Antibiotic Policies and Utilization in Oregon Hospice Programs.

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Infectious Disease Management
• Pharmacology in Geriatrics

Background:

• Antibiotics are common in hospice care, but evidence for their safety and efficacy in this population is scarce.
• Current practices may not be evidence-based, potentially leading to suboptimal patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey hospice programs in Oregon regarding their antibiotic policies and prescribing habits.
• To identify gaps in antibiotic management protocols within hospice settings.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to hospice programs across Oregon.
• Data collected included antibiotic policies, prescribing practices, and reported adverse events.

Main Results:

• 10% of patients in responding hospices were on antibiotics (IQR 3.5%-20.0%).
• Only 31% had policies for initiating antibiotics, 17% for discontinuation, but 95% for drug interactions.
• Common adverse events included diarrhea (62%), nausea/vomiting (47%), and yeast infections (62%).

Conclusions:

• Hospice care antibiotic policies, particularly for initiation and discontinuation, are infrequent.
• More research is needed on antibiotic risks and benefits in hospice to guide evidence-based policy development.
• Optimizing antibiotic use in hospice can improve outcomes for vulnerable patients.