The quality of studies evaluating antimicrobial stewardship interventions: a systematic review

<strong>Background</strong> Antimicrobial stewardship aims to optimise antibiotic use and minimise selection of antimicrobial resistance. The methodological quality of published studies in this field is unknown. <strong>Objectives</strong> Our objective was to perform a comp...

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Main Authors: Schweitzer, V, Van Heijl, I, Werkhoven, V, Islam, J, Hendriks-Spoor, K, Bielicki, J, Bonten, M, Walker, A, Llewelyn, M, Consensus on Antimicrobial Stewardship Evaluations (CASE) study group
Format: Journal article
Published: Elsevier 2018
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author Schweitzer, V
Van Heijl, I
Werkhoven, V
Islam, J
Hendriks-Spoor, K
Bielicki, J
Bonten, M
Walker, A
Llewelyn, M
Consensus on Antimicrobial Stewardship Evaluations (CASE) study group
author_facet Schweitzer, V
Van Heijl, I
Werkhoven, V
Islam, J
Hendriks-Spoor, K
Bielicki, J
Bonten, M
Walker, A
Llewelyn, M
Consensus on Antimicrobial Stewardship Evaluations (CASE) study group
author_sort Schweitzer, V
collection OXFORD
description <strong>Background</strong> Antimicrobial stewardship aims to optimise antibiotic use and minimise selection of antimicrobial resistance. The methodological quality of published studies in this field is unknown. <strong>Objectives</strong> Our objective was to perform a comprehensive systematic review of antimicrobial stewardship research design and identify features which limit validity and translation of research findings into clinical practice. <strong>Data sources</strong> The following online database was searched: PubMed. Study eligibility criteria:Studies published between January 1950 and January 2017, evaluating any antimicrobial stewardship intervention in the community or hospital setting, without restriction on study design or outcome. <strong>Methods</strong> We extracted data on pre-specified design quality features and factors that may influence design choices including: (1) clinical setting, (2) age group studied, (3) when the study was conducted, (4) geographical region and (5) financial support received. <strong>Results</strong> The initial search yielded 17,382 articles; 1,008 were selected for full-text screening, of which 825 were included. Most studies (675/825, 82%) were non-experimental and 104 (15%) used interrupted time series analysis, 41 (6%) used external controls and 19 (3%) used both. Studies in the community setting fulfilled a median of 5/10 quality features (IQR 3-7) and 3 (IQR 2-4) in the hospital setting. Community setting studies (25%, 205/825) were significantly more likely to use randomisation (OR 5.9 (95%CI 3.8-9.2)), external controls (OR 5.6 (95%CI 3.6-8.5)) and multiple centres (OR 10.5 (95%CI 7.1-15.7)). From all studies, only 48% (398/825) reported clinical and 23% (190/825) reported microbiological outcomes. Quality did not improve over time. <strong>Conclusions</strong> Overall quality of antimicrobial stewardship studies is low and has not improved over time. Most studies do not report clinical and microbiological outcome data. Studies conducted in the community setting were associated with better quality. These limitations should inform the design of future stewardship evaluations so that a robust evidence base can be built to guide clinical practice.
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spelling oxford-uuid:ef413c04-296e-430e-99d4-4b50cbc4d9e22022-03-27T11:38:58ZThe quality of studies evaluating antimicrobial stewardship interventions: a systematic reviewJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:ef413c04-296e-430e-99d4-4b50cbc4d9e2Symplectic Elements at OxfordElsevier2018Schweitzer, VVan Heijl, IWerkhoven, VIslam, JHendriks-Spoor, KBielicki, JBonten, MWalker, ALlewelyn, MConsensus on Antimicrobial Stewardship Evaluations (CASE) study group<strong>Background</strong> Antimicrobial stewardship aims to optimise antibiotic use and minimise selection of antimicrobial resistance. The methodological quality of published studies in this field is unknown. <strong>Objectives</strong> Our objective was to perform a comprehensive systematic review of antimicrobial stewardship research design and identify features which limit validity and translation of research findings into clinical practice. <strong>Data sources</strong> The following online database was searched: PubMed. Study eligibility criteria:Studies published between January 1950 and January 2017, evaluating any antimicrobial stewardship intervention in the community or hospital setting, without restriction on study design or outcome. <strong>Methods</strong> We extracted data on pre-specified design quality features and factors that may influence design choices including: (1) clinical setting, (2) age group studied, (3) when the study was conducted, (4) geographical region and (5) financial support received. <strong>Results</strong> The initial search yielded 17,382 articles; 1,008 were selected for full-text screening, of which 825 were included. Most studies (675/825, 82%) were non-experimental and 104 (15%) used interrupted time series analysis, 41 (6%) used external controls and 19 (3%) used both. Studies in the community setting fulfilled a median of 5/10 quality features (IQR 3-7) and 3 (IQR 2-4) in the hospital setting. Community setting studies (25%, 205/825) were significantly more likely to use randomisation (OR 5.9 (95%CI 3.8-9.2)), external controls (OR 5.6 (95%CI 3.6-8.5)) and multiple centres (OR 10.5 (95%CI 7.1-15.7)). From all studies, only 48% (398/825) reported clinical and 23% (190/825) reported microbiological outcomes. Quality did not improve over time. <strong>Conclusions</strong> Overall quality of antimicrobial stewardship studies is low and has not improved over time. Most studies do not report clinical and microbiological outcome data. Studies conducted in the community setting were associated with better quality. These limitations should inform the design of future stewardship evaluations so that a robust evidence base can be built to guide clinical practice.
spellingShingle Schweitzer, V
Van Heijl, I
Werkhoven, V
Islam, J
Hendriks-Spoor, K
Bielicki, J
Bonten, M
Walker, A
Llewelyn, M
Consensus on Antimicrobial Stewardship Evaluations (CASE) study group
The quality of studies evaluating antimicrobial stewardship interventions: a systematic review
title The quality of studies evaluating antimicrobial stewardship interventions: a systematic review
title_full The quality of studies evaluating antimicrobial stewardship interventions: a systematic review
title_fullStr The quality of studies evaluating antimicrobial stewardship interventions: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed The quality of studies evaluating antimicrobial stewardship interventions: a systematic review
title_short The quality of studies evaluating antimicrobial stewardship interventions: a systematic review
title_sort quality of studies evaluating antimicrobial stewardship interventions a systematic review
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