Dalbavancin as consolidation therapy for infective endocarditis in patients with comorbidity. A real world experience.

Objective: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a potentially life-threatening infection, the incidence of which has in creased in recent decades, particularly among elderly patients with comorbidity. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of dalbavancin in the consolidation therapy of IE in patients with comorbidity six months after the end of treatment (EOT).

Methods: An observational and retrospective study was conducted on patients with a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥ 3 who were diagnosed with IE and received consolidation therapy with dalbavancin.

Stability Studies of Antipseudomonal Beta Lactam Agents for Outpatient Therapy.

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is a useful treatment strategy against and other multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, it is hindered by the lack of stability data for the administration of antibiotics under OPAT conditions. Our objective was to investigate the stability of nine antipseudomonal and broad-spectrum beta lactam antibiotics (aztreonam, cefepime, cefiderocol, ceftazidime, ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam, meropenem, meropenem/vaborbactam, and piperacillin/tazobactam) to allow the spread of OPAT programs.

Agreement between pharmacists and physicians on the assessment of appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing.

Introduction: Audits for monitoring the quality of antimicrobial prescribing are a main tool in antimicrobial stewardship programs; however, interobserver reliability has not been conclusively assessed. Our objective was to measure the level of agreement between pharmacists and physicians on the appropriateness of antimicrobials prescribing in hospitals.

Methods: A national multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted of patients who were receiving antimicrobials one day of April 2021.

[Translated article] Analysis of the appropriateness of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical procedures in Spain. Protocol for the "ProA-Q" study.

Unlabelled: Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis is one of the most useful measures to prevent surgical wound infection.

Objective: The aim of this project is to evaluate the appropriateness of the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical procedures performed in Spanish hospitals, both globally and according to the type of surgery performed.

Method: For this purpose, an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, and multicentre study has been designed to collect all the variables that allow the evaluation of the appropriateness of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis by comparing the prescribed treatment, the recommendations included in the local guidelines, and the consensus document of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology and the Spanish Association of Surgeons.

Stability of temocillin in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy: is it a real option?

Background: Temocillin is an interesting alternative to carbapenems for susceptible Enterobacteriaceae. Although its use in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) programmes has generated interest, this has been hampered by the lack of stability data.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the physical and chemical stability of temocillin at the recommended dose for its use in OPAT programmes, contained in polypropylene infusion bags or polyisoprene elastomeric devices at different temperatures, and to describe a novel LC-MS/MS developed for the quantification of temocillin.

Analysis of the appropriateness of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical procedures in Spain. Protocol for the "ProA-Q" study.

Unlabelled: Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis is one of the most useful measures to prevent surgical wound infection.

Objective: The aim of this project is to evaluate the appropriateness of the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical procedures performed in Spanish hospitals, both globally and according to the type of surgery performed.

Method: For this purpose, an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional and multicenter study has been designed to collect all the variables that allow the evaluation of the appropriateness of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis by comparing the prescribed treatment, the recommendations included in the local guidelines and the consensus document of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology and the Spanish Association of Surgeons.

Development of Antimicrobial Defined Daily Dose (DDD) for the Pediatric Population.

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) optimize antimicrobial use, improve patient outcomes, and reduce resistance. To assess the effectiveness of ASPs, it is necessary to have indicators that can be widely used. Defined daily dose (DDD) was designed by WHO for the adult population as a consumption indicator.

PAUSATE Study: Prevalence and appropriateness of the use of antimicrobials in Spanish hospitals.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and appropriateness of antimicrobial use in Spanish hospitals through a pharmacist-led systematic cross-sectional review.

Method: A nationwide multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted on  10% of the patients admitted to the participating hospitals on one day in April  2021. Hospital participation was voluntary, and the population was randomly  selected.

Incidence and risk factors for mortality in patients treated with combined ceftaroline for Gram-positive infective endocarditis.

Background: Ceftaroline is a fifth-generation cephalosporin and represents an alternative in the treatment of infective endocarditis (IE). The main objective of this study was to describe the incidence of in-hospital and 42-day mortality in patients with IE treated with ceftaroline.

Methods: An observational retrospective study included adult patients with IE admitted during a 3.

Stability of Antimicrobials in Elastomeric Pumps: A Systematic Review.

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAThttp) programs have become an important healthcare tool around the world. Portable elastomeric infusion pumps are functional devices for ambulatory delivery of antimicrobial drugs, and their stability is an essential point to guarantee an appropriate infusion administration. We conducted a systematic review to provide a synthesis and a critical evaluation of the current evidence regarding antimicrobial stability in elastomeric pumps.

Selection of AmpC β-Lactamase Variants and Metallo-β-Lactamases Leading to Ceftolozane/Tazobactam and Ceftazidime/Avibactam Resistance during Treatment of MDR/XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections.

Infections caused by ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant P. aeruginosa infections are an emerging concern. We aimed to analyze the underlying ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam resistance mechanisms in all multidrug-resistant or extensively drug-resistant (MDR/XDR) P.

Spanish adaptation of the Start Smart-Then Focus tool for optimizing the use of antimicrobials.

Objective: The Start Smart-Then Focus tool of the United Kingdom's National Health System is a tool to be implemented in antimicrobial stewardship programs. The objective of this work is the adaptation of Start Smart-Then Focus tool to the Spanish health system.

Method: Delphi methodology was used.

[Increasing compliance with a surgical antibiotic prophylaxis protocol in the Urology Service.].

Introduction: Surgical site infectionis the most common nosocomial infection in Spain. Theuse of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) in clinical practice is frequently inadequate, confirming the need to adopt prevention strategies for this kind of infections. In this sense, promoting actions to improve the SAP in order to reduce surgical site infections is an unavoidable commitment of every surgical department.

Indicators of the hospital use of antimicrobial agents based on consumption.

Objective: To identify indicators of hospital use of antimicrobials from the  benchmark analysis of consumption data between hospitals at the same level  through the collective judgement of a group of experts.

Method: A committee formed by members of the Spanish Societies of Hospital Pharmacy and Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology prepared a proposal of indicators which was submitted to  consensus by a panel of 21 experts on infectious diseases, microbiology and  antimicrobial therapy, through a modified Delphi method. The panel  underwent two rounds of scores by e-mail.

Auditing and Improving Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis.

Background: There is extensive evidence of the efficacy of anti-microbial drugs in preventing infections from surgical efforts. Our objective was to describe the results obtained in our annual surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) audit in the years 2013-2017.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of SAP in surgical procedures carried out between 2013 and 2017 in a tertiary-level hospital.

Microbiology in burns patients with blood stream infections: trends over time and during the course of hospitalization.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSI) are a major cause of mortality in burns patients. Knowledge of the microbiology is crucial to direct empirical therapy. We sought to determine the causative microorganisms and antibiotic resistance in burns patients with BSI.

The use of ertapenem for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in routine hospital practice: a matched cohort study.

Objective: The clinical response to ertapenem in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) at the setting of routine hospital practice has been scarcely evaluated.

Methods: We retrospectively compared CAP cases treated with ertapenem or with other standard antimicrobials (controls) at a tertiary 1,434-bed center from 2005 to 2014.

Results: Out of 6,145 patients hospitalized with CAP, 64 (1%) ertapenem-treated and 128 controls were studied (PSI IV-V 72%, mean age 73 years.

[Daptomycin dosing greater than 6 mg/kg/day depending on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters infections by Staphylococcus aureus].

Daptomycin is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic whose approved dose is 4 to 6 mg/kg/day. Today it is a matter of controversy the use of higher doses of daptomycin in a range of 8-12 mg/kg/ day, for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections, justified by its concentration-dependent action and its tolerability and safety profile, but the available studies are inconclusive. Stratification is performed by groups of patients, on the recommendation of using doses above 6 mg/kg/day based on the PK/PD parameters predictive of efficacy and safety.

Impact of ertapenem use on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii imipenem susceptibility rates: collateral damage or positive effect on hospital ecology?

Background: Conflicting evidence has been reported on the impact of ertapenem use on the susceptibility of Pseudomonas spp. to group 2 carbapenems. No extensive data for Acinetobacter baumannii are currently available.