combined treatment reverted the molecular signature of sepsis for cytokine storm, and deregulated inflammatory reaction and proapoptotic environment, as well as the lysophosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylcholine ratio. Our results showed the feasibility of resetting uncontrolled hyperinflammatory reactions into ordered hypoinflammatory responses by memory reactivation, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality in antibiotic-treated sepsis. This beneficial effect was not dependent on the generation of a pathogen-driven immune response itself but rather on the reactivation of memory to a diverse Ag pool that modulates the ongoing response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre E Nowill
- Integrated Center for Pediatric OncoHaematological Research, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-888, Brazil;
| | - Márcia C Fornazin
- Integrated Center for Pediatric OncoHaematological Research, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-888, Brazil
| | - Maria C Spago
- Integrated Center for Pediatric OncoHaematological Research, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-888, Brazil
| | - Vicente Dorgan Neto
- Surgery Department, Santa Casa School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo 01221-020, Brazil
| | - Vitória R P Pinheiro
- Integrated Center for Pediatric OncoHaematological Research, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-888, Brazil
| | - Simônia S S Alexandre
- Integrated Center for Pediatric OncoHaematological Research, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-888, Brazil;
| | - Edgar O Moraes
- School of Engineering, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo 01302-907, Brazil
| | - Gustavo H M F Souza
- Mass Spectrometry Research and Development Laboratory, Health Sciences Department, Waters Corporation, Barueri 06455-020, Brazil
| | - Marcos N Eberlin
- School of Engineering, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo 01302-907, Brazil
| | - Lygia A Marques
- Thomson Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-859, Brazil; and
| | - Eduardo C Meurer
- Thomson Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-859, Brazil; and
| | - Gilberto C Franchi
- Integrated Center for Pediatric OncoHaematological Research, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-888, Brazil
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Abstract
Many terminal patients at the end-of-life have been receiving antimicrobial therapy despite concerns including futile use, potential lack of efficacy, increased patient burden, excess costs, high risk of adverse effects, and increased antimicrobial resistance. Thus, the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) in end-of-life care needs to be discussed. But, the topics of antimicrobial therapy and ASPs have not been addressed in the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision Act enacted in the Korea in February 2016. Antimicrobial therapy should be included in the decision-making framework for end-of-life care similar to other life-sustaining treatment decisions. If the antimicrobial therapy is legally considered as a life-sustaining treatment which can be withdrawn or withheld in patients at the end-of-life, the feasibility of implementing ASPs among this patient population may improve. Various researches on antimicrobial therapy for patients at the end-of-life need to be conducted and collaborations are required between ASPs professionals and many other concerned parties involved in the legislative process of the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision Act. This review aims to summarize previous studies on the use of antimicrobials for end-of-life care and reveal important aspects for applying ASPs to this population in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Tae Kwon
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
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Datta R, Zhu M, Han L, Allore H, Quagliarello V, Juthani-Mehta M. Increased Length of Stay Associated With Antibiotic Use in Older Adults With Advanced Cancer Transitioned to Comfort Measures. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2019; 37:27-33. [PMID: 31185722 DOI: 10.1177/1049909119855617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibiotic use may increase hospital length of stay (LOS) among older patients with advanced cancer who are transitioned to comfort measures. METHODS We studied a cohort of patients with advanced cancer aged ≥65 years who were transitioned to comfort measures during admission from July 1, 2014, through November 30, 2016. We evaluated the association between antibiotic exposure and LOS using a Poisson regression model adjusted for age, gender, cancer type, comorbidities, infection, and intensive care unit admission. RESULTS Among 461 patients with advanced cancer, median age was 74 years (range: 65-99), 49.0% (n = 226) were female, and 20.6% (n = 95) had liquid tumors. Overall, 82.9% (n = 382) received ≥1 antibiotic and 64.6% (n = 298) had ≥1 infection diagnosis during hospitalization. Infection diagnoses commonly included sepsis (35%, n = 161/461), pneumonia (25%, n = 117/461), and urinary tract infection (14%, n = 66/461). Among those receiving antibiotics, the most common choices included vancomycin (79%, n = 300/382), cephalosporins (63%, n = 241/382), and penicillins (45%, n = 172/382). In a multivariable Poisson regression model, LOS was 34% longer (count ratio = 1.34, [95% confidence interval: 1.20-1.51]) among those exposed versus unexposed to antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS Antibiotic use among patients with advanced cancer who are transitioned to comfort measures is associated with longer LOS. These data illustrate the importance of tradeoffs associated with antibiotic use, such as unintended increased LOS, when striving for goal-concordant care near the end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupak Datta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mojun Zhu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Ling Han
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Heather Allore
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Vincent Quagliarello
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Manisha Juthani-Mehta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
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Vaughan L, Duckett AA, Adler M, Cain J. Ethical and Clinical Considerations in Treating Infections at the End of Life. J Hosp Palliat Nurs 2019; 21:110-5. [DOI: 10.1097/njh.0000000000000541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Burnham JP, Chi S, Ma J, Dans MC, Kollef MH. Reduction in antimicrobial use among medical intensive care unit patients during a cluster randomized crossover trial of palliative care consultation. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019; 40:491-492. [PMID: 30838966 PMCID: PMC6605046 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2019.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jason P. Burnham
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Stephen Chi
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Jessica Ma
- Department of Medicine, Duke University and Health System, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Maria C. Dans
- Department of Palliative Care, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Marin H. Kollef
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
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Datta R, Wang T, Zhu M, Dembry LM, Han L, Allore H, Quagliarello V, Juthani-Mehta M. Antimicrobial therapy for asymptomatic bacteriuria or candiduria in advanced cancer patients transitioning to comfort measures. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019; 40:470-2. [PMID: 30821230 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2019.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Among 300 advanced cancer patients with potential urinary tract infection (UTI), 19 had symptomatic UTI. Among remaining patients (n = 281), 21% had asymptomatic bacteriuria or candiduria, and 14% received inappropriate therapy for 279 antimicrobial days. Bacteriuria or candiduria predicted antimicrobial therapy. At 10,000 to <100,000 CFU/mL, the incidence rate ratio [IRR] was 16.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.0-47.2), and at ≥100,000 CFU/mL, the IRR was 27.9 (95% CI, 10.9-71.2).
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Juthani-Mehta M, Allore HG. Design and analysis of longitudinal trials of antimicrobial use at the end of life: to give or not to give? Ther Adv Drug Saf 2019; 10:2042098618820210. [PMID: 30800269 PMCID: PMC6378640 DOI: 10.1177/2042098618820210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
This perspective review considers analytic features of the design of a longitudinal trial regarding antimicrobial therapy in older terminal cancer patients receiving palliative care. We first overview antimicrobial use at the end of life; both the potential hazards and benefits. Antimicrobial prescribing should consider both initiation as well as cessation of medications when analyzing the burden of medications. Approaches to decision making regarding antimicrobial use are presented and the importance of health literacy in these decision processes. We next present aspects of both feasibility and comparative trial design with a health literacy intervention to reduce antimicrobial use in older terminal cancer patients receiving palliative care. Considerations to clustered randomization and given that infections can reoccur over a trial period, we share suggestions of longitudinal modeling of clustered randomized trial data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather G Allore
- Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George St, Suite 775, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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Dyer J, Vaux L, Broom A, Broom J. Antimicrobial use in patients at the end of life in an Australian hospital. Infect Dis Health 2019; 24:92-97. [PMID: 30655096 DOI: 10.1016/j.idh.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial resistance is increasing and there is an urgent international imperative to optimise use within hospitals. Antibiotic use at the end of life is frequent in the hospital setting, but data on use in Australian hospitals in this context is limited, and optimisation is complicated by clinical/diagnostic, ethical and humanistic considerations. As yet there is little data available on baseline use in hospital end of life settings, an empirical gap we sought to begin to fill here. METHODS A retrospective review of antibiotic use in patients who died in a Queensland hospital between January 2015 and July 2015. RESULTS One hundred and thirty-seven patients were included, of which 73 were male (53.3%) and the median age was 81 years. Of these patients, 86 received antibiotics at the end of life. The most common antibiotic prescribed was piperacillin/tazobactam (41.9%). The most common site of infection was pulmonary (32.8%). Of 86 patients prescribed antibiotics, 29 patients (33.7%) received antibiotics after futility was documented. 83 patients (96.5%) were administered their antibiotics intravenously. CONCLUSION Antimicrobial use at the end of life is frequent, with greater than one third of the patients who died in hospital having their antibiotics continued after discussion of futility. Antimicrobial use in this setting is complex with significant clinical, social and ethical considerations which need to be addressed if antibiotic optimization in this area (and more broadly in the hospital) is to be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Dyer
- Department of Medicine, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Hospital Road, Nambour, QLD, 5470, Australia.
| | - Lucinda Vaux
- Department of Medicine, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Hospital Road, Nambour, QLD, 5470, Australia
| | - Alex Broom
- School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Jennifer Broom
- Department of Medicine, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Hospital Road, Nambour, QLD, 5470, Australia
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Abstract
At least one-third of patients at the end of life (EOL) receive interventions that are without benefit, and a similar proportion of patients die in the intensive care unit. Here, the authors discuss the role of antimicrobials in patients at the EOL, including the patient populations and scenarios in which antimicrobials may or may not have benefit. They also review adverse outcomes associated with antimicrobial use at the EOL, including societal harms. Finally, an algorithm to aid management of suspected infections at the EOL is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Baghban
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208022, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Manisha Juthani-Mehta
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208022, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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Huang HL, Yao CA, Hu WY, Cheng SY, Hwang SJ, Chen CD, Lin WY, Lin YC, Chiu TY. Prevailing Ethical Dilemmas Encountered by Physicians in Terminal Cancer Care Changed After the Enactment of the Natural Death Act: 15 Years' Follow-up Survey. J Pain Symptom Manage 2018; 55:843-850. [PMID: 29221846 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Advance directive laws have influences on ethical dilemmas encountered by physicians caring for terminal cancer patients. OBJECTIVES To identify the prevailing ethical dilemmas among terminal care physicians 15 years after the Natural Death Act was enacted in Taiwan. METHODS This study is a cross-sectional survey from April 2014 to February 2015 using the clustering sampling method and a well-structured questionnaire. Targeted participants included physicians at oncology and related wards or palliative care units where terminal cancer care may be provided in Taiwan. RESULTS Among the 500 physicians surveyed, 383 responded (response rate 76.6%) and 346 valid questionnaires were included in the final analysis (effective response rate 69.2%). The most frequently identified ethical dilemma was "place of care," followed by "use of antimicrobial agents" and "artificial nutrition and hydration." The dilemma of "truth telling," which ranked first in the 2005-2006 survey, now ranked at the fourth place. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender and knowledge of palliative care were negatively correlated with the extent of dilemmas regarding issues of "life and death." CONCLUSION The prevailing ethical dilemmas have changed in Taiwan 15 years after the enactment of the Natural Death Act, supporting that some previous strategies had worked. Our results suggest that education on the core values of palliative care, improvement of community-based hospice care program, and creating treatment guidelines with prognostication may resolve the current dilemmas. This type of survey should be adapted by individual countries to guide policy decisions on end-of-life care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsien-Liang Huang
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-An Yao
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Yu Hu
- School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Yi Cheng
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shinn-Jang Hwang
- Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Dao Chen
- Department of Family Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Yuan Lin
- Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Chun Lin
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Yuan Chiu
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Gaw CE, Hamilton KW, Gerber JS, Szymczak JE. Physician Perceptions Regarding Antimicrobial Use in End-of-Life Care. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018; 39:383-90. [PMID: 29428002 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2018.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The decision to utilize antimicrobials in end-of-life situations is complex. Understanding the reasons why physicians prescribe antimicrobials in this patient population is important for informing the design of antimicrobial stewardship interventions. METHODS A 51-item survey containing both closed and open-ended questions on end-of-life antimicrobial use was administered to physicians affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from January through April 2017. A mixed-methods approach was used to analyze responses. RESULTS Of 637 physicians surveyed, 283 responses (44.4%) were received. Most (86.2%) physicians believed that respecting a patient's wish to continue antimicrobials was important. Approximately half of physicians (49.8%) believed that antimicrobial use at the end of life contributes to resistance. A higher proportion of pediatricians would often or always continue antimicrobial treatment for active infections and for hospice patients whose death was imminent compared to adult physicians (P<.001). Analysis of free-text responses revealed additional reasons why physicians may continue antimicrobials at end of life, including meeting family expectations, wanting to avoid the perception of "giving up," uncertainty about prognosis, and reducing patient pain or discomfort. CONCLUSIONS Physician decision making concerning antimicrobial use in patients at the end of life is multifactorial. Clinicians may overweigh the benefits of antimicrobial therapy in end-of-life situations and view the importance of adhering to stewardship policies differently. Pediatric and adult clinicians have different approaches to this patient population. Better understanding of the complex decision making that occurs in the end-of-life patient population can help guide antimicrobial stewardship policies and improve patient care. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:383-390.
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Macedo F, Nunes C, Ladeira K, Pinho F, Saraiva N, Bonito N, Pinto L, Gonçalves F. Antimicrobial therapy in palliative care: an overview. Support Care Cancer 2018; 26:1361-7. [DOI: 10.1007/s00520-018-4090-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Helde-Frankling M, Bergqvist J, Bergman P, Björkhem-Bergman L. Antibiotic Treatment in End-of-Life Cancer Patients-A Retrospective Observational Study at a Palliative Care Center in Sweden. Cancers (Basel) 2016; 8:E84. [PMID: 27608043 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8090084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to elucidate whether palliative cancer patients benefit from antibiotic treatment in the last two weeks of life when an infection is suspected. Method: We reviewed medical records from 160 deceased palliative cancer patients that had been included in previous studies on vitamin D and infections. Patients treated with antibiotics during the last two weeks of life were identified and net effects of treatment (symptom relief) and possible adverse events were extracted from medical records. Results: Seventy-nine patients (49%) had been treated with antibiotics during the last two weeks in life. In 37% (n = 29), the treatment resulted in evident symptom relief and among these 50% had a positive bacterial culture, 43% had a negative culture and in 7% no culture was taken. Among the patients with no or unknown effect of antibiotics, 50% had a positive culture. When the indication for antibiotic treatment was to avoid or treat sepsis, symptom relief was achieved in 50% of the patients (n = 19). Only 4% (n = 3) of the patients experienced adverse events of the treatment (diarrhea, nausea). Conclusions: Treating infections with antibiotics in the last weeks of life may improve the quality of life for palliative cancer patients, especially if sepsis is suspected or confirmed. According to our results, the beneficial effects outweigh the potentially negative outcomes.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Research shows variable success as to whether care provided aligns with individual patient preferences as reflected in their advance directives (AD). OBJECTIVE We aimed to study AD status and subsequent care received in older nursing home (NH) residents deemed at risk for infections and care transitions: those with a urinary catheter (UC), feeding tube (FT), or both. Design/participants/measurements: A subgroup analysis of a prospective cohort of 90 residents with a UC and/or FT from 15 NHs in southeast Michigan. Outcomes assessed at enrollment and at 30-day intervals were hospitalizations and antibiotic use. The ADs were divided as follows: (1) comfort oriented: comfort measures only, no hospital transfer; (2) palliative oriented: comfort focused, allowing hospital transfer (except intensive care unit), antibiotic use, but no cardiopulmonary resuscitation; (3) usual care: full code, no limitations to care. We calculated incidences for these outcomes. RESULTS Seventy-eight (87%) residents had ADs: 18 (23%) comfort oriented, 32 (41%) palliative oriented, and 28 (36%) usual care. The groups did not differ regarding demographics, comorbidity, function, device presence, or time in study. Using the usual care group as comparison, the comfort-oriented group was hospitalized at a similar rate (Incidence rate [IR] = 15.6/1000 follow-up days vs IR = 8.8/1000 follow-up days, Incident rate ratio [IRR] 0.6 [95% confidence interval, CI, 0.3 -1.1], P value .09) but received fewer antibiotics (IR = 18.9/1000 follow-up days vs IR = 7.5/1000 follow-up days, IRR 0.4 [95% CI, 0.2-0.8], P value .005). CONCLUSION Nursing home residents with comfort-oriented ADs were hospitalized at a rate similar to those with usual-care ADs but received fewer antibiotics, although the small sample size of this analysis suggests these findings deserve further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika R Manu
- 1 Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lona Mody
- 1 Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sara E McNamara
- 1 Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Caroline A Vitale
- 1 Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Barlam TF, Cosgrove SE, Abbo LM, MacDougall C, Schuetz AN, Septimus EJ, Srinivasan A, Dellit TH, Falck-Ytter YT, Fishman NO, Hamilton CW, Jenkins TC, Lipsett PA, Malani PN, May LS, Moran GJ, Neuhauser MM, Newland JG, Ohl CA, Samore MH, Seo SK, Trivedi KK. Implementing an Antibiotic Stewardship Program: Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Clin Infect Dis 2016; 62:e51-77. [PMID: 27080992 PMCID: PMC5006285 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1769] [Impact Index Per Article: 221.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence-based guidelines for implementation and measurement of antibiotic stewardship interventions in inpatient populations including long-term care were prepared by a multidisciplinary expert panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. The panel included clinicians and investigators representing internal medicine, emergency medicine, microbiology, critical care, surgery, epidemiology, pharmacy, and adult and pediatric infectious diseases specialties. These recommendations address the best approaches for antibiotic stewardship programs to influence the optimal use of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar F Barlam
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sara E Cosgrove
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Lilian M Abbo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Conan MacDougall
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Audrey N Schuetz
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York
| | - Edward J Septimus
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Arjun Srinivasan
- Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Timothy H Dellit
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Yngve T Falck-Ytter
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Neil O Fishman
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia
| | | | | | - Pamela A Lipsett
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine and Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Preeti N Malani
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor
| | - Larissa S May
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Davis
| | - Gregory J Moran
- Department of Emergency Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, Sylmar
| | | | - Jason G Newland
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Christopher A Ohl
- Section on Infectious Diseases, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Matthew H Samore
- Department of Veterans Affairs and University of Utah, Salt Lake City
| | - Susan K Seo
- Infectious Diseases, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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Kwak YG, Moon C, Kim ES, Kim BN. Frequent Prescription of Antibiotics and High Burden of Antibiotic Resistance among Deceased Patients in General Medical Wards of Acute Care Hospitals in Korea. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0146852. [PMID: 26761461 PMCID: PMC4711954 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antibiotics are often administered to terminally ill patients until death, and antibiotic use contributes to the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). We investigated antibiotic use and the isolation of MDROs among patients who died in general medical wards. Methods All adult patients who died in the general internal medicine wards at four acute care hospitals between January and June 2013 were enrolled. For comparison with these deceased patients, the same number of surviving, discharged patients was selected from the same divisions of internal medicine subspecialties during the same period. Results During the study period, 303 deceased patients were enrolled; among them, 265 (87.5%) had do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders in their medical records. Antibiotic use was more common in patients who died than in those who survived (87.5% vs. 65.7%, P<0.001). Among deceased patients with DNR orders, antibiotic use was continued in 59.6% of patients after obtaining their DNR orders. Deceased patients received more antibiotic therapy courses (two [interquartile range (IQR) 1–3] vs. one [IQR 0–2], P<0.001). Antibiotics were used for longer durations in deceased patients than in surviving patients (13 [IQR 5–23] vs. seven days [IQR 0–18], P<0.001). MDROs were also more common in deceased patients than in surviving patients (25.7% vs. 10.6%, P<0.001). Conclusions Patients who died in the general medical wards of acute care hospitals were exposed to more antibiotics than patients who survived. In particular, antibiotic prescription was common even after obtaining DNR orders in patients who died. The isolation of MDROs during the hospital stay was more common in these patients who died. Strategies for judicious antibiotic use and appropriate infection control should be applied to these patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee Gyung Kwak
- Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Chisook Moon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Busan-Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Eu Suk Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Baek-Nam Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Sanggye-Paik Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Juthani-Mehta
- Yale School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Preeti N Malani
- University of Michigan Health System, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Ann Arbor3Associate Editor, JAMA
| | - Susan L Mitchell
- Hebrew SeniorLife Institute for Aging Research, the Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medicine Center, Boston, Massachusetts5Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Mohammed AA, Al-Zahrani AS, Sherisher MA, Alnagar AA, EL-Shentenawy A, El-Kashif AT. The pattern of infection and antibiotics use in terminal cancer patients. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst 2014; 26:147-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnci.2014.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Revised: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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