No abstract

Background: There is currently a paucity of data describing bacterial coinfections, related antibiotic prescribing patterns, and the potential role of antimicrobial stewardship in the care of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Methods: This prospective, observational study was conducted from March 10, 2020 to April 21, 2020 in admitted patients with confirmed COVID-19. Patients were included if ≥ 18 years old and admitted to the hospital for further treatment. Data was collected via chart review from the enterprise electronic health record database. Data collected include factors driving antibiotic choice, indication, and duration of therapy as well as microbiological data. Findings: Antibiotics were initiated on admission in 87/147 (59%) patients. Of these, 85/87 (98%) prescriptions were empiric. The most common indication for empiric antibiotics was concern for community-acquired pneumonia (76/85, 89%) with the most prescribed antibiotics being ceftriaxone and azithromycin. The median duration of antibiotic therapy was two days (interquartile range 1-5). No patients had a community-acquired bacterial respiratory coinfection, but 10/147 (7%) of patients were found to have concurrent bacterial infections from a non-respiratory source, and one patient was diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis at the time of admission for COVID-19. Interpretation: Bacterial coinfection in patients with COVID-19 was infrequent. Antibiotics are likely unnecessary in patients with mild symptoms. There is little role for broad-spectrum antibiotics to empirically treat multidrug resistant organisms in patients with COVID-19, regardless of disease severity. Antimicrobial stewardship remains important in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

We report our clinical experience treating a 2-month-old infant with congenital diaphragmatic hernia who experienced prolonged bacteremia with complex (Bcc) despite conventional antibiotic therapy and appropriate source control measures. The infection resolved after initiation of ceftazidime-avibactam. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the isolate most closely resembled and identified the mechanism of resistance that likely contributed to clinical cure with this agent. Ceftazidime-avibactam should be considered salvage therapy for Bcc infections if other treatment options have been exhausted.

Background Fluoroquinolones are antibiotics prescribed in the outpatient setting, though they have serious side effects. This study evaluates the impact of stewardship interventions on total and inappropriate prescribing of fluoroquinolones in outpatient settings in a large county hospital and health system. Methods In an effort to decrease inappropriate outpatient fluoroquinolone usage, a multimodal antimicrobial stewardship initiative was implemented in November 2016. Education regarding the risks, benefits, and appropriate uses of fluoroquinolones was provided to providers in different outpatient settings, Food and Drug Administration warnings were added to all oral fluoroquinolone orders, an outpatient order set for cystitis treatment was created, and fluoroquinolone susceptibilities were suppressed when appropriate. Charts from October 2016, 2017, and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed if the patient encounter occurred in primary care clinics, emergency departments, or urgent care centers within Parkland Health & Hospital System and a fluoroquinolone was prescribed. Inappropriate use was defined as a fluoroquinolone prescription for cystitis, bronchitis, or sinusitis in a patient without a history of Pseudomonas aeruginosa or multidrug-resistant organisms and without drug allergies that precluded use of other oral antibiotics. Results Total fluoroquinolone prescriptions per 1000 patient visits decreased significantly by 39% (P < .01), and inappropriate fluoroquinolone use decreased from 53% to 34% (P < .01). More than 90% of inappropriate fluoroquinolone prescriptions were given for cystitis, while bronchitis and sinusitis accounted for only 4.4% and 1.6% of inappropriate indications, respectively. Conclusion A multimodal stewardship initiative appears to effectively reduce both total and inappropriate outpatient fluoroquinolone prescriptions.

Letermovir was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2017 for use in adult cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients for primary prophylaxis of CMV infection and disease. We report off-label use of letermovir for secondary prophylaxis of genotype-confirmed ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) syndrome (UL 97 mutation [C603W]) in a heart transplant recipient initially treated with intravenous cidofovir followed by foscarnet, both discontinued due to unacceptable toxicities.