Principals of Antimicrobial Use Flashcards
Define Stewardship
Careful and responsible management of natural resources
List the stepwise systemic approach to antimicrobial use
- Confirm presence of infection (Risk factors, subjective evidence, objective evidence, possible sites of infection)
- Identification of pathogen (likley pathogen, microbiological tests)
- Selection of antimicrobial and regimen
- Empiric, definitive, prophylaxis
- Consider organism, host and drug factors
- Decide on choice of agent, route, dosage and duration - Monitor response
- Therapeutic response
- ADRs
Step 1 and 2 = Indication for Use
Step 3 = Regimen
Step 4 = Monitoring and Plan
Definition of Infection ?
Infection is when an organism causes damage to host resulting in altered physiology, s/sx of disease
List the Risk Factors for Infection
- Disruption of natural protective barriers
- Skin/mucous membranes
- CIlia of respiratory tract - Age
- Immunosuppression
- Malnutrition
- Underlying diseases (e.g. HIV)
- Drugs (Immunosuppressive, chemotherapy, steroids) - Alterations in normal flora of host
- e.g. Hospital or use of antibiotics
What are the subjective evidences for infection?
- Localised symptoms
- Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention
- Cough, purulent sputum
- Dysuria, frequency, urgency
- etc - Systemic symptoms
- Feverish, chills, rigors
- Malaise
- Fast Heart Rate
- Shortness of breath
What are the OBJECTIVE evidences of infection?
Changes in vital signs, for example
- Fever (temperature > 38 degrees)
- Hallmark of infection
- May be masked by antipyretics, also may have non-infectious causes - Hypotension (SBP < 100)
- Tachypnea (Increased RR > 22 bpm)
- Heart Rate (> 90bpm)
- Altered Mental Status (esp in elderly)
- Drop in Glasgow Coma scale
Changes in Lab test (elevated/depressed total whites, neutrophils, INCREASED Procalcitonin, CRP, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ESR)
- CRP is not so specific for infection (only indicates inflammation)
- Procalcitonin more specific for infection (higher = presence of infection)
At what level of Procalcitonin is starting Abx encouraged?
> = 0.5ug/L
Strongly encouraged if >= 1ug/L
At what level of Procalcitonin should we consider stopping Abx?
When procalcitonin levels decrease by 80% from peak concentration, OR concentration <0.5ug/L
At what level of Procalcitonin should we consider changing Abx?
When procalcitonin increases, and concentration remains above 0.5ug/L
Remember: Threshold to continue Abx is always 0.5ug/L
At what level of Procalcitonin should we consider CONTINUING abx?
When there is a decrease of more than 80% of Procalcitonin BUT concentration remains above 0.5ug/L
What are the common sites of infection?
Urinary tract, Respiratory tract, Skin/soft tissues, Intra-abdominal (cavity of the abdomen)
Define Sepsis
Life threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host response to infection
Follow up cultures are less reliable than pre-treatment cultures because…
It may result in false negative results
- Need to obtain cultures before administration, because organisms may already be killed by empiric Abx
Once you obtain the results of culture test, what are the kinds of pathogen that is possible that we have to consider? (Hint: True pathogens or…)
Pathogens possible: Contamination, Colonizers or True pathogen
Streamline therapy if true pathogen is indeed isolated
Intraabdominal infections and DM foot infections is an example of
Anaerobic Infections
List some sites on the body that are usually sterile (anatomically)
CNS, Cardiovascular system, Lower respiratory tract, Bones and Joint, Kidney and bladder (but not urethra)
Most common pathogen that is found for UTI is
Ecoli
Can commensals and colonisers cause infection?
Usually no.
But there is a need to assess the situation and exclude other factors. (Do not discount commensals and colonisers completely)
Define True Pathogen
Causes true infection , capable of damaging host tissue and eliciting host response and s/sx of infection (Aka causes disease)
Can be acquired from environment or part of normal flora or even commensals
Define Colonisers
Presence of normal flora or pathogen organisms but usually does not elicit host response
Define contaminants
Presence of microorganisms typically acquired during collection or processing of host specimens without evidence of host response
What is a likely contaminant for blood cultures?
Staphylococcus Epidermidis (Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus) , Bacillus spp
Note: They may sometimes still be a true pathogen esp in cases of catheter-related infections or ports going into bloodstream
What is a likely COLONISER from urine culture?
Yeast
What must be considered during selection of Abx? (3 factors)
- Empiric, Definitive (Culture-directed) or Prophylaxis
- Which agent, route of adm, dosing, duration? (Appropriate Agent, Duration and Route)
- Organism, host and drug factors
Define empiric therapy
Abx use based on:
- Clinical presentation
- Site of infection
- Likely organism causing infection at that site
- Likely resistant pattern
Define Definitive therapy
Aka culture directed therapy
Abx choice is based on microbiological results
Define prophylactic therapy
Abx given to prevent an infection
- e.g. Surgical Prophylaxis and Post-exposure prophylaxis
What are the consequences of overtreatment of Abx?
Abx associated toxicities (Side effects)
CDAD / Superinfections
Resistance
Cost
What is the conseuqence of undertreatment of Abx?
- Ineffectiveness
- Mortality
- Increased length of stay in hospital
- Cost (wastage due to ineffectiveness)
What are the three most important principles of Abx use to achieve improved patient outcomes?
- Timely initiation of appropriate agents (most effective, least toxic and narrowest spectrum)
- Administration of dosage individualised to patient and appropriate to organism and site of infection
- Timely and appropriate alteration in response to clinical responses and microbiological data
(Shortest course of Abx as much as possible)
Why must active Abx be administered asap esp for severely ill patients
Increased mortality due to non-timely treatment
What are the benefits of Combination Therapy for Abx?
- Extend specturm of activity (esp for severely ill patients)
- Piptazo + Vancomycin to cover (-) and (+) respectively
- Piptazo + Ciprofloxacin to cover Pseudomonas ventilated associated pneumonia - Achieve synergistic bactericidal effect
- Ampicillin + Gentamicin for Enterococcus Endocarditis
- Trimethoprim + Sulfamethoxazole - Prevent development of resistance
What are the possible disadvantages of combination therapy?
- Increased risk of toxicity and allergic reactions
- Increased risk of drug interactions
- Increased cost
- Increased selection for MDR organisms
- Increased risk of Superinfections
- E.g. CDAD on top of primary infections (due to Clindamycin use), disruption of natural flora leading to increased risk of fungal infections - Possible antagonistic effect concerns
- Bactericidal Abx cannot be combined with bacteriostatic, the antagonistic effect is theoretical. Best to avoid
What are the host factors to consider in Abx use?
- Age
- History of Allergies and ADR
- G6PD (e.g. Bactrim - Sulfa drugs, Nitrofurantoin)
- Pregnancy/lactation
- Renal/Hepatic impairment
- Status of host immune function
- Severity of Illness
- Recent antimicrobial use (Superinfections possible?)
- Healthcare associated risk factors (Nosocomical Infections possible?)
What antibiotics are generally avoided in children?
Fluoroquinolone, Tetracyclines
- Fluoroquinolone: Bone deformities in young children
- Tetracyclines = affect bone and teeth development, can cause tooth discoloration
What are the possible beta lactams that can cross react with penicillins allergies?
Cephalosporins, Carbapenems
Can still be considered if patient established that he/she will only have very mild reactions (itchiness etc) with consideration of other Abx first (e.g. Macrolides) but….
Avoid them ESPECIALLY for patients with severe hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. immediate IgE mediated Allergic reactions, SJS, TEN)
Mild reactions = can still consider case by case