Principles of antimicrobial use Flashcards
Systematic approach to antimicrobial use
1) Confirm presence of infection
- Risk factors
- Subjective evidence
- Objective evidence
- Site of infection
2) Identify pathogen
- Likely pathogen
- Any microbiological tests/results available
3) Selection of antimicrobial & regimen
- Empiric VS Definitive VS Prophylaxis
- Consider organism, host, drug factors
- Decide on choice of agent, route, dosing & duration
4) Monitor response
- Therapeutic response (treatment goals)
- ADR
Subjective evidence
Localized symptoms:
- Intra-abdominal: Diarrhoea, N/V, abdominal distension
- Respiratory tract: Cough, purulent sputum
- UTI: Frequency, urgency, dysuria
- Pain & inflammation (erythema, warmth, swelling) at site of infection
- Purulent discharge at site of infection
Systemic symptoms:
- Fever, chills, rigor
- Malaise, weakness
- Fast heart rate
- SOB
- Mental status changes
Objective evidence - Vital signs
1) Fever - Temperature ≥ 38 degC
- Non-infectious causes: Drug-induced (e.g. epileptic drugs), hyperthyroidism, cancer, stroke
2) Hypotension - SBP < 100 mmHg
3) Respiratory rate > 22 bpm
4) Heart rate > 90 bpm
5) Mental status changes
Objective evidence - Lab tests
1) TW > 10 x 10^9/L OR TW < 4 x 10^9/L
2) Increased neutrophils (normal: 45-75%)
3) Increased procalcitonin
4) Increased CRP
- Not specific, increases whenever there is inflammation
- Mild inflammation & viral infection: 10-40 mg/L
- Active inflammation & bacterial infection: 40-200 mg/L
- Severe bacterial infection & burns: > 200 mg/L
5) Increased ESR
- Not commonly used
Objective evidence - Radiology
1) X-ray
2) Ultrasound
3) CT scan
4) MRI
Using procalcitonin as a guide to start antibiotics
Initiation of antibiotics:
< 0.25 µg/L: Strongly discouraged
≥ 0.25 µg/L & < 0.5 µg/L: Discouraged
≥ 0.5 µg/L & < 1 µg/L: Encouraged
≥ 1 µg/L: Strongly encouraged
Overall: Procalcitonin must be at least ≥ 0.25 µg/L before considering antibiotics
Empiric therapy VS Culture-directed therapy VS Prophylaxis
Empiric therapy
- Microbiological results (culture / susceptibility test) not available
- Treatment is based on clinical presentation of likely site of infection, likely pathogen & likely resistance pattern (based on antibiogram)
Culture-directed
- Treatment based on microbiological results (culture / susceptibility test)
Prophylaxis
- Used to prevent an infection (e.g. surgical prophylaxis, post-exposure prophylaxis)
Selection of antibiotics - Organism factors
1) Identity of organism
- Fungus, bacteria, virus
- Genus, species
2) Susceptibility
- Based on susceptibility tests / antibiogram
Selection of antibiotics - Host factors
1) Age
- Children: Avoid Fluoroquinolones, Tetracyclines, Tigecycline
2) History of allergies & ADR
- Sulpha allergy: Avoid Sulphonamides, Cotrimoxazole
- Penicillin allergy: Avoid ß-lactams (except Aztreonam)
3) G6PD deficiency
- Avoid Sulphonamides, Cotrimoxazole, Nitrofurantoin
4) Renal/Hepatic impairment
- Renal impairment: Avoid Cotrimoxazole (CrCl < 15 mL/min), Nitrofurantoin (CrCl < 30 mL/min)
- Nephrotoxic: Vancomycin, Aminoglycosides, Polymyxin
- Hepatotoxic: Penicillins (e.g. Amoxicillin), Tetracyclines, Tigecycline, Macrolides, Nitrofurantoin
6) Pregnancy / Lactation
- Safe: ß-lactams, Macrolides
- Avoid: Tetracycline, Tigecycline, Aminoglycosides, Fluoroquinolones, Cotrimoxazole (1st & last trimester), Nitrofurantoin (at term - 38-42 weeks), Metronidazole (1st trimester)
6) Status of host immune function
- Immunocompromised - Use bactericidal drugs e.g. ß-lactams, Fluoroquinolones, Aminoglycosides, Vancomycin
- Consider broader spectrum, combination therapy
7) Severity of illness
- Consider broader spectrum, combination therapy
8) Recent antimicrobial use
- Avoid antimicrobials used recently if treatment failed
9) Healthcare-associated risk factors
- Consider broader spectrum, combination therapy
Healthcare risk factors
1) Hospitalization in past 90 days
2) Current hospitalization ≥ 2 days
3) Residence in nursing home
4) Antimicrobial use in last 90 days
5) Home infusion therapy
6) Chronic dialysis
Selection of antibiotics - Drug factors
1) Spectrum of activity
2) Ability to reach site of infection
3) PK/PD characteristics
4) Route of administration
5) Side effects
6) DDI
7) Cost
Antibiotics that cover MRSA
5th generation Cephalosporin (Ceftaroline) Vancomycin Doxycycline Tigecycline Clindamycin Linezolid Cotrimoxazole Daptomycin
Antibiotics that cover P. aeruginosa
Piperacillin-Tazobactam Ceftazidime, Cefepime Carbapenem (except Ertapenem) Aztreonam Aminoglycosides Fluoroquinolones Polymyxins
Antibiotics that cover ESBL-producing strains
Carbapenems (1st line)
Aminoglycosides
Tigecycline
Antibiotics that cover anaerobes
Bacteroides: Metronidazole Clindamycin Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Piperacillin-Tazobactam Carbapenems
C. difficile:
Vancomycin
Metronidazole
Choice of antibiotics based on site of infection:
1) CNS
2) Lungs
3) Abscesses
4) Urinary tract
5) Prostate
CNS:
Penicillins
3rd - 4th generation Cephalosporins (Ceftriaxone, Ceftazidime, Cefepime)
Meropenem
Vancomycin
Avoid: 1st - 2nd generation Cephalosporins, Aminoglycosides, Macrolides, Clindamycin
Lungs:
Avoid: Daptomycin
Abscesses:
ß-lactams
Clindamycin
Avoid: Aminoglycosides
Urinary tract: Nitrofurantoin Fosfomycin Cotrimoxazole Ciprofloxacin
Prostate:
Cotrimoxazole
Ciprofloxacin
