International journal of antimicrobial agents
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Oct 2021
ReviewAntimicrobial stewardship in the ICU in COVID-19 times: the known unknowns.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been concern about the concomitant rise of antimicrobial resistance. While bacterial co-infections seem rare in COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital wards and intensive care units (ICUs), an increase in empirical antibiotic use has been described. In the ICU setting, where antibiotics are already abundantly-and often inappropriately-prescribed, the need for an ICU-specific antimicrobial stewardship programme is widely advocated. ⋯ The diagnosis of COVID-19-associated invasive aspergillosis is challenging because of the lack of sensitivity and specificity of the available tests. Furthermore, altered pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties need to be taken into account when prescribing antimicrobial therapy. Future research should now further explore the 'known unknowns', ideally with robust prospective study designs.
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Dec 2020
Systematic review of the impact of appropriate versus inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy on outcomes of patients with severe bacterial infections.
We investigated the impact of appropriate versus inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy on the clinical outcomes of patients with severe bacterial infections as part of a systematic review and meta-analyses assessing the impact of delay in appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Literature searches of MEDLINE and Embase, conducted on 24 July 2018, identified studies published after 2007 reporting the impact of delay in appropriate antibiotic therapy for hospitalised adult patients with bacterial infections. Results were statistically pooled for outcomes including mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS) and treatment failure. ⋯ Across eight studies, LOS was shorter with appropriate therapy compared with inappropriate therapy [mean difference (MD) -2.54 days (95% CI -5.30 to 0.23)], but not significantly so. The incidence of treatment failure was significantly lower in patients who received appropriate therapy compared with patients who received inappropriate therapy (six studies: OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.16-0.66) as was mean hospital costs (four studies: MD -7.38 thousand US$ or Euros, 95% CI -14.14 to -0.62). Initiation of appropriate versus inappropriate antibiotics can reduce mortality, reduce treatment failure and decrease LOS, highlighting the importance of broad‑spectrum empirical therapy and rapid diagnostics for early identification of the causative pathogen. [Study registration: PROSPERO: CRD42018104669].
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Sep 2020
Meta AnalysisTocilizumab for severe COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systemic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of tocilizumab for the treatment of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Candidate studies up to 24 May 2020 were identified from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, medRxiv and bioRxiv. Treatment outcomes included mortality, risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and the requirement for mechanical ventilation (MV). ⋯ However, these non-significant differences between the tocilizumab and control groups may have been the result of baseline characteristics of the tocilizumab group, which were more severe than those of the control group. Based on low-quality evidence, there is no conclusive evidence that tocilizumab would provide any additional benefit to patients with severe COVID-19. Therefore, further recommendation of tocilizumab for COVID-19 cases should be halted until high-quality evidence from randomised controlled trials is available.
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Sep 2020
ReviewA pharmacological perspective of chloroquine in SARS-CoV-2 infection: An old drug for the fight against a new coronavirus?
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is having serious consequences on health and the economy worldwide. All evidence-based treatment strategies need to be considered to combat this new virus. Drugs need to be considered on scientific grounds of efficacy, safety and cost. ⋯ These could be integrated into current treatment strategies while novel treatments are awaited, also in light of the fact that they display an anticoagulant effect that facilitates the activity of low-molecular-weight heparin, aimed at preventing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-associated thrombotic events. The safety of CQ and HCQ has been studied for over 50 years, however recently published data raise concerns for cardiac toxicity of CQ/HCQ in patients with COVID-19. This review also re-examines the real information provided by some of the published alarming reports, although concluding that cardiac toxicity should in any case be stringently monitored in patients receiving CQ/HCQ.
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Sep 2020
ReviewChloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Facts, Fiction & the Hype. A Critical Appraisal.
The coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has turned into a global catastrophe and there is an intense search for effective drug therapy. Of all the potential therapies, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been the focus of tremendous public attention. Both drugs have been used in the treatment and prophylaxis of malaria. ⋯ Despite the lack of such evidence, hydroxychloroquine has been used as a desperate attempt for prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19. The drug has wide-ranging drug interactions and potential cardiotoxicity. Indiscriminate unsupervised use can expose the public to serious adverse drug effects.