Incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) related to antibiotic prescribing by GP surgeries in Wales

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Tydeman, Florence and Craine, Noel and Kavanagh, Kimberley and Adams, Helen and Reynolds, Rosy and McClure, Victoria and Hughes, Harriet and Hickman, Matt and Robertson, Chris (2021) Incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) related to antibiotic prescribing by GP surgeries in Wales. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 76 (9). pp. 2437-2445. dkab204. ISSN 0305-7453 (https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkab204)

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Abstract

Background Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a healthcare-acquired infection (HAI) causing significant morbidity and mortality. Welsh CDI rates are high in comparison with those in England and Scotland. Objectives This retrospective ecological study used aggregated disease surveillance data to understand the impact of total and high-risk Welsh GP antibiotic prescribing on total and stratified inpatient/non-inpatient CDI incidence. Methods All cases of confirmed CDI, during the financial years 2014–15 to 2017–18, were linked to aggregated rates of antibiotic prescribing in their GP surgery and classified as ‘inpatient’, ‘non-inpatient’ or ‘unknown’ by Public Health Wales. Multivariable negative-binomial regression models, comparing CDI incidence with antibiotic prescribing rates, were adjusted for potential confounders: location; age; social deprivation; comorbidities (estimated from prevalence of key health indicators) and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescription rates. Results There were 4613 confirmed CDI cases, with an incidence (95% CI) of 1.44 (1.40–1.48) per 1000 registered patients. Unadjusted analysis showed that an increased risk of total CDI incidence was associated with higher total antibiotic prescribing [relative risk (RR) (95% CI) = 1.338 (1.170–1.529) per 1000 items per 1000 specific therapeutic group age-sex related GP prescribing units (STAR-PU)] and that high-risk antibiotic classes were positively associated with total CDI incidence. Location, age ≥65 years and diabetes were associated with increased risk of CDI. After adjusting for confounders, prescribing of clindamycin showed a positive association with total CDI incidence [RR (95% CI) = 1.079 (1.001–1.162) log items per 1000 registered patients]. Conclusions An increased risk of CDI is demonstrated at a primary care practice population level, reflecting their antibiotic prescribing rates, particularly clindamycin, and population demographics.

ORCID iDs

Tydeman, Florence, Craine, Noel, Kavanagh, Kimberley ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2679-5409, Adams, Helen, Reynolds, Rosy, McClure, Victoria, Hughes, Harriet, Hickman, Matt and Robertson, Chris;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)