Principles of antimicrobial use Flashcards
What is an infection?
organism/pathogen invades host tissues and elicit inflammatory/immune host responses
What is sepsis?
life-threatening organ dysfn caused by dysregulated host response to infection
What are the 4 things in a systemic approach to antimicrobial use?
- Confirm presence of infection
- Identify likely pathogens
- Select antimicrobial agents and regimen
- Monitor response
Which 2 steps fall under indication for Abx?
- Confirm presence of infection
2. Identification of (likely) pathogens
Which step falls under the ‘regimen (choice, route, dose, duration)’
Step 3: Selection of antimicrobial and regimen
Which step falls under the ‘monitoring and plan’?
Step 4: Monitor response
How to confirm presence of infection?
a. Any risk factors for infection
b. subjective evidence
c. objective evidence
d. Possible site of infection
- looking for diagnosis
What are 4 risk factors to look at for infection?
- Disruption of natural protective barriers (innate immunity)
- Age
- Immunosuppression
- Alterations in normal flora of the host with conditions that promotes overgrowth of MO
What to look at for subjective evidence?
- Localised symptoms (diarrhoea, N/V, dysuria, pain, purulent discharge)
- Systemic symptoms (feverish, SOB, weakness/tiredness, etc.)
What to look at for objective evidence?
- Vital signs (Fever, Hypotension, Tachypnoea, HR, Mental status)
- Lab test (non-specific biomarkers, acute-phase reactants)
- Radiological imaging
CONSIDER TREND; baseline VS current values
Guidelines for starting of ABx: When procalcitonin levels are?
> = 0.5 ug/L: ABx encouraged
Guidelines for continuing of ABx: When procalcitonin levels are?
decrease by 80% from peak concentration; and >= 0.5 ug/L: Continue Abx
Guidelines for stopping of ABx: When procalcitonin levels are?
< 0.5 ug/L: Stop Abx
How do we find the possible site of infection?
- Clinical presentation
- Risk of infections
- O and S evidence
- Common sites are UTI, Resp tract, soft tissues, intra-abdominal
What is considered a pathogen?
Organisms capable of damaging host tissue and eliciting a host response and signs and sx of an infection
What is a coloniser? Example?
Presence of normal flora/pathogenic organisms without eliciting a host response
e.g. yeast from urine culture
What is a contaminant?
Example?
Presence of MO typically acquired during collection/processing of host specimens w/o evidence of host response
e.g. S. epidermidis (from skin) + bacillus spp.
What is empiric therapy? and when to use empiric therapy?
- When micrological results are unavailable
- Clinical presentation of likely site of infection
- Likely susceptibility
- Antibiogram
What is definitive therapy? and when to use definitive therapy?
- Culture-directed therapy
- based on pts specific microbiological (culture and susceptibility tests)
What is prophylaxis therapy? and when to use prophylaxis therapy?
- Abx given to prevent infection
e. g. surgical prophylaxis; post-exposure prophylaxis
Benefits of combination therapy?
- Extend spectrum of activity
e. g. pip-tazo + vancomycin (covers MRSA) for HA-pneumonia
e. g. pip-tazo + ciprofloxacin (to broaden; cover p.aeruginosa) for VA-pneumonia - Achieve synergistic bactericidal effect (however, note that indifference/antagonism happens too)
e. g ampicillin + gentamicin or amipicllin + ceftriaxone for enterococcus endocarditis - Prevent development of resistance
e. g. TB treatment
Limitations of combination therapy?
- Inc toxicity and allergic rxns
- Inc risk of DDI
- Inc cost
- Selection of MDR bacteria
- Inc risk of superinfections
- Concern for antagonistic effect (VS synergisitc)
What are some host factors to consider when choosing the ABx?
- Age
- G6PD def
- History of allergies and ADR
- Cross-reactivity btw penicillins and other b-lactams
- Preg/lactation
- Renal/hepatic impairment
- Status of host immune fn (use bactericidal drugs for immunocompromised + combination therapy as more vulnerable to polymicrobial infection)
- Severity of illness
(may need broader spectrum e.g. covering Pseudomonas) - Recent Abx use
What are some drug properties to consider when choosing the ABx?
- Active against suspected organism
- Ability to reach site of infection (CNS penetration)
- PK-PD
- ROA
- Side effects
- DDI
- Cost
Enterobacteriacea VS Enterobacterales
Family VS Order
Different route of administrations
IV, IM, PO, intrathecal, inhalation, topical
When is IV route used?
hospitalised, severe infections, when high blood conc is required
Why is oral the preferred route?
IV needle can also cause infection; for the comfort of the patient
Less invasive and less nursing time
Oral prevents irritation to vein/ occur blood stream infections