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Antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance
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52 results
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High antimicrobial resistance in urinary tract infections in male outpatients in routine laboratory data, Germany, 2015 to 2020
More LessBackgroundEvidence on the distribution of bacteria and therapy recommendations in male outpatients with urinary tract infections (UTI) remains insufficient.
AimWe aimed to report frequency distributions and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of bacteria causing UTI in men and to identify risk factors for resistance of Escherichia coli against trimethoprim (TMP) and ciprofloxacin (CIP).
MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational study using routinely collected midstream urine specimens from 102,736 adult male outpatients sent from 6,749 outpatient practices to nine collaborating laboratories from all major regions in Germany between 2015 and 2020. Resistance in E. coli was predicted using logistic regression.
ResultsThe three most frequent bacteria were E. coli (38.4%), Enterococcus faecalis (16.5%) and Proteus mirabilis (9.3%). Resistance of E. coli against amoxicillin (45.7%), TMP (26.6%) and CIP (19.8%) was common. Multiple drug resistance was high (22.9%). Resistance against fosfomycin (0.9%) and nitrofurantoin (1.9%) was low. Resistance of En. faecalis against CIP was high (29.3%). Isolates of P. mirabilis revealed high resistance against TMP (41.3%) and CIP (16.6%). The CIP and TMP resistance was significantly higher among bacteria derived from recurrent UTI (p < 0.05). Age ≥ 90 years, recurrent UTI and regions East and South were independently associated with AMR of E. coli against TMP and CIP (p < 0.05).
ConclusionThe most frequent UTI-causing pathogens showed highresistance against TMP and CIP, empirical therapy is therefore likely to fail. Apart from intrinsically resistant pathogens, susceptibility to fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin remains sufficient. Therefore, they remain an additional option for empirical treatment of uncomplicated UTI in men.
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Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Neisseria gonorrhoeae causing possible gonorrhoea treatment failure with ceftriaxone plus azithromycin in Austria, April 2022
We describe a gonorrhoea case with ceftriaxone plus high-level azithromycin resistance. In April 2022, an Austrian heterosexual male was diagnosed with gonorrhoea after sexual intercourse with a female sex worker in Cambodia. Recommended treatment with ceftriaxone (1 g) plus azithromycin (1.5 g) possibly failed. Worryingly, this is the second strain in an Asian Neisseria gonorrhoeae genomic sublineage including high-level azithromycin-resistant strains that developed ceftriaxone resistance by acquisition of mosaic penA-60.001. Enhanced resistance surveillance and actions are imperative to prevent spread.
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa countrywide outbreak in hospitals linked to pre-moistened non-sterile washcloths, Norway, October 2021 to April 2022
In November 2021, a clonal outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa of novel sequence type ST3875 was detected in three patients who died of bloodstream infections in one hospital. By 25 April 2022, the outbreak included 339 cases from 38 hospitals across Norway. Initial hospital reports indicate Pseudomonas infection as the main contributing cause in seven deaths. In March 2022, the outbreak strain was identified in non-sterile pre-moistened disposable washcloths, used to clean patients, from three lots from the same international manufacturer.
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Surveillance systems to monitor antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: a global, systematic review, 1 January 2012 to 27 September 2020
BackgroundEffective surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is required for the early detection of resistant strains and to ensure that treatment guidelines are appropriate for the setting in which they are implemented. AMR in N. gonorrhoeae has been identified as a global health threat.
AimWe performed a systematic review to identify and describe surveillance systems targeting AMR in N. gonorrhoeae.
MethodsWe searched Medline, PubMed, Global Health, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and ProQuest databases and grey literature between 1 January 2012 and 27 September 2020. Surveillance systems were defined as the continuous, systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of N. gonorrhoeae resistance data. The key components of surveillance systems were extracted, categorised, described and summarised.
ResultsWe found 40 publications reporting on N. gonorrhoeae AMR surveillance systems in 27 countries and 10 multi-country or global surveillance reports. The proportion of countries with surveillance systems in each of the WHO's six regions ranged from one of 22 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean and five of 54 in Africa, to three of 11 countries in South East Asia. Only four countries report systems which are both comprehensive and national. We found no evidence of a current surveillance system in at least 148 countries. Coverage, representativeness, volume, clinical specimen source, type and epidemiological information vary substantially and limit interpretability and comparability of surveillance data for public health action.
ConclusionGlobally, surveillance for N. gonorrhoeae AMR is inadequate and leaves large populations vulnerable to a major public health threat.
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The European response to control and manage multi- and extensively drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Because cefixime and ceftriaxone resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and gonorrhoea treatment failures were increasing, a response plan to control and manage multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae (MDR-NG) in Europe was published in 2012. The three main areas of the plan were to: (i) strengthen surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), (ii) implement monitoring of treatment failures and (iii) establish a communication strategy to increase awareness and disseminate AMR results. Since 2012, several additional extensively drug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae (XDR-NG) strains have emerged, and strains with high-level ceftriaxone resistance spread internationally. This prompted an evaluation and review of the 2012 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) response plan, revealing an overall improvement in many aspects of monitoring AMR in N. gonorrhoeae; however, treatment failure monitoring was a weakness. Accordingly, the plan was updated in 2019 to further support European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries in controlling and managing the threat of MDR/XDR-NG in Europe through further strengthening of AMR surveillance and clinical management including treatment failure monitoring. The plan will be assessed biennially to ensure its effectiveness and its value. Along with prevention, diagnostic, treatment and epidemiological surveillance strategies, AMR surveillance is essential for effective control of gonorrhoea.
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A prospective multicentre screening study on multidrug-resistant organisms in intensive care units in the Dutch–German cross-border region, 2017 to 2018: the importance of healthcare structures
Corinna Glasner , Matthijs S Berends , Karsten Becker , Jutta Esser , Jens Gieffers , Annette Jurke , Greetje Kampinga , Stefanie Kampmeier , Rob Klont , Robin Köck , Lutz von Müller , Nashwan al Naemi , Alewijn Ott , Gijs Ruijs , Katja Saris , Adriana Tami , Andreas Voss , Karola Waar , Jan van Zeijl and Alex W FriedrichBackgroundAntimicrobial resistance poses a risk for healthcare, both in the community and hospitals. The spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) occurs mostly on a local and regional level, following movement of patients, but also occurs across national borders.
AimThe aim of this observational study was to determine the prevalence of MDROs in a European cross-border region to understand differences and improve infection prevention based on real-time routine data and workflows.
MethodsBetween September 2017 and June 2018, 23 hospitals in the Dutch (NL)–German (DE) cross-border region (BR) participated in the study. During 8 consecutive weeks, patients were screened upon admission to intensive care units (ICUs) for nasal carriage of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and rectal carriage of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium/E. faecalis (VRE), third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (3GCRE) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). All samples were processed in the associated laboratories.
ResultsA total of 3,365 patients were screened (median age: 68 years (IQR: 57–77); male/female ratio: 59.7/40.3; NL-BR: n = 1,202; DE-BR: n = 2,163). Median screening compliance was 60.4% (NL-BR: 56.9%; DE-BR: 62.9%). MDRO prevalence was higher in DE-BR than in NL-BR, namely 1.7% vs 0.6% for MRSA (p = 0.006), 2.7% vs 0.1% for VRE (p < 0.001) and 6.6% vs 3.6% for 3GCRE (p < 0.001), whereas CRE prevalence was comparable (0.2% in DE-BR vs 0.0% in NL-BR ICUs).
ConclusionsThis first prospective multicentre screening study in a European cross-border region shows high heterogenicity in MDRO carriage prevalence in NL-BR and DE-BR ICUs. This indicates that the prevalence is probably influenced by the different healthcare structures.
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Impact of single-room contact precautions on acquisition and transmission of vancomycin-resistant enterococci on haematological and oncological wards, multicentre cohort-study, Germany, January−December 2016
Lena M. Biehl , Paul G. Higgins , Jannik Stemler , Meyke Gilles , Silke Peter , Daniela Dörfel , Wichard Vogel , Winfried V. Kern , Hanna Gölz , Hartmut Bertz , Holger Rohde , Eva-Maria Klupp , Philippe Schafhausen , Jon Salmanton-García , Melanie Stecher , Julia Wille , Blasius Liss , Kyriaki Xanthopoulou , Janine Zweigner , Harald Seifert and Maria J.G.T. VehreschildBackgroundEvidence supporting the effectiveness of single-room contact precautions (SCP) in preventing in-hospital acquisition of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (haVRE) is limited.
AimWe assessed the impact of SCP on haVRE and their transmission.
MethodsWe conducted a prospective, multicentre cohort study in German haematological/oncological departments during 2016. Two sites performed SCP for VRE patients and two did not (NCP). We defined a 5% haVRE-risk difference as non-inferiority margin, screened patients for VRE, and characterised isolates by whole genome sequencing and core genome MLST (cgMLST). Potential confounders were assessed by competing risk regression analysis.
ResultsWe included 1,397 patients at NCP and 1,531 patients at SCP sites. Not performing SCP was associated with a significantly higher proportion of haVRE; 12.2% (170/1,397) patients at NCP and 7.4% (113/1,531) patients at SCP sites (relative risk (RR) 1.74; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35–2.23). The difference (4.8%) was below the non-inferiority margin. Competing risk regression analysis indicated a stronger impact of antimicrobial exposure (subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) 7.46; 95% CI: 4.59–12.12) and underlying disease (SHR for acute leukaemia 2.34; 95% CI: 1.46–3.75) on haVRE than NCP (SHR 1.60; 95% CI: 1.14–2.25). Based on cgMLST and patient movement data, we observed 131 patient-to-patient VRE transmissions at NCP and 85 at SCP sites (RR 1.76; 95% CI: 1.33–2.34).
ConclusionsWe show a positive impact of SCP on haVRE in a high-risk population, although the observed difference was below the pre-specified non-inferiority margin. Importantly, other factors including antimicrobial exposure seem to be more influential.
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Antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic consumption in intensive care units, Switzerland, 2009 to 2018
BackgroundIntensive care units (ICU) constitute a high-risk setting for antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
AimWe aimed to describe secular AMR trends including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE), extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli (ESCR-EC) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESCR-KP), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) from Swiss ICU. We assessed time trends of antibiotic consumption and identified factors associated with CRE and CRPA.
MethodsWe analysed patient isolate and antibiotic consumption data of Swiss ICU sent to the Swiss Centre for Antibiotic Resistance (2009–2018). Time trends were assessed using linear logistic regression; a mixed-effects logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with CRE and CRPA.
ResultsAmong 52 ICU, MRSA decreased from 14% to 6% (p = 0.005; n = 6,465); GRE increased from 1% to 3% (p = 0.011; n = 4,776). ESCR-EC and ESCR-KP increased from 7% to 15% (p < 0.001, n = 10,648) and 5% to 11% (p = 0.002; n = 4,052), respectively. CRE, mostly Enterobacter spp., increased from 1% to 5% (p = 0.008; n = 17,987); CRPA remained stable at 27% (p = 0.759; n = 4,185). Antibiotic consumption in 58 ICU increased from 2009 to 2013 (82.5 to 97.4 defined daily doses (DDD)/100 bed-days) and declined until 2018 (78.3 DDD/100 bed-days). Total institutional antibiotic consumption was associated with detection of CRE in multivariable analysis (odds ratio per DDD: 1.01; 95% confidence interval: 1.0–1.02; p = 0.004).
DiscussionIn Swiss ICU, antibiotic-resistant Enterobacterales have been steadily increasing over the last decade. The emergence of CRE, associated with institutional antibiotic consumption, is of particular concern and calls for reinforced surveillance and antibiotic stewardship in this setting.
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Decrease in community antibiotic consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, EU/EEA, 2020
We present a European Union/European Economic Area-wide overview of the changes in consumption of antibacterials for systemic use (ATC J01) in the community between 2019 and 2020 as reported to the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network. Overall antibiotic consumption decreased by 18.3% between 2019 and 2020, the largest annual decrease in the network's two-decade history. We observed a strong association between the level of community antibiotic consumption in 2019 and the size of the decrease between 2019 and 2020.
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Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections: diverging trends of meticillin-resistant and meticillin-susceptible isolates, EU/EEA, 2005 to 2018
Carlo Gagliotti , Liselotte Diaz Högberg , Hanna Billström , Tim Eckmanns , Christian G Giske , Ole E Heuer , Vincent Jarlier , Gunnar Kahlmeter , Danilo Lo Fo Wong , Jos Monen , Stephen Murchan , Gunnar Skov Simonsen , Maja Šubelj , Arjana Tambić Andrašević , Dorota Żabicka , Helena Žemličková , Dominique L Monnet and EARS-Net study group participantsBackgroundInvasive infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus have high clinical and epidemiological relevance. It is therefore important to monitor the S. aureus trends using suitable methods.
AimThe study aimed to describe the trends of bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by meticillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and meticillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).
MethodsAnnual data on S. aureus BSI from 2005 to 2018 were obtained from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net). Trends of BSI were assessed at the EU/EEA level by adjusting for blood culture set rate (number of blood culture sets per 1,000 days of hospitalisation) and stratification by patient characteristics.
ResultsConsidering a fixed cohort of laboratories consistently reporting data over the entire study period, MRSA percentages among S. aureus BSI decreased from 30.2% in 2005 to 16.3% in 2018. Concurrently, the total number of BSI caused by S. aureus increased by 57%, MSSA BSI increased by 84% and MRSA BSI decreased by 31%. All these trends were statistically significant (p < 0.001).
ConclusionsThe results indicate an increasing health burden of MSSA BSI in the EU/EEA despite a significant decrease in the MRSA percentage. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring antimicrobial resistance trends by assessing not only resistance percentages but also the incidence of infections. Further research is needed on the factors associated with the observed trends and on their attributable risk.
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Hospital-acquired infections caused by enterococci: a systematic review and meta-analysis, WHO European Region, 1 January 2010 to 4 February 2020
More LessBackgroundHospital-acquired infections (HAI) caused by Enterococcus spp., especially vancomycin-resistant Enterococcusspp. (VRE), are of rising concern.
AimWe summarised data on incidence, mortality and proportion of HAI caused by enterococci in the World Health Organization European Region.
MethodsWe searched Medline and Embase for articles published between 1 January 2010 and 4 February 2020. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to obtain pooled estimates.
ResultsWe included 75 studies. Enterococcus spp. and VRE accounted for 10.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 8.7–13.4; range: 6.1–17.5) and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.21–2.7; range: 0.39–2.0) of all pathogens isolated from patients with HAI. Hospital wide, the pooled incidence of HAI caused by Enterococcus spp. ranged between 0.7 and 24.8 cases per 1,000 patients (pooled estimate: 6.9; 95% CI: 0.76–19.0). In intensive care units (ICU), pooled incidence of HAI caused by Enterococcus spp. and VRE was 9.6 (95% CI: 6.3–13.5; range: 0.39–36.0) and 2.6 (95% CI: 0.53–5.8; range: 0–9.7). Hospital wide, the pooled vancomycin resistance proportion among Enterococcus spp. HAI isolates was 7.3% (95% CI: 1.5–16.3; range: 2.6–11.5). In ICU, this proportion was 11.5% (95% CI: 4.7–20.1; range: 0–40.0). Among patients with hospital-acquired bloodstream infections with Enterococcus spp., pooled all-cause mortality was 21.9% (95% CI: 15.7–28.9; range: 14.3–32.3); whereas all-cause mortality attributable to VRE was 33.5% (95% CI: 13.0–57.3; range: 14.3–41.3).
ConclusionsInfections caused by Enterococcus spp. are frequently identified among hospital patients and associated with high mortality.
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Healthcare-associated foodborne outbreaks in high-income countries: a literature review and surveillance study, 16 OECD countries, 2001 to 2019*
BackgroundHealthcare-associated foodborne outbreaks (HA-FBO) may have severe consequences, especially in vulnerable groups.
AimThe aim was to describe the current state of HA-FBO and propose public health recommendations for prevention.
MethodsWe searched PubMed, the Outbreak Database (Charité, University Medicine Berlin), and hand-searched reference lists for HA-FBO with outbreak onset between 2001 and 2018 from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and HA-FBO (2012–2018) from the German surveillance system. Additionally, data from the European Food Safety Authority were analysed.
ResultsThe literature search retrieved 57 HA-FBO from 16 OECD countries, primarily in the US (n = 11), Germany (n = 11) and the United Kingdom (n = 9). In addition, 28 HA-FBO were retrieved from the German surveillance system. Based on the number of outbreaks, the top three pathogens associated with the overall 85 HA-FBO were Salmonella (n = 24), norovirus (n = 22) and Listeria monocytogenes (n = 19). Based on the number of deaths, L. monocytogenes was the main pathogen causing HA-FBO. Frequently reported implicated foods were ‘mixed foods’ (n = 16), ‘vegetables and fruits’ (n = 15) and ‘meat and meat products’ (n = 10). Consumption of high-risk food by vulnerable patients, inadequate time-temperature control, insufficient kitchen hygiene and food hygiene and carriers of pathogens among food handlers were reported as reasons for HA-FBO.
ConclusionTo prevent HA-FBO, the supply of high-risk food to vulnerable people should be avoided. Well working outbreak surveillance facilitates early detection and requires close interdisciplinary collaboration and exchange of information between hospitals, food safety and public health authorities.
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Import of multidrug-resistant bacteria from abroad through interhospital transfers, Finland, 2010–2019
More LessBackgroundWhile 20–80% of regular visitors to (sub)tropical regions become colonised by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE), those hospitalised abroad often also carry other multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria on return; the rates are presumed to be highest for interhospital transfers.
AimThis observational study assessed MDR bacterial colonisation among patients transferred directly from hospitals abroad to Helsinki University Hospital. We investigated predisposing factors, clinical infections and associated fatalities.
MethodsData were derived from screening and from diagnostic samples collected between 2010 and 2019. Risk factors of colonisation were identified by multivariable analysis. Microbiologically verified symptomatic infections and infection-related mortality were recorded during post-transfer hospitalisation.
ResultsColonisation rates proved highest for transfers from Asia (69/96; 71.9%) and lowest for those within Europe (99/524; 18.9%). Of all 698 patients, 208 (29.8%) were colonised; among those, 163 (78.4%) carried ESBL-PE, 28 (13.5%) MDR Acinetobacter species, 25 (12.0%) meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 25 (12.0%) vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, 14 (6.7%) carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and 12 (5.8%) MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa; 46 strains tested carbapenemase gene-positive. In multivariable analysis, geographical region, intensive care unit (ICU) treatment and antibiotic use abroad proved to be risk factors for colonisation. Clinical MDR infections, two of them fatal (1.0%), were recorded for 22 of 208 (10.6%) MDR carriers.
ConclusionsColonisation by MDR bacteria was common among patients transferred from foreign hospitals. Region of hospitalisation, ICU treatment and antibiotic use were identified as predisposing factors. Within 30 days after transfer, MDR colonisation manifested as clinical infection in more than 10% of the carriers.
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Misidentification of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by the Cepheid Xpert MRSA NxG assay, the Netherlands, February to March 2021
We describe two false-negative results in the detection of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) of sequence type 398 and spa type t011 using the Cepheid Xpert MRSA NxG assay. The isolates were recovered in late February and early March 2021 from two patients in different hospitals in the northern Netherlands. Variations between the two isolate genomes indicate that this MRSA strain might have been spreading for some time and could have disseminated to other regions of the Netherlands and other European countries.
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Novel vancomycin resistance gene cluster in Enterococcus faecium ST1486, Belgium, June 2021
We identified a novel van gene cluster in a clinical Enterococcus faecium isolate with vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4 µg/mL. The ligase gene, vanP, was part of a van operon cluster of 4,589 bp on a putative novel integrative conjugative element located in a ca 98 kb genomic region presumed to be acquired by horizontal gene transfer from Clostridiumscidens and Roseburia sp. 499. Screening for van genes in E. faecium strains with borderline susceptibility to vancomycin is important.
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Markedly decreasing azithromycin susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Germany, 2014 to 2021
We monitored antimicrobial susceptibility developments of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Germany from January 2014 to May 2021. The proportion of isolates with azithromycin minimum inhibitory concentrations above the epidemiological cut-off increased substantially, from 1.3% in 2014 to 12.2% in 2020. Preliminary data from 2021 showed a further rise (January to May: 20.7%). Therefore, azithromycin as part of the recommended dual therapy in Germany for non-adherent patients is challenged. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing in clinical practice is crucial and continuous susceptibility surveillance indispensable.
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Mortality review as a tool to assess the contribution of healthcare-associated infections to death: results of a multicentre validity and reproducibility study, 11 European Union countries, 2017 to 2018
IntroductionThe contribution of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) to mortality can be estimated using statistical methods, but mortality review (MR) is better suited for routine use in clinical settings. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recently introduced MR into its HAI surveillance.
AimWe evaluate validity and reproducibility of three MR measures.
MethodsThe on-site investigator, usually an infection prevention and control doctor, and the clinician in charge of the patient independently reviewed records of deceased patients with bloodstream infection (BSI), pneumonia, Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) or surgical site infection (SSI), and assessed the contribution to death using 3CAT: definitely/possibly/no contribution to death; WHOCAT: sole cause/part of causal sequence but not sufficient on its own/contributory cause but unrelated to condition causing death/no contribution, based on the World Health Organization’s death certificate; QUANT: Likert scale: 0 (no contribution) to 10 (definitely cause of death). Inter-rater reliability was assessed with weighted kappa (wk) and intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICC). Reviewers rated the fit of the measures.
ResultsFrom 2017 to 2018, 24 hospitals (11 countries) recorded 291 cases: 87 BSI, 113 pneumonia , 71 CDI and 20 SSI. The inter-rater reliability was: 3CAT wk 0.68 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.61–0.75); WHOCAT wk 0.65 (95% CI: 0.58–0.73); QUANT ICC 0.76 (95% CI: 0.71–0.81). Inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.72 for pneumonia to 0.52 for CDI. All three measures fitted ‘reasonably’ or ‘well’ in > 88%.
ConclusionFeasibility, validity and reproducibility of these MR measures was acceptable for use in HAI surveillance.
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Outbreak of OXA-48-producing Enterobacterales in a haematological ward associated with an uncommon environmental reservoir, France, 2016 to 2019
The hospital water environment, including the wastewater drainage system, is increasingly reported as a potential reservoir for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE). We investigated a persistent outbreak of OXA-48 CPE (primarily Citrobacter freundii) in a haematological ward of a French teaching hospital by epidemiological, microbiological and environmental methods. Between January 2016 and June 2019, we detected 37 new OXA-48 CPE-colonised and/or ‑infected patients in the haematological ward. In October 2017, a unit dedicated to CPE-colonised and/or ‑infected patients was created. Eleven additional sporadic acquisitions were identified after this date without any obvious epidemiological link between patients, except in one case. Environmental investigations of the haematological ward (June–August 2018) identified seven of 74 toilets and one of 39 drains positive for OXA-48 CPE (seven C. freundii, one Enterobacter sakazakii, one Escherichia coli). Whole genome comparisons identified a clonal dissemination of OXA-48-producing C. freundii from the hospital environment to patients. In addition to strict routine infection control measures, an intensive cleaning programme was performed (descaling and bleaching) and all toilet bowls and tanks were changed. These additional measures helped to contain the outbreak. This study highlights that toilets can be a possible source of transmission of OXA-48 CPE.
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Risk factors for acquisition of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and expansion of a colistin-resistant ST307 epidemic clone in hospitals in Marseille, France, 2014 to 2017
BackgroundFrance is a low prevalence country for colistin resistance. Molecular and epidemiological events contributing to the emergence of resistance to colistin, one of the 'last-resort' antibiotics to treat multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections, are important to investigate.
AimThis retrospective (2014 to 2017) observational study aimed to identify risk factors associated with acquisition of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in hospitals in Marseille, France, and to molecularly characterise clinical isolates.
MethodsTo identify risk factors for CRKP, a matched-case–control (1:2) study was performed in two groups of patients with CRKP or colistin-susceptible K. pneumoniae respectively. Whole-genome-sequences (WGS) of CRKP were compared with 6,412 K. pneumoniae genomes available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
ResultsMultivariate analysis identified male sex and contact with a patient carrying a CRKP as significant independent factors (p < 0.05) for CRKP acquisition, but not colistin administration. WGS of nine of 14 CRKP clinical isolates belonged to the same sequence type (ST)307. These isolates were from patients who had been hospitalised in the same wards, suggesting an outbreak. Comparison of the corresponding strains’ WGS to K. pneumoniae genomes in NCBI revealed that in chromosomal genes likely playing a role in colistin resistance, a subset of five specific mutations were significantly associated with ST307 (p < 0.001).
ConclusionA ST307 CRKP clone was identified in this study, with specific chromosomal mutations in genes potentially implicated in colistin resistance. ST307 might have a propensity to be or become resistant to colistin, however confirming this requires further investigations.
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Building the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet)
Rodolphe Mader , Peter Damborg , Jean-Philippe Amat , Björn Bengtsson , Clémence Bourély , Els M Broens , Luca Busani , Paloma Crespo-Robledo , Maria-Eleni Filippitzi , William Fitzgerald , Heike Kaspar , Cristina Muñoz Madero , Madelaine Norström , Suvi Nykäsenoja , Karl Pedersen , Lucie Pokludova , Anne Margrete Urdahl , Alkiviadis Vatopoulos , Christos Zafeiridis , Jean-Yves Madec and on behalf of EU-JAMRAIAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) should be tackled through a One Health approach, as stated in the World Health Organization Global Action Plan on AMR. We describe the landscape of AMR surveillance in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) and underline a gap regarding veterinary medicine. Current AMR surveillance efforts are of limited help to veterinary practitioners and policymakers seeking to improve antimicrobial stewardship in animal health. We propose to establish the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) to report on the AMR situation, follow AMR trends and detect emerging AMR in selected bacterial pathogens of animals. This information could be useful to advise policymakers, explore efficacy of interventions, support antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, (re-)evaluate marketing authorisations of antimicrobials, generate epidemiological cut-off values, assess risk of zoonotic AMR transmission and evaluate the burden of AMR in animal health. EARS-Vet could be integrated with other AMR monitoring systems in the animal and medical sectors to ensure a One Health approach. Herein, we present a strategy to establish EARS-Vet as a network of national surveillance systems and highlight challenges of data harmonisation and bias. Strong political commitment at national and EU/EEA levels is required for the success of EARS-Vet.
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Prospective genomic surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) associated with bloodstream infection, England, 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2013
BackgroundMandatory reporting of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSI) has occurred in England for over 15years. Epidemiological information is recorded, but routine collection of isolates for characterisation has not been routinely undertaken. Ongoing developments in whole-genome sequencing (WGS) have demonstrated its value in outbreak investigations and for determining the spread of antimicrobial resistance and bacterial population structure. Benefits of adding genomics to routine epidemiological MRSA surveillance are unknown.
AimTo determine feasibility and potential utility of adding genomics to epidemiological surveillance of MRSA.
MethodsWe conducted an epidemiological and genomic survey of MRSA BSI in England over a 1-year period (1 October 2012–30 September 2013).
ResultsDuring the study period, 903 cases of MRSA BSI were reported; 425 isolates were available for sequencing of which, 276 (65%) were clonal complex (CC) 22. Addition of 64 MRSA genomes from published outbreak investigations showed that the study genomes could provide context for outbreak isolates and supported cluster identification. Comparison to other MRSA genome collections demonstrated variation in clonal diversity achieved through different sampling strategies and identified potentially high-risk clones e.g. USA300 and local expansion of CC5 MRSA in South West England.
ConclusionsWe demonstrate the potential utility of combined epidemiological and genomic MRSA BSI surveillance to determine the national population structure of MRSA, contextualise previous MRSA outbreaks, and detect potentially high-risk lineages. These findings support the integration of epidemiological and genomic surveillance for MRSA BSI as a step towards a comprehensive surveillance programme in England.
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Antimicrobial resistance of major clinical pathogens in South Korea, May 2016 to April 2017: first one-year report from Kor-GLASS
The Korean government established an antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance system, compatible with the Global AMR Surveillance System (GLASS): Kor-GLASS. We describe results from the first year of operation of the Kor-GLASS from May 2016 to April 2017, comprising all non-duplicated clinical isolates of major pathogens from blood, urine, faeces and urethral and cervical swabs from six sentinel hospitals. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were carried out by disk diffusion, Etest, broth microdilution and agar dilution methods. Among 67,803 blood cultures, 3,523 target pathogens were recovered. The predominant bacterial species were Escherichia coli (n = 1,536), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 597) and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 584). From 57,477 urine cultures, 6,394 E. coli and 1,097 K. pneumoniae were recovered. Bloodstream infections in inpatients per 10,000 patient-days (10TPD) were highest for cefotaxime-resistant E. coli with 2.1, followed by 1.6 for meticillin-resistant Sta. aureus, 1.1 for imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, 0.8 for cefotaxime-resistant K. pneumoniae and 0.4 for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. Urinary tract infections in inpatients were 7.7 and 2.1 per 10TPD for cefotaxime-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively. Kor-GLASS generated well-curated surveillance data devoid of collection bias or isolate duplication. A bacterial bank and a database for the collections are under development.
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Establishment of the South Korean national antimicrobial resistance surveillance system, Kor-GLASS, in 2016
Surveillance plays a pivotal role in overcoming antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens, and a variety of surveillance systems have been set up and employed in many countries. In 2015, the World Health Organization launched the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) as a part of the global action plan to enhance national and global surveillance and research. The aims of GLASS are to foster development of national surveillance systems and to enable collection, analysis and sharing of standardised, comparable and validated data on AMR between different countries. The South Korean AMR surveillance system, Kor-GLASS, is compatible with the GLASS platform and was established in 2016 and based on the principles of representativeness, specialisation, harmonisation and localisation. In this report, we summarise principles and processes in order to share our experiences with other countries planning to establish a national AMR surveillance system. The pilot operation of Kor-GLASS allowed us to understand the national burden of specific infectious diseases and the status of bacterial AMR. Issues pertaining to high costs and labour-intensive operation were raised during the pilot, and improvements are being made.
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Genomic epidemiology of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST22 widespread in communities of the Gaza Strip, 2009
BackgroundRemarkably high carriage prevalence of a community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain of sequence type (ST) 22 in the Gaza strip was reported in 2012. This strain is linked to the pandemic hospital-associated EMRSA-15. The origin and evolutionary history of ST22 in Gaza communities and the genomic elements contributing to its widespread predominance are unknown. Methods: We generated high-quality draft genomes of 61 ST22 isolates from Gaza communities and, along with 175 ST22 genomes from global sources, reconstructed the ST22 phylogeny and examined genotypes unique to the Gaza isolates. Results: The Gaza isolates do not exhibit a close relationship with hospital-associated ST22 isolates, but rather with a basal population from which EMRSA-15 emerged. There were two separate resistance acquisitions by the same MSSA lineage, followed by diversification of other genetic determinants. Nearly all isolates in the two distinct clades, one characterised by staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) IVa and the other by SCCmec V and MSSA isolates, contain the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 gene. Discussion: The genomic diversity of Gaza ST22 isolates is not consistent with recent emergence in the region. The results indicate that two divergent Gaza clones evolved separately from susceptible isolates. Researchers should not assume that isolates identified as ST22 in the community are examples of EMRSA-15 that have escaped their healthcare roots. Future surveillance of MRSA is essential to the understanding of ST22 evolutionary dynamics and to aid efforts to slow the further spread of this lineage.
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Epidemiology and resistance phenotypes of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Greece, 2014 to 2016
Irene Galani , Ilias Karaiskos , Irene Karantani , Vassiliki Papoutsaki , Sofia Maraki , Vassiliki Papaioannou , Polyzo Kazila , Helen Tsorlini , Nikoletta Charalampaki , Marina Toutouza , Helen Vagiakou , Konstantinos Pappas , Anna Kyratsa , Konstantina Kontopoulou , Olga Legga , Efthymia Petinaki , Helen Papadogeorgaki , Efrosini Chinou , Maria Souli , Helen Giamarellou and on behalf of the study collaboratorsBackground and aimA multicentre nationwide surveillance study was conducted in Greek hospitals to evaluate epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates, and their susceptibilities to last-line antibiotics. Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were evaluated by Etest, colistin MICs were also evaluated by broth microdilution SensiTest (now known as ComASP) Colistin. Carbapenemase genes were detected by PCR. Clonal relatedness was assessed by PFGE. Isolates were prospectively collected between November 2014 and April 2016, from 15 hospitals. Results: Among 394 isolates, K. pneumoniae carbepenemase (KPC) remained the most prevalent carbapenemase (66.5%). NDM was the second most prevalent (13.7%), identified in 12 hospitals, followed by VIM (8.6%). OXA-48- and double carbapenemase-producers remained rare (3.6%, 6.3%, respectively). Carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae isolates showed high resistance to last-line antibiotics. Gentamicin and colistin were the most active in vitro with 61.9% and 59.6% of the isolates to be inhibited at ≤ 2mg/L, followed by fosfomycin (susceptibility (S): 58.4%) and tigecycline (S: 51.5%). Ceftazidime/avibactam inhibited 99.6% of KPC and 100% of OXA-48-like-producing isolates, while temocillin was active against 58% of KPC isolates at urinary breakpoint of ≤ 32mg/L* and only 2.7% at systemic breakpoint of ≤ 8mg/L. NDM-producing isolates belonged mainly to one clone, whereas KPC, VIM, OXA-48 and double carbapenemase-producers were mainly polyclonal. Conclusions: KPC remains the predominant carbapenemase among K. pneumoniae in Greece, followed by NDM, whereas changing trends of resistance rates to last-line antimicrobials against carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae with the exception of ceftazidime/avibactam mandates continuing surveillance to support clinical practice.
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Risk factors for colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in a low-endemicity setting for carbapenem resistance – a matched case–control study
More LessBackgroundEmergence of colistin resistance has been related to increased use in clinical settings, following global spread of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Use of colistin in animal production may constitute a further source of spread of resistant strains to humans. We sought to determine risk factors for human colonisation or infection with colistin-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in a setting where colistin is mainly used for animal production. Methods: This retrospective matched case–control study was performed during a 5-year period at two university-affiliated hospitals in Basel, Switzerland. Conditional univariable logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) for colistin resistance. All variables found to be significant in univariable analyses were included in the conditional multivariable regression model using stepwise forward and backward selection. Results: Forty-two cases (33 with colistin-resistant E. coli, 9 with colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae) and 126 matched controls were identified. Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, prior exposure to antibiotics and healthcare settings did not differ between cases and controls, except for prior exposure to carbapenems, hospitalisation and stay abroad during the prior 3 months. In multivariable analyses, only prior exposure to carbapenems remained associated with colistin resistance (OR: 5.00; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.19–20.92; p = 0.028). Conclusion: In a low-endemicity setting for carbapenem resistance, prior exposure to carbapenems was the only risk factor for colonisation or infection with colistin-resistant E. coli or K. pneumoniae. Prior exposure to colistin was not significantly associated with detection of colistin resistance, which mainly occurred in the absence of concurrent carbapenem resistance.
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Outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium clone ST796, Switzerland, December 2017 to April 2018
A large outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is affecting four hospitals in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland, since December 2017. Of 89 cases identified as carriers, 77 (86.5%) VRE isolates were virtually indistinguishable using whole genome sequencing, and identified as multilocus sequence type (MLST) ST796. This clone, previously only described in Australia and New Zealand, is characterised by rapid spread and the ability to cause bloodstream infections. It requires a multifaceted infection prevention effort.
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Comparing antibiotic consumption between two European countries: are packages an adequate surrogate for prescriptions?
More LessDefined daily doses (DDD) are the gold standard indicator for quantifying prescriptions. Since 2014, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has also been using the number of packages per 1,000 inhabitants per day (ipd), as a surrogate for prescriptions, to report antibiotic consumption in the community and to perform comparisons between European Union (EU) countries participating in the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network (ESAC-Net). In 2015, consumption was reported to range across Europe from 1.0 to 4.7 packages per 1,000 ipd. Our analysis showed that consumption of antibiotics for systemic use per 1,000 ipd was on average 1.3 times greater in France than in Belgium when considering prescriptions in the numerator, 2.5 times greater when considering packages and 1.2 times greater when considering DDD. As long as the same metrics are used over time, antibiotic consumption data aggregated and disseminated by ECDC are useful for assessing temporal trends at the European level and within individual countries; these data may also be used for benchmarking across EU countries. While DDD - although imperfect - are the most widely accepted metric for this purpose, antibiotic packages do not appear suitable for comparisons between countries and may be misleading.
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National laboratory-based surveillance system for antimicrobial resistance: a successful tool to support the control of antimicrobial resistance in the Netherlands
An important cornerstone in the control of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a well-designed quantitative system for the surveillance of spread and temporal trends in AMR. Since 2008, the Dutch national AMR surveillance system, based on routine data from medical microbiological laboratories (MMLs), has developed into a successful tool to support the control of AMR in the Netherlands. It provides background information for policy making in public health and healthcare services, supports development of empirical antibiotic therapy guidelines and facilitates in-depth research. In addition, participation of the MMLs in the national AMR surveillance network has contributed to sharing of knowledge and quality improvement. A future improvement will be the implementation of a new semantic standard together with standardised data transfer, which will reduce errors in data handling and enable a more real-time surveillance. Furthermore, the scientific impact and the possibility of detecting outbreaks may be amplified by merging the AMR surveillance database with databases from selected pathogen-based surveillance programmes containing patient data and genotypic typing data.
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Livestock-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among human MRSA isolates, European Union/European Economic Area countries, 2013
Currently, surveillance of livestock-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) in humans in Europe is not systematic but mainly event-based. In September 2014, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) initiated a questionnaire to collect data on the number of LA-MRSA from human samples (one isolate per patient) from national/regional reference laboratories in European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries in 2013. Identification of LA-MRSA as clonal complex (CC) 398 by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was preferred, although surrogate methods such as spa-typing were also accepted. The questionnaire was returned by 28 laboratories in 27 EU/EEA countries. Overall, LA-MRSA represented 3.9% of 13,756 typed MRSA human isolates, but it represented ≥ 10% in five countries (Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia). Seven of the reference laboratories did not type MRSA isolates in 2013. To monitor the dispersion of LA-MRSA and facilitate targeted control measures, we advocate periodic systematic surveys or integrated multi-sectorial surveillance.
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Use of WHONET-SaTScan system for simulated real-time detection of antimicrobial resistance clusters in a hospital in Italy, 2012 to 2014
More LessResistant pathogens infections cause in healthcare settings, higher patient mortality, longer hospitalisation times and higher costs for treatments. Strengthening and coordinating local, national and international surveillance systems is the cornerstone for the control of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In this study, the WHONET-SaTScan software was applied in a hospital in Italy to identify potential outbreaks of AMR. Data from San Filippo Neri Hospital in Rome between 2012 and 2014 were extracted from the national surveillance system for antimicrobial resistance (AR-ISS) and analysed using the simulated prospective analysis for real-time cluster detection included in the WHONET-SaTScan software. Results were compared with the hospital infection prevention and control system. The WHONET-SaTScan identified 71 statistically significant clusters, some involving pathogens carrying multiple resistance phenotypes. Of these 71, three were also detected by the hospital system, while a further 15, detected by WHONET-SaTScan only, were considered of relevant importance and worth further investigation by the hospital infection control team. In this study, the WHONET-SaTScan system was applied for the first time to the surveillance of AMR in Italy as a tool to strengthen this surveillance to allow more timely intervention strategies both at local and national level, using data regularly collected by the Italian national surveillance system.
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Risk-adjusted antibiotic consumption in 34 public acute hospitals in Ireland, 2006 to 2014
More LessAs antibiotic consumption rates between hospitals can vary depending on the characteristics of the patients treated, risk-adjustment that compensates for the patient-based variation is required to assess the impact of any stewardship measures. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of patient-based administrative data variables for adjusting aggregate hospital antibiotic consumption rates. Data on total inpatient antibiotics and six broad subclasses were sourced from 34 acute hospitals from 2006 to 2014. Aggregate annual patient administration data were divided into explanatory variables, including major diagnostic categories, for each hospital. Multivariable regression models were used to identify factors affecting antibiotic consumption. Coefficient of variation of the root mean squared errors (CV-RMSE) for the total antibiotic usage model was very good (11%), however, the value for two of the models was poor (> 30%). The overall inpatient antibiotic consumption increased from 82.5 defined daily doses (DDD)/100 bed-days used in 2006 to 89.2 DDD/100 bed-days used in 2014; the increase was not significant after risk-adjustment. During the same period, consumption of carbapenems increased significantly, while usage of fluoroquinolones decreased. In conclusion, patient-based administrative data variables are useful for adjusting hospital antibiotic consumption rates, although additional variables should also be employed.
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Antibiotic prescribing and expenditures in outpatient adults in Greece, 2010 to 2013: evidence from real-world practice
We provide a representative analysis of antibiotic prescribing, identify factors associated with broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing and assess the costs associated with antibiotic use in adult outpatients in Greece. Outpatient antibiotic prescriptions for patients older than 19 years between 2010 and 2013 in Greece were extracted from the IMS Health Xponent database. Prescribing rate and total cost for prescribed antibiotics were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors related to broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing. More than 20 million antibiotics were prescribed during the study period, an annual rate of 768 prescribed antibiotics per 1,000 adults. Overall, 33.5% of antibiotics were prescribed for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) for which antibiotics are often not indicated. Macrolides (29.9%), cephalosporins (26.9%) and fluoroquinolones (21.0%) were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic classes. The majority (89.0%) of antibiotics were broad-spectrum. Antibiotic expenditures were approximately EUR 185 million during the study period. Factors associated with broad-spectrum prescribing included older patient age, specialty pulmonologists or otorhinolaryngologists, training in eastern Europe, diagnosis of ARTI, acute diagnosis, and first episode of disease. Broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing for ARTIs is common in adult Greek outpatients and frequently inappropriate. These data indicate the need for initiatives aiming to control antibiotic prescribing.
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Repeated nationwide point-prevalence surveys of antimicrobial use in Swedish hospitals: data for actions 2003–2010
This study sought to analyse antimicrobial pressure, indications for treatment, and compliance with treatment recommendations and to identify possible problem areas where inappropriate use could be improved through interventions by the network of the local Swedish Strategic Programme Against Antibiotic Resistance (Strama) groups. Five point-prevalence surveys were performed in between 49 and 72 participating hospitals from 2003 to 2010. Treatments were recorded for 19 predefined diagnosis groups and whether they were for community-acquired infection, hospital-acquired infection, or prophylaxis. Approximately one-third of inpatients were treated with antimicrobials. Compliance with guidelines for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia with narrow-spectrum penicillin was 17.0% during baseline 2003–2004, and significantly improved to 24.2% in 2010. Corresponding figures for quinolone use in uncomplicated cystitis in women were 28.5% in 2003–2004, and significantly improved, decreasing to 15.3% in 2010. The length of surgical prophylaxis improved significantly when data for a single dose and 1 day were combined, from 56.3% in 2003–2004 to 66.6% in 2010. Improved compliance was possibly the effect of active local feedback, repeated surveys, and increasing awareness of antimicrobial resistance. Strama groups are important for successful local implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs in Sweden.
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Analysis of licensed over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotics in the European Union and Norway, 2012
More LessAntimicrobial resistance is recognised as a growing problem that seriously threatens public health and requires prompt action. Concerns have therefore been raised about the potential harmful effects of making antibiotics available without prescription. Because of the very serious concerns regarding further spread of resistance, the over-the-counter (OTC) availability of antibiotics was analysed here. Topical and systemic OTC antibiotics and their indications were determined across 26 European Union (EU) countries and Norway by means of a European survey. We identified a total of 48 OTC products containing 20 different single antibiotics and three antibiotic combinations as active substances, used mainly as topical preparations in short treatment courses. Given the relevance of these medicines and the increasing risk of antimicrobial resistance, it is important to limit the availability of OTC antibiotics and to monitor their use.
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Molecular epidemiological typing within the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Programme reveals predominance of a multidrug-resistant clone
S A Chisholm , M Unemo , N Quaye , E Johansson , M J Cole , C A Ison and M JW Van de LaarTreatment of gonorrhoea is threatened by antimicrobial resistance, and decreased susceptibility and resistance to recommended therapies is emerging in Europe. Current associations between resistance and molecular type remain poorly understood. Gonococcal isolates (n=1,066) collected for the 2009 and 2010 European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme were typed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST). A total of 406 sequence types (STs) were identified, 125 of which occurred in ≥two isolates. Seven major genogroups of closely related STs (varying by ≤1% at just one of the two target loci) were defined. Genogroup 1407 (G1407), observed in 20/21 countries and predominant in 13/21 countries, accounted for 23% of all isolates and was associated with decreased susceptibility to cefixime and resistance to ciprofloxacin and raised minimum inhibitory concentrations for ceftriaxone and azithromycin. Genogroup 225 (G225), associated with ciprofloxacin resistance, was observed in 10% of isolates from 19/21 countries. None of the other genogroups were associated with antimicrobial resistance. The predominance of a multidrug-resistant clone (G1407) in Europe is worrying given the recent reports of recommended third generation cephalosporins failing to treat infections with this clone. Identifying associations between ST and antimicrobial resistance aids the understanding of the dissemination of resistant clones within a population and could facilitate development of targeted intervention strategies.
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Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus: bad news and good news from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net, formerly EARSS), 2002 to 2009
Based on data collected by the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) and the former EARSS, the present study describes the trends in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and occurrence of invasive infections caused by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in the period from 2002 to 2009. Antimicrobial susceptibility results from 198 laboratories in 22 European countries reporting continuously on these two microorganisms during the entire study period were included in the analysis. The number of bloodstream infections caused by E. coli increased remarkably by 71% during the study period, while bloodstream infections caused by S. aureus increased by 34%. At the same time, an alarming increase of antimicrobial resistance in E. coli was observed, whereas for S. aureus the proportion of meticillin resistant isolates decreased. The observed trend suggests an increasing burden of disease caused by E. coli. The reduction in the proportion of meticillin-resistant S. aureus and the lesser increase in S. aureus infections, compared with E. coli, may reflect the success of infection control measures at hospital level in several European countries.
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Carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae in Europe: conclusions from a meeting of national experts
H Grundmann , D M Livermore , C G Giske , R Cantón , G M Rossolini , J Campos , A Vatopoulos , M Gniadkowski , A Toth , Y Pfeifer , V Jarlier , Y Carmeli and the CNSE Working GroupThe emergence and global spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae is of great concern to health services worldwide. These bacteria are often resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics and frequently co-resistant to most other antibiotics, leaving very few treatment options. The epidemiology is compounded by the diversity of carbapenem-hydrolysing enzymes and the ability of their genes to spread between different bacterial species. Difficulties are also encountered by laboratories when trying to detect carbapenemase production during routine diagnostic procedures due to an often heterogeneous expression of resistance. Some of the resistance genes are associated with successful clonal lineages which have a selective advantage in those hospitals where antimicrobial use is high and opportunities for transmission exist; others are more often associated with transmissible plasmids. A genetically distinct strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type (ST) 258 harbouring the K. pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC) has been causing epidemics of national and international proportions. It follows the pathways of patient referrals, causing hospital outbreaks along the way. Simultaneously, diverse strains harbouring New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1) are repeatedly being imported into Europe, commonly via patients with prior medical exposure in the Indian subcontinent. Since the nature and scale of carbapenem-non-susceptible Entrobacteriaceae as a threat to hospital patients in Europe remains unclear, a consultation of experts from 31 countries set out to identify the gaps in diagnostic and response capacity, to index the magnitude of carbapenem-non-susceptibility across Europe using a novel five-level staging system, and to provide elements of a strategy to combat this public health issue in a concerted manner.
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Small pharmacies are more likely to dispense antibiotics without a medical prescription than large pharmacies in Catalonia, Spain
C Llor , D L Monnet and J M CotsThe aim of this study was to explore the relationship between pharmacy size and the likelihood of obtaining antibiotics without medical prescription at a pharmacy. In 2008 in Catalonia, two actors presented three different cases in a randomised sample of pharmacies and asked pharmacists for an antibiotic. Pharmacies were considered as small when having limited space with only one counter and a maximum of two professionals selling medicines, as medium sized with three or four attending professionals, and as large with a large selling space and more than four attending professionals. Of the 197 pharmacies visited, 88 (44.7%) were considered as small while only 25 (12.7%) were large. Antibiotics were obtained without a medical prescription in 89 (45.2%) pharmacies, mainly in small pharmacies (63.6%), followed by medium-sized pharmacies (35.7%) and large pharmacies (12%) (p<0.001). Large pharmacies, that probably have a greater income, more closely followed the prevailing legislation of not selling antibiotics to patients without a medical prescription. This observation should now be confirmed in other countries where over-the-counter sales of antibiotics are prevalent and should be taken into account by programmes aiming at achieving a more prudent use of antibiotics.
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Prevalence and characteristics of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in humans in contact with farm animals, in livestock, and in food of animal origin, Switzerland, 2009
H Huber , S Koller , N Giezendanner , R Stephan and C ZweifelA total of 2,662 samples, collected from March to September 2009 in Switzerland, were tested for the presence of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The collection comprised nasal swabs from 148 pig farmers, 133 veterinarians, 179 slaughterhouse employees, 800 pigs, 300 calves, 400 cattle, 100 pooled neck skin swabs from chicken carcasses, and 460 food samples of animal origin. Moreover, 142 S. aureus strains, isolated from bovine mastitis milk, were included in the study. Twenty samples (<1%; four veterinarians, 10 pigs, three calves, one young bull, and two mastitis milk samples) tested positive for MRSA. Genotyping of the MRSA strains was performed by multilocus sequence typing, spa- and SCCmec-typing, and revealed ST398 (n=18), ST8 (n=1), ST 1 (n=1), spa types t011 (n=7), t034 (n=11), t064 (n=1), t127 (n=1), and SCCmec types IV (n=4) and V (n=16). The 20 MRSA strains were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis using the restriction enzyme EagI. Supplementary PCR reactions were performed to investigate the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin and staphylococcal enterotoxins A to D.
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Dispensing of antibiotics without prescription in Greece, 2008: another link in the antibiotic resistance chain
Antibiotic resistance has been associated with the use of antibiotics. The dispensing of antimicrobials without prescription is a potential source of inappropriate antibiotic use. In our study, antibiotics were requested without prescription from pharmacies in the metropolitan area of Athens in Greece in 2008. Twenty-one collaborators visited 174 pharmacies and asked for either amoxicillin/clavulanate acid or ciprofloxacin without providing a prescription or any other justification for the request. In Greece additional restrictions for fluoroquinolone prescriptions were implemented in 2003 after which a separate specific prescription form needs to be filled in by the prescriber, justifying the choice of any fluoroquinolone. Amoxicillin/clavulanate acid was dispensed in all cases. Furthermore, despite the regulation restricting the prescription of ciprofloxacin, this drug was dispensed by 53% of the pharmacies. It appears that the implementation of measures to restrict the use of certain antibiotics (e.g. ciprofloxacin that was studied in our case) was effective in reducing, although not eliminating, inappropriate dispensing. Overall, dispensing of antimicrobials without prescription is a widespread practice in the studied area and is contributing to the overuse of antibiotics.
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Repeated prevalence studies on antibiotic use in Latvia, 2003-2007
E Dimiņa , M Kūla , U Caune , D Vīgante , M Liepiņš , L Zeidaka , O Ņikitina , D Kūriņa , A Mironovska and U DumpisAntibiotic resistance and nosocomial infections have recently been recognised as a growing threat in Latvian hospitals. We used a modified point prevalence study design to gain accurate information on the antibiotic prescription pattern and the prevalence of nosocomial infections in different hospital departments. A given department was observed on a given day in a given month (May) five years in a row. All antibiotic treatments, dose and route of administration were recorded, in addition to demographic data. The most commonly used antibiotic groups were first generation cephalosporins (35.6-38.9%), broad-spectrum penicillins (17.5-23.0%), fluoroquinolones (8.4-14.5%) and aminoglycosides (7.7-12.6%). Cefazolin was the most commonly used antibiotic. Antibiotics were predominantly used intravenously. The proportion of oral administration varied from 15.1% to 21.8%. A large proportion (13.3%) of the antibiotics was administered without clear reason. The crude prevalence rate of infection treated with antibiotics was 19.3%. The average prevalence of nosocomial infections was found to be 3.6%. These prevalence studies provided an opportunity to compare hospitals and outline variations and problem areas. They indicated the main problems in antibiotic prescription: large interhospital variations in the choice of an antibiotic for the most common infections, frequent antibiotic use without clear reason, and predominant intravenous administration.
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Increasing multidrug resistance and limited treatment options: situation and initiatives in Europe
More LessAntimicrobial resistance due to the continuous selective pressure from widespread use of antimicrobials in humans, animals and agriculture has been a growing problem for decades. In 2001, European Union Ministers of Health adopted Council Recommendations on the prudent use of antimicrobial agents in human medicine. This issue of Eurosurveillance is the second one this month dedicated to antimicrobial resistance, in connection with the first-ever European Antibiotic Awareness Day - a European Union (EU) health initiative involving all key players to increase awareness of Europeans about antimicrobial resistance and prudent use of antibiotics.
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Achievements of the Belgian Antibiotic Policy Coordination Committee (BAPCOC)
H Goossens , S Coenen , M Costers , S De Corte , A De Sutter , B Gordts , L Laurier and M J StruelensA Belgian Antibiotic Policy Coordination Committee (BAPCOC) was officially established in 1999 by Royal Decree. The overall objective of BAPCOC is to promote judicious use of antibiotics in humans and animals and to promote infection control and hospital hygiene, with the overall aim to reduce antibiotic resistance. BAPCOC fostered strong and interdisciplinary public health, scientific and political leadership, which led to many evidence-based interventions such as multimedia campaigns to promote the prudent use of antibiotics in the community, national campaigns to promote hand hygiene in hospitals, publication of clinical practice guidelines, staffing and technical support for establishment of antibiotic management teams in all Belgian hospitals, surveillance programmes on antibiotic use and resistance in humans and animals and the promotion of research. These activities and interventions resulted in a measurable decrease in antibiotic use and resistance in the community and hospitals.
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Improvements in antibiotic prescribing by community paediatricians in the Czech Republic
V Jindrák , J Marek , V Vaniš , P Urbaskova , J Vlček , L Janiga and V MarešováRepeated surveys among primary care paediatricians were performed annually from 1998 to 2002 in the Czech Republic. The task was to assess the prescription of antibiotics in treatment of respiratory infections in children. The results were evaluated in the light of existing guidelines and conclusions were used in a number of interventions aimed at reducing the inadequate use of antibiotics and hence preventing the potential increase of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In addition, data on overall consumption of antibiotics in outpatient care and trends in the prevalence of resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes are discussed.
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Strama - a Swedish working model for containment of antibiotic resistance
More LessThe overall aim of Strama (The Swedish Strategic Programme Against Antibiotic Resistance) is to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics in humans and animals. Strama is organised at two levels: a network of independent local multidisciplinary groups in each county that provide prescribers with feedback on antibiotic use and resistance and implement guidelines; and a national executive working group funded by the government. To gain an insight into antibiotic use, Strama has conducted several large diagnosis-prescribing surveys in primary care, in the hospital settings and in nursing homes. National antibiotic susceptibility data for Sweden and mandatory notification show that in recent years the proportion of Streptococcus pneumoniae with decreased sensitivity to penicillin V has stabilised (around 6 %), but the number of notified cases of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has increased and ESBL-producing Enterobacteraceae have turned into an endemic situation. Still, Sweden is among the countries with the lowest rates of MRSA (<1 %), S. pneumoniae can still be treated with penicillin V and the rate of Escherichia coli-producing ESBLs is below 5 %. Strama´s activities have contributed to a steady decrease in antibiotic use from the mid 1990s until 2004 (when total use slowly started to increase again) without measurable negative consequences. Regular collaboration with national and regional news media has been one of the key strategies.
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Trends in antimicrobial resistance in Europe: update of EARSS results
More LessFor the past seven years (1999 to 2006), the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (EARSS) has collected antimicrobial susceptibility test results of invasive isolates in humans of seven bacterial species that serve as indicators for the development of antimicrobial resistance in Europe.
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Ensuring prudent use of antimicrobials in human medicine in the European Union, 2005
G Werner and S BronzwaerThe overuse and misuse of antibiotics pose a serious danger to public health by contributing to the development of bacteria resistant to treatment. In 2001, the European Commission launched a strategy to combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance to human, animal and plant health, which includes data collection, surveillance, research, awareness-raising exercises and the phasing out of antibiotics for non-medical use in animals. The Council Recommendation on the prudent use of antibiotics in human medicine adopted in 2002 was a component in this strategy, outlining clear-cut measures in human medicine that EU Member States could take to reduce antimicrobial resistance. This report summarises the main actions taken at Member State and Community level and highlights the areas of the Recommendation needing further attention. The report outlines a variety of measures already taken by Member States in line with the Recommendation, including improved surveillance of antibiotic use and resistance, and closer cooperation between different professionals on this issue. Member States have taken good steps forward in putting measures in place against antimicrobial resistance. However, some key areas need to be better addressed, in particular infection control, reducing self-medication with antibiotics and educating health professionals and the general public on the proper use of antimicrobial treatments. The report remarks that self-medication with antibiotics is still a problem in many Member States: a ‘prescription-only’ approach should be strictly enforced and educational activities are needed.
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