Clinical Approach To Antimicrobial Therapy Flashcards

1
Q

Factors involved in choosing abx: infective agent

A

Pathogenicity; virulence; invasiveness; adherence; toxin production; transmissibility; growth requirements; antibiotic susceptibility in vitro.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Factors involved in choosing antibiotics: host resistance

A

State of health or debility; nutritional state; immune status; underlying illness; implants/foreign bodies; portal of entry; normal flora; antibiotic therapy augment host resistance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define sepsis

A

Combination of symptoms and signs of a localised primary site of infection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Define SIRS

A

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is SIRS the first sign of?

A

That infection is spreading form the primary site of infection and the patient may be bacteraemic.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Other non infective causes of SIRS

A

Trauma, chronic inflammation, malignancy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the criteria for SIRS (at least 2 of)?

A

Temperature: >38C (febrile/pyrexial) or 90 beats/min (tachycardia)
Respiratory rate: >20 breaths/min or PaCO2 12000 cells/mm3 or

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the features of SEVERE sepsis?

A

Temperature: >38C (febrile/pyrexial) or 90 beats/min (tachycardia)
Respiratory rate: >20 breaths/min or PaCO2 12000 cells/mm3 or

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

When is prophylactic use of antibiotics indicated?

A

When infection is a serious complication of surgery or of a medical condition e.g. If a non-sterile site will be breeched in surgery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When is therapeutic use of antibiotics indicated?

A

When infection is suspected or confirmed by:

  • Clinical diagnosis (disease or site) or
  • microbiological diagnosis I.e. laboratory confirmed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What information is necessary when deciding what antibiotics to use on a patient with suspected or confirmed bacterial infection?

A
  • location/source of infection
  • severity of infectious process
  • epidemiological setting of patient
  • pre-existing medical contain or problems that could pre-dispose patient to an infection
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What information does the anatomical location of an infection give when prescribing antibiotics?

A

Allows most likely organism to be determined and allows pattern of susceptibility to be reasonably predicted (local surveillance)
Allows use of appropriate empirical therapy.
Also determines route if therapy administration .

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are some examples of the epidemiological factors of a patient that impact on the likelihood of an organism?

A

Age; sex; location; travel; IVDU; pets;

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are some pre-existing medical conditions that could pre-dispose a patient to infection?

A

Prosthesis; valvular heart disease; immunosuppressions; diabetes mellitus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the implications for a narrow spectrum abx?

A

Targeted therapy - organism defined

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the implications for use of broad spectrum abx?

A

Empirical or best guess therapy - microbiology is uncertain.
Site directed.
Associated side effects: spread of resistance etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Factors involved in shaping guidelines for choosing empirical antibiotic treatment

A
Site of infection
Seriousness 
Likely organisms
Patient factors & circumstances
Cost
Toxicity and side effects
Local/national resistance rates 
Other underlying medical conditions 
Contraindications
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Why is picking the correct route of abx administration essential?

A

To ensure effective drug concentrations at the site of infection.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Choices for route if administration of abx

A

Oral
IV
IM
Topical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What can effect oral absorption of abx?

A

Food - abx poorly absorbed or less stable

Drugs - calcium antacids and iron interfere with tetracycline uptake

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the pharmacokinetic factors that can effect can an abx and its usefulness?

A
Serum concentrations 
Half life (t 1/2) 
Tissue concentrations 
Protein binding 
Crossing natural boundaries e.g CSF, joint fluid 
Metabolism 
Excretion. (Liver/kidney)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Situations where cidal agents preferred

A

Immunocompromised- seriously ill or steroid therapy
Immunodeficiency - neutropenia, HIV
Difficult sites - endocarditis and meningitis

NEED TO KNOW KILLING ORGANISM NOT JUST INHIBITING GROWTH

23
Q

How long to treat a UTI/cystitis for

A

3 days

24
Q

How long to treat streptococcal pharyngitis for?

A

10 days

25
Q

How long to treat pulmonary TB for?

A

6 months

26
Q

How long to treat endocarditis for?

A

4-6 weeks

27
Q

Most infections responds to how many days treatment according to severity of condition?

A

5-7 (10) days

28
Q

What signs should be looked for to show treatment of micro-orgs can be stopped?

A

Clinical observations
Resolution of inflammatory process (WBC, CRP, temp = normal)
Repeat micro cultures clear
Imaging to see if abscess/ collection resolved

29
Q

Advantages of IV to oral switch

A

Reductions in HA- bacteraemias and infected lines
Saves medical and nursing time
Reduces discomfort of patients and enables improved mobility and earlier discharge
Reduced treatment costs
Patient more likely to receive abx at correct time
Potential to reduce risk of adverse effects (more error in parental drugs)

30
Q

Why might deep seated infections require initial 2 weeks of IV therapy? Examples

A
Allows correct concentration to reach deep areas 
Liver abscess
Osteomyelitis, septic arthritis 
Empyema, 
Cavitating pneumonia
31
Q

Advantages of using tWo drugs together (synergy)

A

To prevent relapse
To prevent resistance arising
Provides broad spectrum cover

32
Q

Some examples where two abx are used synergistically in the treatment of infection to prevent resistance or relapse

A

TB: isoniazid and Rifampicin 6 months
Endocarditis : penicillin and Aminoglycoside
Deep bone and joint: Rifampicin and anti-staph agent
Enterococcal infections: penicillin and gentamicin

33
Q

High risk infections requiring prolonged IV therapy

A
S.aureus bacteraemia 
Severe necrotising soft tissue infection 
Infected implants/prosthesis 
Meningitis/encephalitis 
Intracranial abscess 
Endocarditis 
Exacerbation of CF/ Bronchiectasis
Inadequately drained abscess or empyema
Severe infections related to chemotherapy induced neutropenia
34
Q

OPAT

A

Outpatient parental antimicrobial therapy

35
Q

What is OPAT?

A

Allows safe administration of IV drugs at home using once daily agents

36
Q

What are the requirements for OPAT?

A

Patient: clinical stable, capable of self management, good IV access.
Need to be reviewed once a week and managed by MDT

37
Q

Advantages of OPAT

A

Reduce the no of hospital bed days e.g. CF children or adults with endocarditis
Patient care in their own home
Reduction in the risk of acquisition of nosocomial infection

38
Q

Disadvantages of OPAT

A

Risk of developing acute, sub-acute or life threatening complications e.g. Anaphylaxis, other drug toxicity, line infection.
Failure to resolve underlying infection.

39
Q

Disadvantage of using two drugs together

A

Increases cost

Increased risk of toxicity

40
Q

What should be considered in terms of drug safety in patient?

A

Known hypersensitivity or intolerance
Impaired excretion (renal/liver failure)
Drug interactions e.g. Ciprofloxacin and theophylline
Higher risk of toxicity e.g. BM toxicity effects in transplant patients; pre existing liver disease; CNS toxicity in epilepsy
Risk of antibiotic associated diarrhoea

41
Q

What causes antibiotic associated diarrhoea?

A

Abx can disrupt normal flora of gut -> germination of C. Difficile spores -> diarrhoea and colitis caused by toxin positive c.diff.

42
Q

Who are at high risk of antibiotic associated diarrhoea or c.diff?

A

In patients and elderly

43
Q

What is a penicillin intolerance and what implications does it have?

A

GI upset, sickness.
Very common
Penicillins and beta lactams can be used

44
Q

What is penicillin anaphylaxis and what are its consequences?

A

Severe and immediate skin rash, other anaphylactic symptoms.
All beta lactams should be avoided. Replace with Macrolide/quinolone/glycopeptide

45
Q

What are the implications of a skin rash after penicillin

A

No penicillins but may use other beta lactams I.e. cephalosporins, monobactams and carbapenems, as low risk of cross reaction occurring.

46
Q

What are the possible causes of antibiotic treatment failure ?

A

Wrong diagnosis (not infectious or could be viral/fungal)
Wrong choice of abx - reconsider site and possible orgs; ?source
Inadequate dose
Antibiotic given by wrong route - IV/ oral vanc
Host factors - neutropenic patient require cidal agent
Drug resistance developing during treatment (repeat AST)
Pus requiring drainage; necrotic material with bio films or foreign body needs removing

47
Q

What are the two goals of antimicrobial stewardship “start smart, then focus” guidance

A

Effective, timely treatment of infection

Minimise collateral damage of abx use.

48
Q

Principles of “start smart”

A

Take hx of relevant allergies
Prompt effective abx treatment within one hour of dx or ASAP if life threatening
Comply with local prescribing guidelines
Document clinical indication and dies on drug chart AND in clinical notes
Include review/stop date or duration
Relevant micro samples taken

49
Q

Principles of “then focus”:

A

Clinical review and decision at 48 hours:
1. STOP - not infections
2. IV/oral switch - nice clinical response
3. Change to narrow spectrum abx
4. Continue and review again after 24 hours
5. OPAT
DOCUMENT DECISION

50
Q

Define selective toxicity

A

Therapeutic agents that target pathogenic organisms, not pathological processes from cells/tissues.

51
Q

Which special groups of patients require different prescribing guidelines?

A
Newborns; 
Pregnant; 
Lactating;
Elderly; 
Immunosuppressed.
52
Q

Why do newborns, the elderly, pregnant or breastfeeding women and immunosuppressed patients require special prescribing?

A

There are specific infectious processes which may be specific to these people.
They have different physiologies therefore agents are ltd.

53
Q

Which special group of Patients are the most complicated for prescribing and why?

A

Elderly.

Least homogenous; comorbidities; drug interactions; physiology; compliance and need for written directions.

54
Q

Principles of of prescribing in community care

A

Empirical treatment, syndrome based.
Minimise emergence of bacterial resistance - simple generic agents, avoid broad spectrum abx.
Safe, effective and economic use of abx - limit telephone prescribing; no or delayed abx strategy I.e. Frequently viral
Referral to hospital if GP suspects immunosuppressive illness or if requires further investigations/hospital admission.