Empirical use of temocillin in hospitalized patients: results from a retrospective audit.

Background: Following a global shortage of piperacillin/tazobactam in 2017, a formulary decision was taken at a large District General Hospital in the East of England to partly replace piperacillin/tazobactam with either temocillin as monotherapy or as part of a combination regimen. A retrospective audit was then conducted to assess the clinical effectiveness of temocillin therapy.

Methods: Data from patients admitted to Watford General Hospital between May and August 2017 and treated with temocillin were reviewed retrospectively.

Relevance of prediction scores derived from the SARS-CoV-2 first wave, in the evolving UK COVID-19 second wave, for safe early discharge and mortality: a PREDICT COVID-19 UK prospective observational cohort study.

Objective: Prospectively validate prognostication scores, SOARS and 4C Mortality Score, derived from the COVID-19 first wave, for mortality and safe early discharge in the evolving pandemic with SARS-CoV-2 variants (B.1.1.

Retrospective case-control study to evaluate hypocalcaemia as a distinguishing feature of COVID-19 compared with other infective pneumonias and its association with disease severity.

Objectives: To investigate whether calcium derangement was a specific feature of COVID-19 that distinguishes it from other infective pneumonias, and its association with disease severity.

Design: A retrospective observational case-control study looking at serum calcium on adult patients with COVID-19, and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) or viral pneumonia (VP).

Setting: A district general hospital on the outskirts of London, UK.

Early prognostication of COVID-19 to guide hospitalisation versus outpatient monitoring using a point-of-test risk prediction score.

Introduction: Risk factors of adverse outcomes in COVID-19 are defined but stratification of mortality using non-laboratory measured scores, particularly at the time of prehospital SARS-CoV-2 testing, is lacking.

Methods: Multivariate regression with bootstrapping was used to identify independent mortality predictors in patients admitted to an acute hospital with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Predictions were externally validated in a large random sample of the ISARIC cohort (N=14 231) and a smaller cohort from Aintree (N=290).

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities/Programs in the United Kingdom.

Since first identified in late 2019, the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) and the resulting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems worldwide, often diverting key resources in a bid to meet unprecedented challenges. To measure its impact on national antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) activities, a questionnaire was designed and disseminated to antimicrobialstewardship leads in the United Kingdom (UK). Most respondents reported a reduction in AMS activity with 64% (61/95) reporting that COVID-19 had a negative impact on routine AMS activities.

Trends in Antibiotic Resistance in Urologic Practice.

Context: The significant global upsurge in antimicrobial resistance, particularly among Enterobacteriaceae, represents a serious threat to health care systems. The implications for urologic practice are of particular concern.

Objective: To review trends in antibiotic resistance in urologic practice.