TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of a PCR assay for candidemia on antifungal drug prescribing in critical care
T2 - An interrupted time series pilot study
AU - McMullan, R.
AU - Metwally, L.
AU - Troughton, J. A.
AU - Coyle, P. V.
AU - Hedderwick, S.
AU - McAuley, D. F.
AU - McCloskey, Brian
AU - O'Hare, S.
AU - Webb, C. H.
AU - Hay, R. J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was funded by the Northern Ireland HSC Research & Development Office, as part of the antimicrobial resistance action plan commissioned research programme.
PY - 2010/7
Y1 - 2010/7
N2 - Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of conducting a definitive study to assess the impact of introducing a rapid PCR-based test for candidemia on antifungal drug prescribing. Method: Prospective, single centre, interrupted time series study consisting of three periods of six months' duration. The assay was available during the second period, during which the PCR assay was available for routine use by physicians Monday-Friday with guaranteed 24-h turnaround time. For each period total antifungal drug use, expressed as treatment-days, was recorded and an adjustment was made to exclude estimated use for proven candidemia. Also, during the intervention period, antifungal prescribing decisions for up to 72 h after each PCR result became available were recorded as either concordant or discordant with that result. Results: While overall antifungal use remained relatively stable throughout, after adjustment for candidemia, there was a 38% reduction in use following introduction of the PCR test; however, this was nonsignificant at the 95% level. During the intervention period overall concordance between the PCR result and prescribing decisions was 84%. Conclusions: The PCR assay for candidemia was requested, prescribing decisions were generally concordant with the results produced and there was an apparent decrease in antifungal prescription, although this was sustained even after withdrawal of the intervention; these findings should be more thoroughly evaluated in a larger trial.
AB - Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of conducting a definitive study to assess the impact of introducing a rapid PCR-based test for candidemia on antifungal drug prescribing. Method: Prospective, single centre, interrupted time series study consisting of three periods of six months' duration. The assay was available during the second period, during which the PCR assay was available for routine use by physicians Monday-Friday with guaranteed 24-h turnaround time. For each period total antifungal drug use, expressed as treatment-days, was recorded and an adjustment was made to exclude estimated use for proven candidemia. Also, during the intervention period, antifungal prescribing decisions for up to 72 h after each PCR result became available were recorded as either concordant or discordant with that result. Results: While overall antifungal use remained relatively stable throughout, after adjustment for candidemia, there was a 38% reduction in use following introduction of the PCR test; however, this was nonsignificant at the 95% level. During the intervention period overall concordance between the PCR result and prescribing decisions was 84%. Conclusions: The PCR assay for candidemia was requested, prescribing decisions were generally concordant with the results produced and there was an apparent decrease in antifungal prescription, although this was sustained even after withdrawal of the intervention; these findings should be more thoroughly evaluated in a larger trial.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77953811429&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jinf.2010.03.019
DO - 10.1016/j.jinf.2010.03.019
M3 - Article
C2 - 20359495
AN - SCOPUS:77953811429
VL - 61
SP - 81
EP - 85
JO - Journal of Infection
JF - Journal of Infection
SN - 0163-4453
IS - 1
ER -