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Coordinated antibiotic management reduced carbapenem use
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SAN FRANCISCO — After implementing an antimicrobial stewardship program, the rate of appropriate antibiotic treatment increased by 30% in a tertiary hospital center in Spain, researchers reported here.
“I hope that this program will reduce antimicrobial resistance in addition to spending on antibiotics and pressure to use antibiotics,” Jose Miguel Cisneros, PhD, of the Hospital Universitario Virgin del Rocio in Sevilla, Spain, told Infectious Disease News.
Jose Miguel Cisneros
Cisneros and colleagues developed an educational, institutionally-support antimicrobial stewardship program that included newly-created guidelines on the management of infectious syndromes. They analyzed antimicrobial prescriptions weekly and expert clinicians conducted counseling interviews. They assessed the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions and provided feedback about the correct use of treatment.
During the first year of the program, the researchers performed 1,206 counseling interviews. When the program started, 56% of antibiotic prescriptions were inappropriate. However, the rate of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions declined to 26.4% in the fourth trimester of the study. From the beginning of the study, the rate of antibiotic consumption decreased from 114.98 defined daily dose per 100 stays to 85.19 defined daily dose. This may have resulted in a 42% reduction in antibiotic expenditures. In addition, 98% of responses to satisfaction questionnaires said the experience was positive.
“The message is that counseling interviews are very helpful in antimicrobial stewardship programs,” Cisneros said. “I hope to continue studying the clinical impact of the program.”
For more information:
Cisneros J. # K-1924. Presented at: 52nd ICAAC; Sept. 9-12, 2012; San Francisco.
Disclosure: Cisneros reports financial relationships with Astellas, Merck and Pfizer.