Antibiotic audit in medicine intensive care unit of tertiary care centre: A must do exercise

PurposeAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to the humanity now a days. To prevent it, the first step is to know about our antibiotic practices. Audit is the first step in continuous quality improvement which intend to go ahead. Antibiotic stewardship involves appropriate antibiotic (empirical or definitive) at correct time in correct doses and frequency for appropriate duration.MethodWe conducted a retrospective study in intensive care unit at our tertiary care center of Bihar, India. Our aim was to know about empirical antibiotic we are prescribing in suspected sepsis patients and their rationality too. National treatment guidelines for infectious disease released by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was taken as standard of care. We recorded demographic profile, SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment), APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation), antibiotic prescribed, final etiology of infection, and outcome of the patient and total ICU stay.ResultWe found that combination of two antibiotics were given in majority of patients (53%) and the third generation cephalosporin was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic. In our audit, rational combinations according to the antibiotic policies were given in 73.7% of patients. Appropriate doses of antibiotics were given in 89.5% of patients.ConclusionAudit is a mandatory exercise to provide quality care in the health care system.