Audit of an antibiotic policy and microbiological investigations for treating bacteraemia in a large teaching hospital.
An audit of different approaches to guide empirical therapy in 78 cases of bacteraemia revealed poor utilisation of the antibiotic policy with resulting inadequate (P=0.005) or excessive (P<0.00001) antibiotic treatment and a trend to increased mortality. Eighty-seven percent of blood cultures were positive on Gram-stain within 24 h but streamlined therapy was still judged excessive in 27%. The results show poor utilisation of an up-to-date antibiotic policy but confirm its potential benefits and the ability of traditional culture methods to guide antibiotic therapy in a useful time-scale.
Mackenzie
A R
AR
The Infection Unit, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZN, UK.
Robertson
L
L
Jappy
B
B
Laing
R B S
RB
Gould
I M
IM
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012606:Scotland
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents