@article{KurotschkaTiedemannWolfetal.2021,
  author    = {Kurotschka, Peter Konstantin and Tiedemann, Elena and Wolf, Dominik and Thier, Nicola and Forster, Johannes and Liese, Johannes G. and Gagyor, Ildiko},
  title     = {Management of common infections in German primary care: a cross-sectional survey of knowledge and confidence among General Practitioners and outpatient pediatricians},
  series = {Antibiotics},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Antibiotics},
  number    = {9},
  issn      = {2079-6382},
  doi       = {10.3390/antibiotics10091131},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-246272},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Outpatient antibiotic use is closely related to antimicrobial resistance and in Germany, almost 70\% of antibiotic prescriptions in human health are issued by primary care physicians (PCPs). The aim of this study was to explore PCPs, namely General Practitioners' (GPs) and outpatient pediatricians' (PDs) knowledge of guideline recommendations on rational antimicrobial treatment, the determinants of confidence in treatment decisions and the perceived need for training in this topic in a large sample of PCPs from southern Germany. Out of 3753 reachable PCPs, 1311 completed the survey (overall response rate = 34.9\%). Knowledge of guideline recommendations and perceived confidence in making treatment decisions were high in both GPs and PDs. The two highest rated influencing factors on prescribing decisions were reported to be guideline recommendations and own clinical experiences, hence patients' demands and expectations were judged as not influencing treatment decisions. The majority of physicians declared to have attended at least one specific training course on antibiotic use, yet almost all the participating PCPs declared to need more training on this topic. More studies are needed to explore how consultation-related and context-specific factors could influence antibiotic prescriptions in general and pediatric primary care in Germany beyond knowledge. Moreover, efforts should be undertaken to explore the training needs of PCPs in Germany, as this would serve the development of evidence-based educational interventions targeted to the improvement of antibiotic prescribing decisions rather than being focused solely on knowledge of guidelines.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SuratMeyerSautterRueschetal.2022,
  author    = {Surat, G{\"u}zin and Meyer-Sautter, Pascal and R{\"u}sch, Jan and Braun-Feldweg, Johannes and Markus, Christian Karl and Germer, Christoph-Thomas and Lock, Johan Friso},
  title     = {Cefazolin might be adequate for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in intra-abdominal infections without sepsis: a quality improvement study},
  series = {Antibiotics},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Antibiotics},
  number    = {4},
  issn      = {2079-6382},
  doi       = {10.3390/antibiotics11040501},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-270816},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Background: The adequate choice of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) could influence the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) in general surgery. A new local PAP guideline was implemented in May 2017 and set the first-generation cefazolin (CFZ) instead the second-generation cefuroxime (CXM) as the new standard prophylactic antibiotic. The aim of this study was to compare the risk of SSIs after this implementation in intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) without sepsis. Methods: We performed a single center-quality improvement study at a 1500 bed sized university hospital in Germany analyzing patients after emergency surgery during 2016 to 2019 (n = 985), of which patients receiving CXM or CFZ were selected (n = 587). Propensity score matching was performed to ensure a comparable risk of SSIs in both groups. None-inferiority margin for SSIs was defined as 8\% vs. 4\%. Results: Two matched cohorts with respectively 196 patients were compared. The rate of SSIs was higher in the CFZ group (7.1\% vs. 3.6\%, p = 0.117) below the non-inferiority margin. The rate of other postoperative infections was significantly higher in the CFZ group (2.0\% vs. 8.7\%, p = 0.004). No other differences including postoperative morbidity, mortality or length-of-stay were observed. Conclusion: Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis might be safely maintained by CFZ even in the treatment of intra-abdominal infections.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchraderRieseKurlbaumetal.2021,
  author    = {Schrader, Nikolas and Riese, Thorsten and Kurlbaum, Max and Meybohm, Patrick and Kredel, Markus and Surat, G{\"u}zin and Scherf-Clavel, Oliver and Strate, Alexander and Pospiech, Andreas and Hoppe, Kerstin},
  title     = {Personalized antibiotic therapy for the critically ill: Implementation strategies and effects on clinical outcome of piperacillin therapeutic drug monitoring — a descriptive retrospective analysis},
  series = {Antibiotics},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Antibiotics},
  number    = {12},
  issn      = {2079-6382},
  doi       = {10.3390/antibiotics10121452},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-250052},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is increasingly relevant for an individualized antibiotic therapy and subsequently a necessary tool to reduce multidrug-resistant pathogens, especially in light of diminishing antimicrobial capabilities. Critical illness is associated with profound pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic alterations, which challenge dose finding and the application of particularly hydrophilic drugs such as β-lactam antibiotics. Methods: Implementation strategy, potential benefit, and practicability of the developed standard operating procedures were retrospectively analyzed from January to December 2020. Furthermore, the efficacy of the proposed dosing target of piperacillin in critically ill patients was evaluated. Results: In total, 160 patients received piperacillin/tazobactam therapy and were subsequently included in the study. Of them, 114 patients received piperacillin/tazobactam by continuous infusion and had at least one measurement of piperacillin serum level according to the standard operating procedure. In total, 271 measurements were performed with an average level of 79.0 ± 46.0 mg/L. Seventy-one piperacillin levels exceeded 100 mg/L and six levels were lower than 22.5 mg/L. The high-level and the low-level group differed significantly in infection laboratory parameters (CRP (mg/dL) 20.18 ± 11.71 vs. 5.75 ± 5.33) and renal function [glomerular filtration rate (mL/min/1.75 m2) 40.85 ± 26.74 vs. 120.50 ± 70.48]. Conclusions: Piperacillin levels are unpredictable in critically ill patients. TDM during piperacillin/tazobactam therapy is highly recommended for all patients. Although our implementation strategy was effective, further strategies implemented into the daily clinical workflow might support the health care staff and increase the clinicians' alertness.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SuratVogelWiegeringetal.2021,
  author    = {Surat, G{\"u}zin and Vogel, Ulrich and Wiegering, Armin and Germer, Christoph-Thomas and Lock, Johan Friso},
  title     = {Defining the scope of antimicrobial stewardship interventions on the prescription quality of antibiotics for surgical intra-abdominal infections},
  series = {Antibiotics},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Antibiotics},
  number    = {1},
  issn      = {2079-6382},
  doi       = {10.3390/antibiotics10010073},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-223034},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Background: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of antimicrobial stewardship interventions on surgical antibiotic prescription behavior in the management of non-elective surgical intra-abdominal infections, focusing on postoperative antibiotic use, including the appropriateness of indications. Methods: A single-center quality improvement study with retrospective evaluation of the impact of antimicrobial stewardship measures on optimizing antibacterial use in intra-abdominal infections requiring emergency surgery was performed. The study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Germany from January 1, 2016, to January 30, 2020, three years after putting a set of antimicrobial stewardship standards into effect. Results: 767 patients were analyzed (n = 495 in 2016 and 2017, the baseline period; n = 272 in 2018, the antimicrobial stewardship period). The total days of therapy per 100 patient days declined from 47.0 to 42.2 days (p = 0.035). The rate of patients receiving postoperative therapy decreased from 56.8\% to 45.2\% (p = 0.002), comparing both periods. There was a significant decline in the rate of inappropriate indications (17.4\% to 8.1 \%, p = 0.015) as well as a significant change from broad-spectrum to narrow-spectrum antibiotic use (28.8\% to 6.5\%, p ≤ 0.001) for postoperative therapy. The significant decline in antibiotic use did not affect either clinical outcomes or the rate of postoperative wound complications. Conclusions: Postoperative antibiotic use for intra-abdominal infections could be significantly reduced by antimicrobial stewardship interventions. The identification of inappropriate indications remains a key target for antimicrobial stewardship programs.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SuratBernsenSchimmer2021,
  author    = {Surat, G{\"u}zin and Bernsen, Dominik and Schimmer, Christoph},
  title     = {Antimicrobial stewardship measures in cardiac surgery and its impact on surgical site infections},
  series = {Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery},
  volume    = {16},
  journal   = {Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery},
  doi       = {10.1186/s13019-021-01693-7},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-265533},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Objective The goal of this study was to monitor the compliance and impact on a protocol change of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in cardiac surgery favouring cefazolin instead cefuroxime, initiated by the hospital's antimicrobial stewardship team. Methods This quality improvement study was performed in a tertiary care hospital in collaboration with the department of cardiothoracic surgery and the hospitals antimicrobial stewardship team following a revision of the standard for surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis including 1029 patients who underwent cardiac surgery. 582 patients receiving cefuroxime and 447 patients receiving cefazolin respectively were compared without altering any other preventative perioperative measures including its postoperative duration of less than 24 h. Adherence and surgical site infections were compiled and analysed. Results A complete adherence was achieved. Overall surgical site infections occurred in 37 (3.6\%) of the cases, 20 (3.4\%) in cefuroxime patients and 17 (3.8\%) in cefazolin patients (p value = 0.754). No statistically significant differences could be found in any of the primary endpoints, but there was a trend towards less deep sternal wound infections in the cefazolin group. Conclusions The study supports the role of antimicrobial stewardship in cardiac surgery and mirrors the success of a multidisciplinary team aiming to minimize adverse events by optimizing antibiotic use.},
  language  = {en}
}