Assessment of Emergency Department Antibiotic Discharge Prescription Dosing Errors for Pediatric Patients in a Community Hospital Health System
PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY CARE
Authors: Barstow, Linda; Herman, Erika; Phillips, Heidi; Maloney, Patrick
Abstract
Objectives We quantify and describe emergency department antibiotic discharge prescription dosing errors for pediatric patients in a community hospital health system. Methods This was a retrospective chart review evaluating emergency department discharge prescriptions written between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015. Pediatric patients who received a prescription for an oral antibiotic were included in error analysis if they had a weight updated in the electronic medical record during the encounter. We used a predefined threshold of +10% variance from the recommended dose to quantify error. Prescriber, environmental, and antibiotic specific data were also collected to identify variables associated with high incidence of error. Results Among the 1934 prescriptions included in our error analysis, we detected 776 (40%) dosing errors. Of the prescriptions reviewed, 288 (15%) contained an overdosing error and 488 (25%) contained an underdosing error. There were 208 underdosing errors written for amoxicillin to treat acute otitis media. These errors represented 43% of the total underdosing errors and had a greater magnitude of variance from the recommended dose compared with overall underdosing errors. Conclusions Underdosing of amoxicillin in acute otitis media was a dosing error that occurred frequently throughout our community health system. Further research is needed to identify the clinical impact these errors have on pediatric patients.
Biofilm formation, antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence genes of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from clinical isolates in Uganda
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Authors: Katongole, Paul; Nalubega, Fatuma; Florence, Najjuka Christine; Asiimwe, Benon; Andia, Irene
Abstract
IntroductionUropathogenic E. coli is the leading cause of Urinary tract infections (UTIs), contributing to 80-90% of all community-acquired and 30-50% of all hospital-acquired UTIs. Biofilm forming Uropathogenic E. coli are associated with persistent and chronic inflammation leading to complicated and or recurrent UTIs. Biofilms provide an environment for poor antibiotic penetration and horizontal transfer of virulence genes which favors the development of Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). Understanding biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance determinants of Uropathogenic E. coli strains will provide insight into the development of treatment options for biofilm-associated UTIs. The aim of this study was to determine the biofilm forming capability, presence of virulence genes and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Uropathogenic E. coli isolates in Uganda.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study carried in the Clinical Microbiology and Molecular biology laboratories at the Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences. We randomly selected 200 Uropathogenic E. coli clinical isolates among the stored isolates collected between January 2018 and December 2018 that had significant bacteriuria (>10(5)CFU). All isolates were subjected to biofilm detection using the Congo Red Agar method and Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby disk diffusion method. The isolates were later subjected PCR for the detection of Urovirulence genes namely; Pap, Fim, Sfa, Afa, Hly and Cnf, using commercially designed primers.ResultsIn this study, 62.5% (125/200) were positive biofilm formers and 78% (156/200) of these were multi-drug resistant (MDR). The isolates were most resistant to Trimethoprim sulphamethoxazole and Amoxicillin (93%) followed by gentamycin (87%) and the least was imipenem (0.5%). Fim was the most prevalent Urovirulence gene (53.5%) followed by Pap (21%), Sfa (13%), Afa (8%), Cnf (5.5%) and Hyl (0%).ConclusionsWe demonstrate a high prevalence of biofilm-forming Uropathogenic E. coli strains that are highly associated with the MDR phenotype. We recommend routine surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation to understand the antibiotics suitable in the management of biofilm-associated UTIs.