“Tools like this could play a key role in helping fight antibiotic resistance,” said Dr. Derek MacFadden, clinician scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa.A study led by Dr. Derek MacFadden found that a combination of tools helped increase the number of patients receiving the most targeted and effective antibiotic for bacterial blood infections.

It’s challenging to choose the right antibiotic because it can take up to three days to identify which bacteria are causing an infection. Prescribers usually make educated guesses, and select broad spectrum antibiotics, but these could lead to the development off antibiotic resistance.  

During this study, pharmacists used an algorithm, in addition to other tools, to predict which antibiotics would work the best against a patient’s infection. The researchers found that using this algorithm resulted in 55 percent of patients ending up on the most targeted effective antibiotic, compared to 44 percent of those in the control group.  

Future clinical trials could help confirm these results, as well as show the impact of these models on patient outcomes and antibiotic resistance.

“Tools like this could play a key role in helping fight antibiotic resistance,” said Dr. Derek MacFadden, clinician scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa.

Authors: Marion Elligsen, Ruxandra Pinto, Jerome A Leis, Sandra A N Walker, Nick Daneman, Derek R MacFadden

Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases

Funding: Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa. Research at The Ottawa Hospital is possible because of generous donations to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.

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