Analysis of a beta-lactam allergy assessment protocol challenging diverse reported allergies managed by an antimicrobial stewardship program.

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of a novel beta-lactam allergy assessment algorithm managed by an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) team.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: One quaternary referral teaching hospital and one tertiary care teaching hospital in a large western Pennsylvania health network.

Description of Hospitalizations due to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Omicron Variant Based on Vaccination Status.

Background: Limited descriptive data exist regarding the clinical characteristics of hospitalizations due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variant based on vaccination status.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between 15 January 2022 and 15 February 2022 across 9 hospitals in a large health network. Data were extracted by manual records review.

Effectiveness of Dalbavancin Compared With Standard of Care for the Treatment of Osteomyelitis: A Real-world Analysis.

Background: Preliminary data suggest that the effectiveness of dalbavancin may be similar to current standard-of-care (SoC) treatment options for osteomyelitis with an advantageous dosing schedule.

Methods: This was a retrospective, observational cohort study of adult patients diagnosed with osteomyelitis. Patients were matched 1:2 to dalbavancin (administered as 2 doses separated by 1 week) or SoC treatment for osteomyelitis according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index, site of infection, and causative pathogen.

Impact of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program-bundled initiative utilizing Accelerate Pheno™ system in the management of patients with aerobic Gram-negative bacilli bacteremia.

Purpose: Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are a leading cause of bloodstream infections (BSI) and management is complicated by antibiotic resistance. The Accelerate Pheno™ system (ACC) can provide rapid organism identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST).

Methods: A retrospective, pre-intervention/post-intervention study was conducted to compare management of non-critically ill patients with GNB BSI before and after implementation of a bundled initiative.

Role of Technology in Antimicrobial Stewardship.

Because of the increasing plague of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic misuse, antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are now a mandatory entity in all US hospitals. ASPs can use technological advances, such as the electronic medical record and clinical decision support systems, to impact a larger patient population with more efficiency. Additionally, through the use of mobile applications and social media, ASPs can highlight and propagate educational information regarding antimicrobial utilization to patients and providers in a widespread and timely manner.

Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease With a Low Procalcitonin Concentration: Impact of Antibiotic Therapy.

Background: Patients admitted with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) often are prescribed antibiotics. Studies have shown that the use of procalcitonin (PCT) to guide the decision to initiate antibiotic therapy in AECOPD has resulted in less antibiotic use and similar outcomes compared with standard of care. We evaluated patients with AECOPD and low PCT concentrations to determine whether antibiotic therapy was associated with improved outcomes.

Impact of Procalcitonin Guidance on Management of Adults Hospitalized with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations.

Background: Antibiotics are often prescribed for hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. The use of procalcitonin (PCT) in the management of pneumonia has safely reduced antibiotic durations, but limited data on the impact of PCT guidance on the management of COPD exacerbations remain.

Objective: To determine the impact of PCT guidance on antibiotic utilization for hospitalized adults with exacerbations of COPD.

Impact of Procalcitonin Guidance with an Educational Program on Management of Adults Hospitalized with Pneumonia.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia and healthcare-associated pneumonia are often treated with prolonged antibiotic therapy. Procalcitonin (PCT) has effectively and safely reduced antibiotic use for pneumonia in controlled studies. However, limited data exist regarding PCT guidance in real-world settings for management of pneumonia.

Effect of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Guidance on the Management of Uncomplicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Hospitalized Adults.

Objective: To assess the effect of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP)-bundled initiative on the appropriate use of antibiotics for uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections (uSSTIs) at 2 academic medical centers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective preintervention and postintervention study was conducted to compare management of patients admitted with uSSTIs before and after the implementation of the bundled initiative. The preintervention period was from August 1, 2014, through March 31, 2015, and the postintervention period was from August 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016.

Impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program on patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections.

Purpose: The impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) on the management of therapy and hospital resources for patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) at a community teaching hospital was evaluated.

Methods: A retrospective, observational chart review was performed to evaluate the impact of the ASP on patients admitted to Akron City Hospital with a diagnosis of ABSSSI between February 1 and August 20, 2012. Information on patient demographic characteristics, comorbidities, ABSSSI subtype, antibiotic therapy, microbiology, surgical interventions, and ASP recommendations was collected from medical records and the ASP intervention log.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nosocomial pneumonia patients treated with ceftaroline: retrospective case series of 10 patients.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a common nosocomial pneumonia (NP) pathogen in US ICUs. Ceftaroline fosamil is a novel cephalosporin with activity against MRSA.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients (pts) who received ceftaroline therapy for MRSA NP.

Effect of introducing procalcitonin on antimicrobial therapy duration in patients with sepsis and/or pneumonia in the intensive care unit.

Background: Utilizing procalcitonin (PCT) levels to limit antimicrobial overuse would be beneficial from a humanistic and economic perspective.

Objective: To assess whether introducing PCT at a teaching hospital reduced antimicrobial exposure in critically ill patients.

Methods: Patients wereadmitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for >72 hours with sepsis and/or pneumonia.

Evaluation and use of a rapid Staphylococcus aureus assay by an antimicrobial stewardship program.

Purpose: The performance of a rapid test for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a large community hospital was investigated.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted to evaluate an immunochromatographic assay (Alere PBP2a Culture Colony Test, Alere Scarborough, Inc.) for rapid differentiation of MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S.

Evaluation of the BinaxNOW Staphylococcus aureus test for rapid identification of Gram-positive cocci from VersaTREK blood culture bottles.

The ability of the rapid BinaxNOW Staphylococcus aureus (BNSA) immunochromatographic test (Alere Scarborough, Inc., ME) to accurately differentiate S. aureus from coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and other Gram-positive cocci (GPC) directly from VersaTREK blood culture bottles was evaluated.