Antibiotics

Rapid respiratory virus test results for children in an emergency department could be received too late to inform antibiotic prescribing.

New research from Emory show a significant difference in institutional antibiotic prescribing after education on the value of PCT testing in infected patients last year.

The study authors looked at previously published papers focused on carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, and third-generation cephalosporins.

A conversation on antimicrobial stewardship with Kushal Naik, PharmD, MBA.

No difference was observed in any of the outcomes and there was no impact on the duration of therapy.

GDC and DSENS were both seen to be safe and effective tools to optimize therapy in the study participants.

An effort to increase stewardship showed that 5-day and 10-day prescription stop dates for antibiotics did little to influence actual therapy length and outcomes.

An assessment from the Cleveland Clinic shows prescribing concordant to guidelines can exceed 60% in certain facilities.

Almost half of the participants in the study had an opportunity to improve their antibiotic regimen.

The pilot program was demonstrated to significantly reduce days of antibiotic therapy.

More than half of the pharmacist led interventions were accepted by providers during the intervention period.

Interventions implemented by pharmacists were more likely to be accepted by prescribers.

Short-course antibiotics are preferable for certain common bacterial infections, including acute bronchitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection and cellulitis, the American College of Physicians said in a report issuing practice advice.

A study of more than 400 hospitals offers takeaways for creating antibiotic stewardship programs in hospitals around the country.

Escalating usage and more drug choices are putting more people at risk.

This approach can help with clinical outcomes and mortality, but resistance is not as well defined.

Ongoing education and proven outcomes need to aid this form of testing.

Social identity plays an important role in how antimicrobial stewards see their roles and influences how they communicated with prescribers.

Letters to legislators call for increased funding to address ongoing crisis.

Spero Therapeutics expects to submit a new drug application this year for Tebipenem HBr, the first oral carbapenem for treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) and acute pyelonephritis (AP).

Filmmaker Bill Mudge has released his new documentary, Beating Superbugs: Can We Win? It looks at emerging technologies designed to develop new therapies to combat antibiotic resistance (ABR).

New drugs likely won’t meet resistance challenges ahead, authors say.

Melinta Therapeutics’ oritavancin therapy is indicated for treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) in adult patients.

While the world’s focus remains on COVID-19, beyond this ongoing crisis lingers another that requires leadership, innovation, and collaboration from policy makers, the health care community, and the private sector.