3 components of stewardship programs that reduce antibiotic use

Researchers studied the key structural and strategic aspects of antimicrobial stewardship programs associated with variability of antibiotic use across facilities. They published their findings in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

Researchers conducted an observational study of acute care hospitals in Ontario, Canada. Of 127 eligible hospitals, 73 completed a survey that included questions about structural and strategic components of their of antimicrobial stewardship programs. The researchers gathered antibiotic use information from hospital purchasing data between Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2014.

The study shows there was a seven-fold range in antibiotic use across these facilities — from 253 defined daily doses per 1,000 patient days to 1,872 defined daily doses per 1,000 patient days.

The following program components lowered antibiotic use:

• The presence of designated funding or resources for the antimicrobial stewardship program
• Prospective audit and feedback
• Intravenous-to-oral conversion policies

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