Reduction in antibiotic costs by restricting use of an oral cephalosporin

Antibiotic cost control programs are important; however, they may be difficult to Implement if they include intensive involvement of infectious diseases specialists. In a large municipal hospital, review of antibiotic cost data indicated that 31 percent of the total antibiotic expenditure was for an oral cephalosporin, cephalexin. The requirement that an antibiotic justification form be completed did not decrease use of the drug. However, the requirement that the prescribing physician telephone an infectious diseases specialist resulted in marked restriction of the oral cephalosporin and was accompanied by a 29 percent reduction (adjusted for inflation) in total antibiotic costs. Since comparatively few telephone requests were made and since the decision process to use an oral cephalosporin is comparatively simple, marked reduction in antibiotic costs was achieved with relatively little effort by the infectious diseases expert.     

Cost-effectiveness of prospective and continuous parenteral antibiotic control: experience at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center from 1987 to 1989

PURPOSE: Controlling inappropriate antibiotic usage is a major focus for hospital quality assurance and cost-containment programs. We assessed the impact of strengthening a parenteral antibiotic control policy and instituting continuous infectious disease service (IDS) reviews of the appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy on cost and patient outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients receiving intravenous antibiotics during a 3.5-year period from 1986 to 1989 were included in either the pre- or post-policy study group. Antibiotic costs 16 months before were compared with antibiotic costs 26 months after implementation of a new policy to restrict inappropriate usage of (1) broad-spectrum antibiotics when not necessary, (2) expensive agents when a less costly agent could be used, and (3) an excessive dosage or interval. Patient subgroups treated 4 months before and 4 months after policy implementation were compared further within diagnosis-related group (DRG) assignments using patient demographic, cost, and outcome measures. RESULTS: The average monthly antibiotic costs during the 26-month post-policy period were $7,600 less than during the 16-month pre-policy period (p less than 0.0001), resulting in an average yearly drug cost reduction of $91,200. The IDS team altered therapy in 611 (34.5%) of 1,769 reviews of antibiotic usage during the 26-month period. The comparisons among similar patient groups by DRG classification revealed the average number of antibiotic doses per study patient admission was decreased 24% (p = 0.005) and drug costs were reduced 32% (p = 0.004) after policy implementation. In two DRG categories (i.e., respiratory infections plus pneumonia), patients in the post-policy group had a 33% decrease in average number of doses (p = 0.05) and 45% decrease in antibiotic costs (p = 0.04) compared with the pre-policy group. Similar trends were observed in most DRG categories. There was an average $70 per admission decrease in drug cost and a reduction of eight antibiotic doses per admission after policy initiation. The overall prevalence of deaths (p = 0.22) and average length of antibiotic therapy (p = 0.29) were less in the post-policy period despite group similarities in patient characteristics and lengths of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Antibiotic control policies can be developed to ensure quality care and can be designed to select for cost-effective agents. Prospective and continuous monitoring of antibiotic usage by the IDS resulted in a significant and sustained reduction in antibiotic costs without detrimental effect on the length of therapy or deaths.     

Expanding the role of the infection control professional in the cost-effective use of antibiotics

There is a growing demand that health care expenses be contained and that excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics be eliminated. At the University of California, San Diego Medical Center, strategies aimed at controlling drug usage and subsequently reducing costs have been implemented and found to be effective. Mechanisms designed to achieve such goals without diminishing quality of care involve expanding the role of the infection control professional (ICP) while implementing antibiotic control stratagems such as antimicrobial utilization teams, antibiotic order sheets, audits of use, automatic stop orders, computer-assisted management, drug use reviews, educational efforts, formulary practice, restricted drug policies, and target drug monitoring. The infection control professional, as well as other members of the antimicrobial utilization team, contributes to the promotion of the appropriate use of antibiotics in part by identifying individual cases in which antibiotics might be used inappropriately, such as for the treatment of colonization rather than infection or when appropriate microbiologic testing has not been carried out.     

Results of a Local Antibiotic Management Program on Antibiotic Use in a Tertiary Intensive Care Unit in Hungary

Background  Massive antibiotic use in intensive care units (ICU) is associated with increased microbial resistance. Therefore avoiding unneccesary antibiotic usage is essential. To achieve a more considered antibiotic prescribing practice, a new antibiotic policy was implemented at our ICU. In this paper, we evaluated the impact of this intervention, and described the aetiology and incidence of blood stream infections and selected antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Materials and Methods  In November 2002, a local antibiotic management program (LAMP) was implemented. This included a new infectious diseases specialist consultation service and restricted authorisation to prescribe antibiotics. The effect on ward-level antibiotic use was examined by segmented regression analysis. Patient, ICU and microbiology data were also recorded and compared before and after policy implementation. Results  The patient populations and the subsequent mortality rate were comparable before and after the implementation of the policy. Total antibiotic consumption was markedly reduced from 162.9 to 101.3 defined daily dose (DDD) per 100 patients, and per day (DDD per 100 patient-days). This was mainly accounted for a reduction in the use of quinolones, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides, metronidazol, carbepenems and third generation cephalosporins. Conclusion  This study has confirmed that establishing a targeted LAMP, based on close co-operation between intensive care physicians and infectious disease specialists together with a restricted prescribing authority, can reduce the use of antibiotics.     

Effect of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, educational program on the use of antibiotics in a geriatric university hospital

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of a comprehensive, educational antibiotic management program designed to improve antibiotic use and reduce treatment costs in elderly patients with suspected urinary or respiratory tract infection. DESIGN: Interventional cohort study with 12 cross-sectional drug utilization reviews of antibiotic use before, during, and after the multifaceted intervention. SETTING: A 304-bed university hospital for geriatric patients. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3,383 elderly patients. INTERVENTIONS: An educational program including distribution of guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of urinary and respiratory tract infections; lectures on geriatric infectious diseases; weekly ward rounds for patients with suspected infection; and targeted, individual counseling on diagnosis and antibiotic treatment of infections. MEASUREMENTS: Antibiotic utilization data were collected from the patients' records. Antimicrobial costs were calculated using 1998 hospital wholesale prices. RESULTS: Of 3,383 screened patients, 680 (20%) received at least one antibiotic. During the study period, the mean number of prescribed drugs per patient increased from 5.9 to 7.6 (29%; P<.001). In contrast, a reduction of 15% was observed in the proportion of patients exposed to antibiotic agents (P=.08) and a drop of 26% in the number of antibiotics administered (P<.001). This resulted in a 54% decrease in cumulative daily antibiotic costs. In 83 (75%) of 110 surveyed patients, the guidelines were correctly implemented. The intervention had no measurable negative clinical effect. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive, multifaceted educational program for treating urinary and respiratory tract infections in the elderly was a safe and practical method to change physicians' antibiotic prescribing practice and significantly reduce the consumption and costs of antibiotics in a geriatric hospital.     

Prescription of prophylactic antibiotics for neurosurgical procedures in teaching hospitals in Iran

BACKGROUND: To assess the appropriateness of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in neurosurgical procedures, using the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) guideline as reference, 110 patients were prospectively evaluated. Monitoring surgical antibiotic prophylaxis is crucial in ensuring appropriate use of antimicrobial agents in this setting. This will minimize the consequences of antibiotic misuse such as increased drug antibiotic resistance, adverse events, and higher costs to the institution. METHODS: We recruited 110 consecutive patients undergoing clean neurosurgical treatment in 2 hospitals. Data were collected prospectively from patients' medical records between February 2004 and April 2004. The data collection forms for each patient included hospital name, patient demographics, type of surgery, and type of antimicrobial prophylaxis regimen (drug name, dose, interval, route of administration, number of doses and time administered, and duration of administration). RESULTS: Discrepancies about antibiotic selection, duration, and start time of prophylaxis were seen between current administration and the ASHP guideline. The direct cost of prophylactic antibiotics for the 110 procedures was 14 times greater than what it would have cost to administer prophylactic antibiotics adhering to the ASHP guideline (US $802 vs US $59; US $7.29 vs US $0.54 per patient, respectively). This is equivalent to US $6.75 of extra costs per procedure and patient. CONCLUSION: This study indicates the need for interventions to improve the rational use of antibiotic prophylaxis in Iran to prevent the complications of inappropriate administration of antimicrobials and decrease unnecessary costs.     

深圳市住院病人抗结核相关抗菌药物应用调查

目的 了解深圳市综合医院和结核病专科医院二线抗结核药物（second line anti-TB drug,SLD）相关的抗菌药物使用情况,为其合理应用和科学管理提供可靠依据。 方法 调查2008年深圳市3家综合医院住院部呼吸内科、消化内科和泌尿内科3个科室245例病例,和1家结核病专科医院96例肺结核住院病例。均按不同科室内住院号顺序依次抽取病案资料查阅,分别记录使用的是SLD相关抗菌药物种类和时间段,并统计分析。结果综合医院,仅15.9%的病例有抗菌药物药物敏感试验,59.6%的病例使用过SLD相关的抗菌药物,以氟喹诺酮类居多,占49.8%,其次是大环内酯类,占9％;氟喹诺酮类的使用大多集中于左氧氟沙星和莫西沙星,而大环内酯类多集中于阿齐霉素和克拉霉素;呼吸内科应用较多,占75.1%。结核病专科医院96例肺结核病例中,65例为单纯肺结核病例,52%的病例合并使用SLD 相关的抗菌药物,以氟喹诺酮类使用最多;31例合并其他细菌感染的肺结核病例,均使用了抗菌药物,且81％未做药物敏感试验,以氟喹诺酮类最多,占89%。氟喹诺酮类应用均以左氧氟沙星为主;氨基糖苷类抗菌药物应用较少。 结论 深圳市结核病专科医院存在较严重的结核病不规范治疗现象;综合医院和专科医院住院病例抗菌药物以经验用药为主,并均存在氟喹诺酮类和大环内酯类抗菌药物过多应用的现象。     

Osteomyelitis: Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcome in a Public versus a Private Institution

BACKGROUND: Although bone infections are difficult to diagnose and manage, primary health care providers often give comprehensive care to patients with few referrals. To evaluate how trends in care impact upon management of bone infections, we performed a retrospective review of medical records of 198 osteomyelitis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 130 patients were hospitalized at a private institution and 68 were hospitalized at a public (teaching) institution. Outcomes measured were bone salvage or loss in relation to predisposing co-morbidities and infectious disease (ID) physician involvement in the patient care. RESULTS: Co-morbidities predominating at the public and private hospitals, respectively, were presence of metal implants (20% and 37%) and diabetes (32% and 31%). The most common pathogens at the public and private hospitals, respectively, were methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, 16 and 32%) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA, 3% and 31%). ID specialists treated longer with i.v. antibiotics (42 and 43.5 median treatment days) than non-ID specialists (14 and 7 median treatment days). When ID specialists were involved in case management, a trend to bone salvage was seen at the public hospital (p < 0.09). CONCLUSION: Osteomyelitis patient outcome varies less by hospital setting than by case management.     

Chest pain units: state of the art of the management of patients with chest pain in the emergency department]

Chest pain is one of the most common reasons for patients coming to emergency departments. Most of these individuals end up being hospitalized due to uncertainty of the cause of their complaint. This aggressive and defensive attitude is taken by emergency physicians because some 10 to 30% of these patients actually have acute coronary syndrome. As the admission electrocardiogram and serum CK-MB level have a sensitivity of about 50% for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, serial evaluation is mandatory for non-low risk patients. Inspite of this knowledge, an average of 2-3% of patients with acute myocardial infarction are erroneously released from emergency departments, what is responsible for expensive malpractice suits in the United States. Chest Pain Units were introduced in emergency practice two decades ago to improve medical care quality, reduce inappropriate hospital discharges, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and reduce medical costs, thus making patient's assessment cost-effective. This is achieved mostly with the use of systematic diagnostic protocols by qualified and trained personnel in the emergency department setting and not in the coronary care unit.