(66) Trends in Antibiotic Utilization in Australian Residential Aged Care from 2016-2019: A Case Study of Trends of The Antibiotics Frequently Used to Manage Urinary Tract Infection

Friday, August 26, 2022

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM CEST

Location: Hall C

Publication Number: 397

Presenting Author(s)

Chloe C. H. Smit, PharmD
– PhD researcher, University of Technology Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, Manly, New South Wales, Australia

Co-Author(s)

Katja Taxis, MD, PhD, FISPE
– University of Groningen, Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Kris Rogers
– Statistician, Australia
Hamish Robertson
– Senior Lecturer, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
Lisa Pont
– Professor, Australia

Background: Antibiotic use is an important contributor to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Older adults residing in residential aged care facilities are frail and at high risk for infection, yet little is known about the patterns of antibiotic use among this population.

Objectives: To investigate the trends of antibiotic use over time in Australian residential aged care facilities focusing on the antibiotics frequently used for the management of urinary tract infection (UTI).

Methods: A cross sectional retrospective analysis of pharmacy medication supply data of residents of aged care facilities in the Illawarra region of Australia between May 2016 and May 2019 was conducted. Antibiotics recommended by the Australian guidelines for treatment or prevention of UTI were included in analysis. The primary outcome consisted of the monthly proportion of residents supplied with an antibiotic. Secondary outcomes were type of antibiotic frequently used and duration of use determined as the number of antibiotic days supplied per 100 resident days for each year. Trends were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: This study included 3459 unique residents that were supplied a total of 7913 antibiotic episodes. Antibiotic use decreased over time with a mean of 17.0% of residents supplied one or more antibiotics of interest per month in May 2016 and 14.8% in May 2019. Amongst the antibiotics of interest, cefalexin, amoxycillin and amoxycillin with clavulanate were the most frequent antibiotics supplied. The duration of antibiotic use was around 8 days per 100 resident days and remained unchanged over the three-year study period.

Conclusions: We found that the supply of antibiotics commonly used for the treatment or prevention of UTI decreased in Australian residential aged care facilities between 2016 and 2019. Antibiotics supplied were generally broad spectrum agents and results of duration of use around the recommended Australian guideline durations. With use of broad-spectrum antibiotics as a known accelerating factor for development of antimicrobial resistance, strategies to optimize antibiotic choice in residential aged care facilities appear needed.