Infectious disease hotlines to provide advice to general practitioners: a prospective study.
Anna Luce Sette, Patrice François, Philippe Lesprit, Virginie Vitrat, Olivier Rogeaux, Emma Breugnon, Marion Baldeyrou, Véronique Mondain, Bertrand Issartel, Solen Kerneis, Sylvain Diamantis, Delphine Poitrenaud, Bastien Boussat, Patricia Pavese
Author Information
Anna Luce Sette: Médecine Générale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France. anna.sette@gmail.com. ORCID
Patrice François: Service d'épidémiologie et évaluation médicale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble-Alpes, Pavillon Taillefer, La Tronche, 38700, France. pfrancois@chu-grenoble.fr. ORCID
Philippe Lesprit: Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble-Alpes, Pavillon Taillefer, La Tronche, France. ORCID
Virginie Vitrat: Service de maladies infectieuses, Centre Hospitalier d'Annecy, Annecy, France. ORCID
Olivier Rogeaux: Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Centre Hospitalier Métropole Savoie, Chambéry, France.
Emma Breugnon: Service de maladies infectieuses, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-Etienne, Saint- Etienne, France.
Marion Baldeyrou: Maladies Infectieuses et Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire, Rennes, France. ORCID
Véronique Mondain: Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France. ORCID
Bertrand Issartel: Médecine Interne Infectieuse et Tropicale, MiiT médical selarl, Lyon-Villeurbanne, France. ORCID
Solen Kerneis: Equipe Mobile d'Infectiologie, APHP, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, F-75014, France. ORCID
Sylvain Diamantis: Service de Maladies infectieuses, Groupe Hospitalier Sud Ile de France, Melun, France. ORCID
Delphine Poitrenaud: Maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Centre Hospitalier d'Ajaccio, Ajaccio, France. ORCID
Bastien Boussat: Laboratoire TIMC-IMAG, Université de Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France. ORCID
Patricia Pavese: Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble-Alpes, Pavillon Taillefer, La Tronche, France. ORCID
BACKGROUND: Telephone hotlines in infectious diseases (ID) are part of antimicrobial stewardship programs designed to provide support and expertise in ID and to control antibiotic resistance. The aim of the study was to characterize the activity of the ID hotlines and estimate their usefulness for general practitioners (GPs). METHODS: This was a multicenter prospective observational study in different French regions. ID teams involved in antimicrobial stewardship with a hotline for GPs were asked to record their advice from April 2019 to June 2022. In these regions, all GPs were informed of the ID hotline's operating procedures. The main outcome was usage rate of the hotlines by GPs. RESULTS: Ten volunteer ID teams collected 4138 requests for advice from 2171 GPs. The proportion of GPs using the hotline varied pronouncedly by region, from 54% in the Isere department, to less than 1% in departments with the lowest usage. These differences were associated with the number of physicians in ID teams and with the age of the hotline. These results highlighted the value of working time as a means of ensuring the permanence of expertise. The main reasons for calling were: a diagnostic question (44%); choice of antibiotic (31%). The ID specialist provided advice on antibiotic therapy (43%) or a proposal for specialized consultation or hospitalization (11%). CONCLUSIONS: ID hotlines could help to strengthen cooperation between primary care and hospital medicine. However, the deployment and perpetuation of this activity require reflection concerning its institutional and financial support.
