Antibiotic utilisation and resistance over the first decade of nationally funded antimicrobial stewardship programmes in Singapore acute-care hospitals.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the time series of broad-spectrum antibiotic utilisation and incidence of antibiotic-resistant organisms during the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASP) in Singapore.

Methods: An observational study was conducted using data from 2011 to 2020 in seven acute-care public hospitals. We applied joinpoint regressions to investigate changes in antibiotic utilisation rate and incidence density of antibiotic-resistant organisms.

Antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) in palliative care: antibiotics, to give or not to give.

Antimicrobial therapy in terminally ill patients remains controversial as goals of care tend to be focused on optimizing comfort. International guidelines recommend for antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) involvement in antibiotic decisions in palliative patients. The primary objective was to evaluate the clinical impact of ASP interventions made to stop broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics in terminally ill patients.

Clinical Experience with High-Dose Polymyxin B against Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections-A Cohort Study.

Population pharmacokinetic studies have suggested that high polymyxin B (PMB) doses (≥30,000 IU/kg/day) can improve bacterial kill in carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB). We aim to describe the efficacy and nephrotoxicity of patients with CR-GNB infections prescribed high-dose PMB. A single-centre cohort study was conducted from 2013 to 2016 on septic patients with CR-GNB infection and prescribed high-dose PMB (~30,000 IU/kg/day) for ≥72 h.

The impact of healthcare worker influenza vaccination on nosocomial influenza in a tertiary hospital: an ecological study.

Background: To protect hospitalized patients, who are more susceptible to complications of influenza, seasonal influenza vaccination of healthcare workers (HCW) has been recommended internationally. However, its effectiveness is still being debated. To assess the effectiveness of HCW influenza vaccination, we performed an ecological study to evaluate the association between healthcare worker influenza vaccination and the incidence of nosocomial influenza in a tertiary hospital within Singapore between 2013 and 2018.

Reducing prophylactic antibiotics use in laparoscopic cholecystectomy and liver resections.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and liver resections are commonly performed surgical procedures which require no or less (cefazolin only) antimicrobial prophylaxis respectively in light of recent evidence. To assess the validity of this data in the local context and increase compliance to such regimens, a multi-modal intervention including, changes to hospital antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines, departmental emphasis, information technology aids (involving the creation of order templates within our electronic medical system) and physical aids (in the form of cards given to junior staff) was implemented. Results comparing a 6-month preintervention period (January 2018 to June 2018) showed no significant increase in 30-day hospital readmission rates (P = 0.

Who listens and who doesn't? Factors associated with adherence to antibiotic stewardship intervention in a Singaporean tertiary hospital.

Introduction: Antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs) can improve patient outcomes by prospective audit and feedback with interventions. However, adherence to ASP interventions is not mandatory. Identifying factors associated with improved adherence may help to enhance ASP recommendations and activities.

A retrospective review of tuberculosis exposure among health care workers in a tertiary hospital.

Background: We evaluated tuberculosis (TB) acquisition rate and risk factors among health care workers (HCWs) exposed to index TB patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study on exposed HCWs from August 2016 to January 2018 at a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Demographic factors and TB exposure episodes per HCW were obtained.

Timeliness of Infectious Diseases Referral and Inappropriate Antibiotic Usage Post-Referral in an Asian Tertiary Hospital.

Infectious diseases (ID) specialists advise on complicated infections and are advocates for the interventions of antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP). Early referral to ID specialists has been shown to improve patient outcomes; however, not all referrals to ID specialists are made in a timely fashion. A retrospective cross-sectional study of all referrals to ID specialists in a Singaporean tertiary hospital was conducted from January 2016 to January 2018.

The use of intravesical cidofovir for the treatment of adenovirus-associated haemorrhagic cystitis in a kidney transplant recipient.

Adenovirus is an important cause of haemorrhagic cystitis in kidney transplant recipients. The optimal treatment for adenovirus-associated haemorrhagic cystitis (AAHC) is unknown. Intravenous cidofovir may be effective, but nephrotoxicity is a major concern.

Do antimicrobial stewardship programme interventions reduce the rate of and protect against Clostridium difficile infection?

Objectives: Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) have often been recommended as a viable solution to minimise the incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), which can be life-threatening. This study aimed to evaluate whether ASP interventions have contributed to reducing CDI rates.

Methods: A retrospective review of ASP interventions issued from January 2013 to April 2014 was performed using data from the ASP database of Singapore General Hospital, a 1600-bed tertiary-care hospital in Singapore.

Urinary tract infections in adults.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a collective term for infections that involve any part of the urinary tract. It is one of the most common infections in local primary care. The incidence of UTIs in adult males aged under 50 years is low, with adult women being 30 times more likely than men to develop a UTI.

Candida Surveillance in Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) in a Tertiary Institution.

Background: Colonization of patients occurs before development into invasive candidiasis. There is a need to determine the incidences of Candida colonization and infection in SICU patients, and evaluate the usefulness of beta-D-glucan (BDG) assay in diagnosing invasive candidiasis when patients are colonized.

Methods: Clinical data and fungal surveillance cultures in 28 patients were recorded from November 2010, and January to February 2011.

Role of antibiotic prophylaxis in necrotizing pancreatitis: a meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: Several studies have yielded conflicting results on the role of antibiotic prophylaxis in improving outcomes in acute necrotizing pancreatitis. A meta-analysis was carried out to investigate the impact of antibiotic prophylaxis in the incidence of infected pancreatic necrosis and mortality.

Methodology: Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies investigating impact of prophylactic systemic antibiotic used in acute necrotizing pancreatitis were retrieved from online databases.

Prospective audit and feedback in antimicrobial stewardship: is there value in early reviewing within 48 h of antibiotic prescription?

Antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) methodologies are not well defined, with most preferring to wait ≥72-96 h following antibiotic prescription before reviewing patients. However, we hypothesise that early ASP reviews and interventions are beneficial and do not adversely impact patient safety. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of early ASP interventions within 48 h of antibiotic prescription on patient outcomes and safety.

Nonattenuated Polymyxin B Used for the Treatment of Extreme-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-Related Infections in Patients with Preexisting End Stage Renal Failure.

Recent pharmacokinetic studies have suggested that nonrenal clearance predominates the elimination of polymyxin B. We present 2 patients with preexisting end stage renal failure, who were given nonattenuated doses of polymyxin B for the treatment of extreme-drug resistant organism. No evidence of adverse events occurred and microbiological clearance was documented.

Recurrent cellulitis: risk factors, etiology, pathogenesis and treatment.

Erysipelas and uncomplicated cellulitis are common infections that tend to recur in a substantial proportion of affected patients following an initial episode, especially if the predisposing condition is chronic lymphedema. All patients who suffer an episode of cellulitis should be carefully evaluated to establish the risk of recurrence. Several predisposing conditions (such as lymphedema and skin conditions that serve as a portal of entry for bacteria) can be effectively treated in order to reduce the risk of relapse.

An Observational Study on Early Empiric versus Culture-Directed Antifungal Therapy in Critically Ill with Intra-Abdominal Sepsis.

Objective. To compare early empiric antifungal treatment with culture-directed treatment in critically ill patients with intra-abdominal sepsis. Methods.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing recurrent cellulitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Importance: A significant proportion of patients who have had a first episode of erysipelas or uncomplicated cellulitis will subsequently develop a recurrence. There is disagreement about how effective antibiotic prophylaxis is for preventing recurrent cellulitis.

Objective: To determine if antibiotic prophylaxis is effective in preventing recurrent cellulitis compared to no prophylaxis using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Evaluation of Ertapenem use with impact assessment on extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) production and gram-negative resistance in Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

Background: Ertapenem (preferred choice for ESBL-producing organisms) use exhibited an increasing trend from 2006 to 2008. As extensive use of ertapenem might induce the mutation of resistant bacteria strains to ertapenem, we aimed to assess the appropriateness and impact of ertapenem-use, on ESBL production, the trends of gram-negative bacterial resistance and on the utilization of other antibiotics in our institution.

Methods: Inpatients who received a dose of ertapenem during 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2008, were reviewed.

From penicillin-streptomycin to amikacin-vancomycin: antibiotic decontamination of cardiovascular homografts in Singapore.

Background: In February 2012, the National Cardiovascular Homograft Bank (NCHB) became the first tissue bank outside of North America to receive accreditation from the American Association of Tissue Banks. From 2008 to 2009, NCHB had been decontaminating its cardiovascular homografts with penicillin and streptomycin. The antibiotic decontamination protocol was changed in January 2010 as amikacin and vancomycin were recommended, in order to cover bacteria isolated from post-recovery and post- antibiotic incubation tissue cultures.