Early antibiotic stewardship intervention lowers costs

A study in International Journal of Infectious Diseases examined the effects of earlier intervention by an antimicrobial stewardship team on various factors, including antimicrobial use and cost.

Advertisement

Researchers conducted a retrospective study at a hospital in Japan between April 2013 and March 2016. They compared three study periods:

• SP1: Patients receiving anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus agents and carbapenems for more than 14 days
• SP2: Patients receiving specific antimicrobials for more than 14 days
• SP3: Patients receiving specific antimicrobials regardless of the duration of treatment

Here are five study findings:

1. The timing of the antimicrobial stewardship team’s intervention reduced from an average of 15.5 days after administration in SP1 to 4.2 days in SP3.

2. The antimicrobial use density of carbapenems and piperacillin-tazobactam decreased significantly from SP2 to SP3.

3. The cost of specific antimicrobials decreased from $1.08 million in SP1 to $944,000 in SP2 and $763,000 in SP3.

4. The mortality rate and length of stay did not change during the study periods.

More articles on healthcare quality: 
Virus season hits Pennsylvania early: 3 things to know
Therapy dogs may spread MRSA to pediatric patients, Johns Hopkins study finds
FDA: Adults under 45 now eligible for HPV vaccine

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

The 2 KPIs that drive readmissions — and how hospitals act on them in real time

Tuesday, August 11
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT

Presenter: Nik Rao, Dexur

Advertisement

Next Up in Clinical Leadership & Infection Control

Advertisement

Comments are closed.