Journal of clinical microbiology
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J. Clin. Microbiol. · May 2018
Observational StudyRapid Molecular Detection of Gastrointestinal Pathogens and Its Role in Antimicrobial Stewardship.
We aimed to detect the etiological agents of acute diarrhea by a molecular gastrointestinal pathogen test (MGPT) and to assess the impact of MGPT on antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP). This is a prospective observational study and was conducted between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2017. We included consequent patients who had acute diarrhea. ⋯ Inappropriate antibiotic use decreased in the post-ASP period compared with the pre-ASP period among inpatients (42.9% and 25.8%, respectively; P = 0.023). Using MGPT in clinical practice significantly decreased the unnecessary use of antibiotics. Detection of high rates of C. difficile in children and Salmonella spp., as well as relatively high rates of Campylobacter spp., which were hard to isolate by routine stool culture, were remarkable.
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J. Clin. Microbiol. · May 2018
Review Historical ArticleImpact of 21st Century Cures Act on Breakpoints and Commercial Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Systems: Progress and Pitfalls.
Antimicrobial resistance is the most pressing medical challenge of the past decade. At the front line are clinical laboratories, which are responsible for accurately reporting antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) results to clinicians and public health authorities. ⋯ We describe the pathway and history of U. S. regulation of cASTs and outline both the rewards and unmet needs possible from the 21st Century Cures Act.