Exploring the views of infection consultants in England on a novel delinked funding model for antimicrobials: the SMASH study

Ioannis Baltas*, Mark Gilchrist, Eirini Koutoumanou, Malick M Gibani, James E Meiring, Akaninyene Otu, David Hettle, Ameeka Thompson, James R Price, Anna Crepet, Abolaji Atomode, Timothy Crocker-Buque, Dimitrios Spinos, Hudson Guyver, Matija Tausan, Donald Somasunderam, Maxwell Thoburn, Cathleen Chan, Helen Umpleby, Bethany SharpCallum Chivers, Devan Suresh Vaghela, Ronak J Shah, Jonathan Foster, Amy Hume, Christopher Smith, Ammara Asif, Dimitrios Mermerelis, Mohammad Abbas Reza, Dominic A Haigh, Thomas Lamb, Loucia Karatzia, Alexandra Bramley, Nikhil Kadam, Konstantinos Kavallieros, Veronica Garcia-Arias, Jane Democratis, Claire S Waddington, Luke S P Moore, Alexander M Aiken

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: A novel 'subscription-type' funding model was launched in England in July 2022 for ceftazidime/avibactam and cefiderocol. We explored the views of infection consultants on important aspects of the delinked antimicrobial funding model.

METHODS: An online survey was sent to all infection consultants in NHS acute hospitals in England.

RESULTS: The response rate was 31.2% (235/753). Most consultants agreed the model is a welcome development (69.8%, 164/235), will improve treatment of drug-resistant infections (68.5%, 161/235) and will stimulate research and development of new antimicrobials (57.9%, 136/235). Consultants disagreed that the model would lead to reduced carbapenem use and reported increased use of cefiderocol post-implementation. The presence of an antimicrobial pharmacy team, requirement for preauthorization by infection specialists, antimicrobial stewardship ward rounds and education of infection specialists were considered the most effective antimicrobial stewardship interventions. Under the new model, 42.1% (99/235) of consultants would use these antimicrobials empirically, if risk factors for antimicrobial resistance were present (previous infection, colonization, treatment failure with carbapenems, ward outbreak, recent admission to a high-prevalence setting).Significantly higher insurance and diversity values were given to model antimicrobials compared with established treatments for carbapenem-resistant infections, while meropenem recorded the highest enablement value. Use of both 'subscription-type' model drugs for a wide range of infection sites was reported. Respondents prioritized ceftazidime/avibactam for infections by bacteria producing OXA-48 and KPC and cefiderocol for those producing MBLs and infections with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Acinetobacter spp. and Burkholderia cepacia.

CONCLUSIONS: The 'subscription-type' model was viewed favourably by infection consultants in England.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberdlad091
Number of pages9
JournalJAC-Antimicrobial Resistance
Volume5
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2023

Bibliographical note

© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

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