Reductions in vancomycin and meropenem following the implementation of a febrile neutropenia management algorithm in hospitalized adults: An interrupted time series analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic use before and after the implementation of a revised febrile neutropenia management algorithm in a population of adults with hematologic malignancies. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. SETTING AND POPULATION: Patients admitted between 2014 and 2018 to the Adult Malignant Hematology service of an acute-care hospital in the United States. METHODS: Aggregate data for adult malignant hematology service were obtained for population-level antibiotic use: days of therapy (DOT), C. difficile infections, bacterial bloodstream infections, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and in-hospital mortality. All rates are reported per 1,000 patient days before the implementation of an febrile neutropenia management algorithm (July 2014-May 2016) and after the intervention (June 2016-December 2018). These data were compared using interrupted time series analysis. RESULTS: In total, 2,014 patients comprised 6,788 encounters and 89,612 patient days during the study period. Broad-spectrum intravenous (IV) antibiotic use decreased by 5.7% with immediate reductions in meropenem and vancomycin use by 22 (P = .02) and 15 (P = .001) DOT per 1,000 patient days, respectively. Bacterial bloodstream infection rates significantly increased following algorithm implementation. No differences were observed in the use of other antibiotics or safety outcomes including C. difficile infection, ICU length of stay, and in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions in vancomycin and meropenem were observed following the implementation of a more stringent febrile neutropenia management algorithm, without evidence of adverse outcomes. Successful implementation occurred through a collaborative effort and continues to be a core reinforcement strategy at our institution. Future studies evaluating patient-level data may identify further stewardship opportunities in this population.

Antimicrobial therapy of gram-negative bacteremia at two university-affiliated medical centers.

PURPOSE: To describe antimicrobial prescribing practices and patient outcomes associated with the treatment of aerobic gram-negative rod bacteremia at two university-affiliated medical centers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All adult patients with gram-negative bacteremia (N = 326) who were at Stanford and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Hospitals from September 1, 1996 through August 31, 1997 were evaluated via retrospective review of medical records. RESULTS: Most patient characteristics were similar between institutions; however, patients at Stanford were more likely to have had a diagnosis of bone marrow transplantation, liver failure, or poor nutritional status, while more patients at UCSF had solid organ transplant, diabetes, pulmonary disease, or hypotension. The bacteriology was similar at both sites, with Escherichia coli the predominant pathogen (139 [43%] of 326). The majority of episodes were community acquired (67% [218/326]). Patients at Stanford were more likely to have been treated empirically with aminoglycosides (28% vs. 7%, P <0.001) and noncephalosporin beta-lactams (31% vs. 11%, P <0.001), while patients at UCSF were more likely to have received cephalosporins (62% vs. 29%, P <0.001) and fluoroquinolones (21% vs. 11%, P = 0.02). These patterns continued for definitive therapy. Overall mortality was 60 (19%) of 326. Several risk factors were associated with 14-day mortality, including severity of illness, neutropenia, diabetes mellitus, use of vasopressors, and empiric use of a noncephalosporin beta-lactam. CONCLUSION: Prescribing practices for the treatment of gram-negative bacteremia differed significantly in the two institutions despite similar patients and pathogens.