209 - Antibiotic Utilization During the COVID-19 Surge in Detroit

Background: Antibiotic overutilization during the COVID-19 pandemic has been reported, despite relatively infrequent bacterial co-infection. We explored antibiotic utilization before, during and after the COVID-19 surge in Michigan.

Methods: Cross-sectional study at an 877-bed hospital in Detroit, Michigan from January 2019 through May 2020. Measures: Count of COVID-19 hospital admissions by day. Monthly antibiotic utilization for formulary agents used to treat pneumonia were measured using monthly days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient days present and the National Health Care Safety Network Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratio (SAAR). Descriptive analysis was utilized.

Results: The first COVID-19 case was detected March 11, 2020 and peaked in early April (Figure 1). Antibiotic utilization is demonstrated in Figure 2. The COVID-19 peak was associated with increased use of multiple antibiotics; notably, DOT per 1000 days present for ceftriaxone, cefepime and doxycycline were 85.43, 79.42 and 71.56, respectively in April. The institutional all-antibacterial SAAR was significantly reduced in May at 0.96, p=0.0022, after the COVID-19 surge.Figure 1
Figure 2


Conclusion: We observed increased utilization of multiple antibiotics during the COVID-19 surge, and reduction in the all-antibacterial SAAR after the surge. More robust information is needed to promote optimal antibiotic use for patients with COVID-19 infections.