Arna Yr Karelsdottir
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Arna Yr Karelsdottir has a total of 5 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Asgeir Haraldsson
Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland
1 shared publication - Olof Eir Hoffritz
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
1 shared publication Thordur Thorkelsson
Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
1 shared publicationThorunn Oskarsdottir
Department of Pharmacy, Landspitali – University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland
1 shared publication- Valtyr Thors
Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 11 November 2024
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
- Vol. 45 (12) , 1448-1454
Improved use of antibiotics following implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in a neonatal intensive care unit
Introduction: Inappropriate antibiotic use in infants can have multiple adverse effects and contribute to the development of bacteria resistant to antimicrobials. Antimicrobial stewardship programs can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an antimicrobial stewardship program implemented in 2017 in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Children’s Hospital Iceland.Materials and methods: The study included all infants who were admitted to the NICU during the study period (January 1st 2012–October 31st 2020). Data was collected from hospital records. Three periods were defined: preimplementation (2012–2014), peri-implementation (2015–2016) and postimplementation (2017–October 2020). Antibiotic use was quantified using days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 bed days (BD). For statistical analysis the pre- and postimplementation periods were compared.Results: Antibiotics were administered in 38.6% (1372) of admissions to the NICU during the study period. Antimicrobial use per year decreased from 584.6 to 317.1 DOT/1000 BD per year (P < 0.001). Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics decreased significantly. The average number of BD per month decreased from 297.8 to 220.9 BD/month (P = 0.0096). There were no significant changes in the length of stay for each infant or the proportion of readmissions or retreatment.Conclusion: Increased awareness of appropriate use of antimicrobials in the NICU led to shorter treatments and less use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. No increase in adverse effects such as readmissions or retreatment was observed.
- 11 November 2024
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
- Vol. 45 (12) , 1448-1454
Open AccessImproved use of antibiotics following implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in a neonatal intensive care unit
Introduction: Inappropriate antibiotic use in infants can have multiple adverse effects and contribute to the development of bacteria resistant to antimicrobials. Antimicrobial stewardship programs can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an antimicrobial stewardship program implemented in 2017 in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Children’s Hospital Iceland.Materials and methods: The study included all infants who were admitted to the NICU during the study period (January 1st 2012–October 31st 2020). Data was collected from hospital records. Three periods were defined: preimplementation (2012–2014), peri-implementation (2015–2016) and postimplementation (2017–October 2020). Antibiotic use was quantified using days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 bed days (BD). For statistical analysis the pre- and postimplementation periods were compared.Results: Antibiotics were administered in 38.6% (1372) of admissions to the NICU during the study period. Antimicrobial use per year decreased from 584.6 to 317.1 DOT/1000 BD per year (P < 0.001). Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics decreased significantly. The average number of BD per month decreased from 297.8 to 220.9 BD/month (P = 0.0096). There were no significant changes in the length of stay for each infant or the proportion of readmissions or retreatment.Conclusion: Increased awareness of appropriate use of antimicrobials in the NICU led to shorter treatments and less use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. No increase in adverse effects such as readmissions or retreatment was observed.