Evaluation of duration of antibiotic therapy across hospitals in Scotland including the impact of COVID-19 pandemic : a segmented interrupted time series analysis

Kurdi, Amanj and Platt, Niketa and Morrison, Aidan and Proud, Euan and Gronkowski, Karen and Mueller, Tanja and Seaton, R Andrew and Malcolm, William and Bennie, Marion (2023) Evaluation of duration of antibiotic therapy across hospitals in Scotland including the impact of COVID-19 pandemic : a segmented interrupted time series analysis. Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, 21 (4). pp. 455-475. ISSN 1744-8336 (https://doi.org/10.1080/14787210.2023.2181789)

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Abstract

Background: Little is known about the duration of antibiotic use in hospital settings. We evaluated the duration of hospital antibiotic therapy (as a quality indicator proxy) for four commonly prescribed antibiotics (amoxicillin, co-amoxiclav, doxycycline and flucloxacillin) including the assessment of COVID-19 impact. Research design/methods: A repeated, cross-sectional study using the Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration system (January/2019-March/2022). Monthly median duration of therapy/duration categories were calculated, stratified by routes of administration, age and sex. Impact of COVID-19 was assessed using segmented time-series analysis. Results: There were significant variations in the median duration of therapy across routes of administration (P 7 days compared to oral or IV. Duration of therapy overall differed significantly by age. Some small statistically significant changes in the level/trends of duration of therapy were observed in the post- COVID-19 period. Conclusions: No evidence for prolonged duration of therapy were observed, even during COVID-19 pandemic. Duration of IV therapy was relatively short suggesting timely clinical review and consideration of IV to oral switch. Longer duration of therapy was observed among older patients.

ORCID iDs

Kurdi, Amanj ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5036-1988, Platt, Niketa, Morrison, Aidan, Proud, Euan, Gronkowski, Karen, Mueller, Tanja ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0418-4789, Seaton, R Andrew, Malcolm, William and Bennie, Marion ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4046-629X;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)