title: Community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection: implementation of an antibiotic protocol.
abstract: Enthusiastic formulation of clinical guidelines continues to increase but although theoretical difficulties in guideline implementation have been recognised, little attention has been paid to their effectiveness in everyday clinical practice. The introduction of a protocol for empirical treatment of lower respiratory tract infection (PETRI) to an acute medical take-in unit in Belfast is described. Early involvement of all relevant staff, preparation of user-friendly flow charts, and imaginative publicity, resulted in an initial implementation rate of 75%. The role of implementation as a significant rate-limiting step in the audit cycle is emphasised.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Menown
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Archbold
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Bamford
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Callender
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents