Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/04/news-scan-apr-08-2022
News Scan for Apr 08, 2022
Antibiotic stewardship during COVID; Slow rise in US flu
Filed Under:
Antimicrobial Stewardship; Influenza, General
Study finds antibiotic use in Iowa hospitals wasn't affected by COVID-19
A study of hospitals in Iowa that employ three different antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) models found that core stewardship activities were maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers reported today in Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology.
The study, conducted at 12 hospitals that are part of an integrated health system, examined trends in antibiotic days of therapy (DOT) per 1,000 days present in medical-surgical and intensive care units from Jan 1, 2019, to Feb 28, 2021.
During the first year of the pandemic, Iowa saw two significant increases in community spread of SARS-CoV-2 and a commensurate increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, and there have been concerns that ASP team members in hospitals across the country have been diverted for COVID management. The study focused on the use of meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, cefepime, ceftriaxone, vancomycin, azithromycin, doxycycline, and levoflacin.
Across hospitals using the three models—which involved different levels of staffing and access to infectious disease expertise, and different daily activities—the researchers identified multiple fluctuations in the rates of antibiotic use throughout the study period. But in most cases, the average monthly percent changes in the use of key antibiotics reflected trends that preceded the pandemic.
[SUP] "[/SUP]Our assessment of longitudinal trends in prescribing revealed fluctuations that, in most instances, did not reach a statistically significant deviation from the existing trend," the study authors wrote. "There is a need for development of ASPs in settings with both limited access to the expertise of infectious diseases specialists, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a lack of reports of stewardship practices.
Apr 8 Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol abstract
US flu activity continues upward trend, led by H3N2 strain
The nation's flu activity rose again last week, with the levels highest in central and southeast states and increasing in the Northeast, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update.
The percentage of outpatient visits for flulike illness, a key marker, rose slightly, to 1.9%, but is still below the national baseline. One state—New Mexico—reported high flu activity, another measure of clinic visits for flulike illness. Four states reported moderate activity: Kansas, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Utah.
Hospitalizations rose for the ninth straight week but are still lower than the previous four prepandemic flu seasons.
At clinical labs, 8.3% of respiratory samples were positive for flu, with nearly all viruses classified as influenza A. At public health labs, of subtyped influenza A viruses, all were the H3N2 strain. So far, there has been very little influenza B activity, which typically rises later in the flu season.
Two pediatric flu deaths were reported, bringing the season's total to 16. Both occurred in March and were due to unsubtyped influenza A viruses.
Apr 8 CDC FluView update
News Scan for Apr 08, 2022
Antibiotic stewardship during COVID; Slow rise in US flu
Filed Under:
Antimicrobial Stewardship; Influenza, General
Study finds antibiotic use in Iowa hospitals wasn't affected by COVID-19
A study of hospitals in Iowa that employ three different antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) models found that core stewardship activities were maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers reported today in Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology.
The study, conducted at 12 hospitals that are part of an integrated health system, examined trends in antibiotic days of therapy (DOT) per 1,000 days present in medical-surgical and intensive care units from Jan 1, 2019, to Feb 28, 2021.
During the first year of the pandemic, Iowa saw two significant increases in community spread of SARS-CoV-2 and a commensurate increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, and there have been concerns that ASP team members in hospitals across the country have been diverted for COVID management. The study focused on the use of meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, cefepime, ceftriaxone, vancomycin, azithromycin, doxycycline, and levoflacin.
Across hospitals using the three models—which involved different levels of staffing and access to infectious disease expertise, and different daily activities—the researchers identified multiple fluctuations in the rates of antibiotic use throughout the study period. But in most cases, the average monthly percent changes in the use of key antibiotics reflected trends that preceded the pandemic.
[SUP] "[/SUP]Our assessment of longitudinal trends in prescribing revealed fluctuations that, in most instances, did not reach a statistically significant deviation from the existing trend," the study authors wrote. "There is a need for development of ASPs in settings with both limited access to the expertise of infectious diseases specialists, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a lack of reports of stewardship practices.
Apr 8 Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol abstract
US flu activity continues upward trend, led by H3N2 strain
The nation's flu activity rose again last week, with the levels highest in central and southeast states and increasing in the Northeast, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update.
The percentage of outpatient visits for flulike illness, a key marker, rose slightly, to 1.9%, but is still below the national baseline. One state—New Mexico—reported high flu activity, another measure of clinic visits for flulike illness. Four states reported moderate activity: Kansas, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Utah.
Hospitalizations rose for the ninth straight week but are still lower than the previous four prepandemic flu seasons.
At clinical labs, 8.3% of respiratory samples were positive for flu, with nearly all viruses classified as influenza A. At public health labs, of subtyped influenza A viruses, all were the H3N2 strain. So far, there has been very little influenza B activity, which typically rises later in the flu season.
Two pediatric flu deaths were reported, bringing the season's total to 16. Both occurred in March and were due to unsubtyped influenza A viruses.
Apr 8 CDC FluView update
