Optimizing Antimicrobial Use: Antimicrobial Stewardship and Surveillance

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antibiotics Use and Antimicrobial Stewardship".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 5899

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Pharmacy Department, Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau. C/San Quintín 89, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: antimicrobial stewardship; carbapenems; antibiotic resistance; beta Lactamase; anti-bacterial agents

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens continue to threaten our ability to treat common infections, being considered a major threat for global health. During the last few decades, the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs has become more widespread in health centers. The objectives of these programs are to reduce the use of antimicrobials, reduce the duration of broad-spectrum antibiotic treatments, and to optimize individualized antibiotic treatment for the patient with the best efficacy and safety results, to slow down the advance of MDR pathogens. Even though there is ample evidence that the application of these multidisciplinary programs reduces the consumption of antimicrobials globally, the heterogeneity of the practices used and the unequal impact on the selection and infection by MDR strains make it essential to continue studying which interventions have a greater impact within these programs. This Special Issue seeks manuscript submissions that further our understanding of antimicrobial stewardship programs’ impact on bacterial resistance. Submissions on the impact of antimicrobial stewardship over bacterial resistance are especially encouraged.

Dr. Jesus Ruiz-Ramos
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • antimicrobial stewardship
  • antimicrobial cycling
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • decision support
  • antibiotic optimization
  • antibiotic therapy

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1474 KiB  
Article
Examining Antimicrobial Resistance in Escherichia coli: A Case Study in Central Virginia’s Environment
by Chyer Kim, Allissa Riley, Shobha Sriharan, Theresa Nartea, Eunice Ndegwa, Ramesh Dhakal, Guolu Zheng and Claire Baffaut
Antibiotics 2024, 13(3), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13030223 - 28 Feb 2024
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Abstract
While environmental factors may contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria, many aspects of environmental antibiotic pollution and resistance remain unknown. Furthermore, the level of AMR in Escherichia coli is considered a reliable indicator of the selection pressure exerted by antimicrobial use in [...] Read more.
While environmental factors may contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria, many aspects of environmental antibiotic pollution and resistance remain unknown. Furthermore, the level of AMR in Escherichia coli is considered a reliable indicator of the selection pressure exerted by antimicrobial use in the environment. This study aimed to assess AMR variance in E. coli isolated from diverse environmental samples, such as animal feces and water from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and drainage areas of different land use systems in Central Virginia. In total, 450 E. coli isolates obtained between August 2020 and February 2021 were subjected to susceptibility testing against 12 antimicrobial agents approved for clinical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Approximately 87.8% of the tested isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, with 3.1% showing multi-drug resistance. Streptomycin resistance was the most common (73.1%), while susceptibility to chloramphenicol was the highest (97.6%). One isolate obtained from WWTPs exhibited resistance to seven antimicrobials. AMR prevalence was the highest in WWTP isolates, followed by isolates from drainage areas, wild avians, and livestock. Among livestock, horses had the highest AMR prevalence, while cattle had the lowest. No significant AMR difference was found across land use systems. This study identifies potential AMR hotspots, emphasizing the environmental risk for antimicrobial resistant E. coli. The findings will aid policymakers and researchers, highlighting knowledge gaps in AMR–environment links. This nationally relevant research offers a scalable AMR model for understanding E. coli ecology. Further large-scale research is crucial to confirm the environmental impacts on AMR prevalence in bacteria. Full article
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27 pages, 919 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Activities of Aztreonam-Avibactam and Comparator Agents against Enterobacterales Analyzed by ICU and Non-ICU Wards, Infection Sources, and Geographic Regions: ATLAS Program 2016–2020
by Denis Piérard, Elizabeth D. Hermsen, Michal Kantecki and Francis F. Arhin
Antibiotics 2023, 12(11), 1591; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12111591 - 03 Nov 2023
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Abstract
Increasing antimicrobial resistance among multidrug-resistant (MDR), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), in particular metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-positive strains, has led to limited treatment options in these isolates. This study evaluated the activity of aztreonam-avibactam (ATM-AVI) and comparator antimicrobials against Enterobacterales isolates and key [...] Read more.
Increasing antimicrobial resistance among multidrug-resistant (MDR), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), in particular metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-positive strains, has led to limited treatment options in these isolates. This study evaluated the activity of aztreonam-avibactam (ATM-AVI) and comparator antimicrobials against Enterobacterales isolates and key resistance phenotypes stratified by wards, infection sources and geographic regions as part of the ATLAS program between 2016 and 2020. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. The susceptibility of antimicrobials were interpreted using CLSI and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints. A tentative pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic breakpoint of 8 µg/mL was considered for ATM-AVI activity. ATM-AVI inhibited ≥99.2% of Enterobacterales isolates across wards and ≥99.7% isolates across infection sources globally and in all regions at ≤8 µg/mL. For resistance phenotypes, ATM-AVI demonstrated sustained activity across wards and infection sources by inhibiting ≥98.5% and ≥99.1% of multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates, ≥98.6% and ≥99.1% of ESBL-positive isolates, ≥96.8% and ≥90.9% of carbapenem-resistant (CR) isolates, and ≥96.8% and ≥97.4% of MBL-positive isolates, respectively, at ≤8 µg/mL globally and across regions. Overall, our study demonstrated that ATM-AVI represents an important therapeutic option for infections caused by Enterobacterales, including key resistance phenotypes across different wards and infection sources. Full article
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12 pages, 276 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Activity of Ceftaroline and Comparators against Bacterial Isolates Collected Globally from Patients with Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: ATLAS Program 2019–2020
by Alona Kuraieva, Guillermo Cabezas-Camarero, Pattarachai Kiratisin and Eric Utt
Antibiotics 2023, 12(8), 1237; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12081237 - 26 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1402
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the in vitro activity of ceftaroline and a panel of comparator agents against isolates causing skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) collected in Africa/Middle East, Asia–Pacific, Europe, and Latin America from 2019–2020. Minimum inhibitory concentrations [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to assess the in vitro activity of ceftaroline and a panel of comparator agents against isolates causing skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) collected in Africa/Middle East, Asia–Pacific, Europe, and Latin America from 2019–2020. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined using European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing criteria. All the methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolates were susceptible to ceftaroline. Across all regions, ceftaroline demonstrated potent activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA, susceptibility 89.5–93.7%) isolates. Susceptibility to vancomycin, daptomycin, linezolid, teicoplanin, trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, and tigecycline was ≥94.1% in MSSA and MRSA isolates. Against β-hemolytic streptococci isolates, ceftaroline demonstrated very potent activity (MIC90 0.008–0.03 mg/L) across all regions. All β-hemolytic streptococci isolates were susceptible to linezolid, penicillin, and vancomycin (MIC90 0.06–2 mg/L). Among the extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-negative Enterobacterales tested (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and K. oxytoca), susceptibility to ceftaroline was high (88.2–98.6%) in all regions. All ESBL-negative Enterobacterales were susceptible to aztreonam. Potent activity was observed for amikacin, cefepime, and meropenem (94.1–100%) against these isolates. Overall, ceftaroline showed potent in vitro activity against isolates of pathogens causing SSTIs. Continuous surveillance of global and regional susceptibility patterns is needed to guide appropriate treatment options against these pathogens. Full article

Review

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15 pages, 1122 KiB  
Review
The Interventions and Challenges of Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Emergency Department
by Jesus Ruiz-Ramos, Laura Escolà-Vergé, Álvaro Eloy Monje-López, Sergio Herrera-Mateo and Alba Rivera
Antibiotics 2023, 12(10), 1522; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12101522 - 09 Oct 2023
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Abstract
Over the last decades, we have witnessed a constant increase in infections caused by multi-drug-resistant strains in emergency departments. Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of antimicrobial stewardship programs in antibiotic consumption and minimizing multi-drug-resistant bacterium development, the characteristics of emergency departments pose a challenge [...] Read more.
Over the last decades, we have witnessed a constant increase in infections caused by multi-drug-resistant strains in emergency departments. Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of antimicrobial stewardship programs in antibiotic consumption and minimizing multi-drug-resistant bacterium development, the characteristics of emergency departments pose a challenge to their implementation. The inclusion of rapid diagnostic tests, tracking microbiological results upon discharge, conducting audits with feedback, and implementing multimodal educational interventions have proven to be effective tools for optimizing antibiotic use in these units. Nevertheless, future multicenter studies are essential to determine the best way to proceed and measure outcomes in this scenario. Full article
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