14. Effects of an Opt-Out Protocol for Antibiotic De-escalation among Selected Patients with Suspected Sepsis: The DETOURS Trial

Abstract Background Sepsis guidelines recommend daily review to de-escalate or stop antibiotics in appropriate patients. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (NCT03517007) of an opt-out protocol to decrease unnecessary antibiotics in selected patients with suspected sepsis. Methods We evaluated non-ICU adults remaining on broad-spectrum antibiotics with negative blood cultures at 48-96 hours at ten U.S. hospitals during September 2018-May 2020. A 23-item safety check excluded patients with ongoing signs of infection, concerning or inadequate microbiologic data, or high-risk conditions (Figure 1). Eligible patients were randomized to the opt-out protocol vs. usual care. The primary outcome was 30-day post-enrollment antibacterial days of therapy (DOT). Clinicians caring for intervention patients were contacted by a pharmacist or physician to encourage antibiotic discontinuation or de-escalation using opt-out language, discuss rationale for continuing antibiotics, working diagnosis, and de-escalation and duration plans. Hurdle models separately compared the odds of antibiotic continuation and DOT distributions among those who continued antibiotics. Components of the De-Escalating Empiric Therapy: Opting-OUt of Rx in Selected patients with Suspected Sepsis (DETOURS) Trial Protocol Results Among 9606 screened, 767 (8%) were enrolled (Figure 2). Common reasons for exclusion were antibiotics given prior to blood culture (35%), positive culture from non-blood sites (26%), and increased oxygen requirement (21%). Intervention patients had 32% lower odds of antibiotic continuation (79% vs. 84%, OR 0.68, 95% confidence interval [0.47, 0.98]). DOT distributions among those who continued antibiotics were similar (ratio of means 1.06 [0.88-1.26], Figure 3). Fewer intervention patients were exposed to extended-spectrum agents (38% vs. 44%). Common reasons for continuing antibiotics were treatment of localized infection (76%) and belief that stopping antibiotics was not safe (31%). Safety outcomes such as mortality, readmission, sepsis relapse, C. difficile, and length of stay did not differ. DETOURS Trial Flow Diagram Flow of participants through the DETOURS Trial. Observed Days of Antibiotic Therapy Among Intervention and Control Subjects in the DETOURS Trial Post-enrollment days of antibiotic therapy among 767 DETOURS Trial participants in 10 US acute care hospitals within 30 days after enrollment. Dark pink color indicates percent overlap between intervention (purple) and control (light pink) groups. Conclusion In this patient-level randomized trial of a stewardship intervention, the opt-out de-escalation protocol targeting selected patients with suspected sepsis resulted in more antibiotic discontinuations but did not affect safety events. Disclosures Rebekah W. Moehring, MD, MPH, UpToDate, Inc. (Other Financial or Material Support, Author Royalties) Michael Z. David, MD PhD, GSK (Board Member) Michael Klompas, MD, MPH, UpToDate (Other Financial or Material Support, Chapter Author)


Session: O-03. Building Your Toolkit for HAI Surveillance and Stewardship
Background. Sepsis guidelines recommend daily review to de-escalate or stop antibiotics in appropriate patients. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (NCT03517007) of an opt-out protocol to decrease unnecessary antibiotics in selected patients with suspected sepsis.
Methods. We evaluated non-ICU adults remaining on broad-spectrum antibiotics with negative blood cultures at 48-96 hours at ten U.S. hospitals during September 2018-May 2020. A 23-item safety check excluded patients with ongoing signs of infection, concerning or inadequate microbiologic data, or high-risk conditions ( Figure 1). Eligible patients were randomized to the opt-out protocol vs. usual care. The primary outcome was 30-day post-enrollment antibacterial days of therapy (DOT). Clinicians caring for intervention patients were contacted by a pharmacist or physician to encourage antibiotic discontinuation or de-escalation using opt-out language, discuss rationale for continuing antibiotics, working diagnosis, and de-escalation and duration plans. Hurdle models separately compared the odds of antibiotic continuation and DOT distributions among those who continued antibiotics.

DETOURS Trial Flow Diagram
Flow of participants through the DETOURS Trial.

Observed Days of Antibiotic Therapy Among Intervention and Control Subjects in the DETOURS Trial
Post-enrollment days of antibiotic therapy among 767 DETOURS Trial participants in 10 US acute care hospitals within 30 days after enrollment. Dark pink color indicates percent overlap between intervention (purple) and control (light pink) groups.
Conclusion. In this patient-level randomized trial of a stewardship intervention, the opt-out de-escalation protocol targeting selected patients with suspected sepsis resulted in more antibiotic discontinuations but did not affect safety events. Methods. This retrospective claims analysis used 2016-2018 national Medicare claims data. The two study samples included continuously eligible fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥66 years with a new CDI diagnosis followed by an antibiotic fill in the pre-period (04/01/2017-09/30/2017) and post-period (04/01/2018-09/30/2018), respectively. Outcomes included type of CDI antibiotic received; sustained response and CDI recurrence. Multivariable regressions compared pre-vs. post-period outcomes while controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors.
Results. The pre-period (N=7,389) and post-period (N=7,746) samples had similar characteristics (59% > 75 years, 32% male). Post-guideline update, absolute rates of MTZ use declined 27.7% (relative change [RC] -34.1%, p< 0.001) and VAN use increased 26.9% (RC +150.2%, p< 0.001) (Figure 1). While FDX use increased 0.8% (RC +87.8%, p< 0.001), overall use remained low (1.63%). Surprisingly, clinical outcomes did not improve between the pre-and post-period (Table 1). Even after adjustment, overall sustained response rates decreased (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.93, p=0.0197) and overall CDI recurrence rates increased (OR: 1.13, p=0.0018) slightly in the postvs. pre-period. Additional analyses by type of antibiotic showed that VAN (55.0% and 35.1%) was similar in outcomes to MTZ (54.2% and 33.0%), whereas FDX (71.4% and 20.9%) had higher sustained response and lower CDI recurrence rates, respectively ( Figure 2). Conclusion. The 2017 IDSA guideline update was associated with a substantial increase in VAN use and decrease in MTZ use. FDX use rates remained low (< 2%). Overall CDI outcomes did not improve post guideline update despite the shift to guideline-indicated VAN. This may be because VAN was not associated with meaningfully improved outcomes relative to MTZ. However, improved outcomes seen with FDX relative to VAN and MTZ suggest potential benefits from its greater use in Medicare patients.