Practice variation in perioperative antibiotic use in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
Under the fee-for-service system, the overuse and misuse of perioperative antibiotics have become serious concerns in Japan. The objective of the present study is to investigate practice variations of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis between and within hospitals, and to identify any opportunities for improvement.


METHODS
We polled 319 surgeons in six specialties employed by 11 teaching hospitals in Japan. We developed questionnaires with vignettes, asking physicians about their practice of antimicrobial prophylaxis in six surgical procedures (gastrectomy, hysterectomy, cataract surgery, clipping of cerebral aneurysm, hip fracture surgery, and coronary artery bypass graft) and utilization of institutional clinical pathways.


RESULTS
Average durations of prophylaxis varied by procedure, from 1.6 days for cataract surgery to 5.8 days for clipping surgery. Variation was also observed between institutions for the same procedure, e.g. institutional averages for the duration of prophylaxis for gastrectomy ranged from 2.3 to 7 days. Large intra-institutional variation in prophylaxis duration and inconsistent use of clinical pathways were observed in the cases of gastrectomy, hip fracture surgery, and clipping surgery. At one hospital, 20% of physicians performing gastrectomy indicated the use of an institutional clinical pathway, and prophylaxis duration ranged from 3 to 6 days. For cataract surgery and hysterectomy, clinical pathways were universally applied and intra-institutional practice variation was small, yet prophylaxis duration varied widely between hospitals and third-generation cephalosporins were used extensively. Average length of prophylaxis for hysterectomy ranged from 1.8 to 6 days and 43% of respondents prescribed third-generation cephalosporins.


CONCLUSIONS
In Japan, perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis lacks standardization. Efforts to strengthen an evidence-based approach to antimicrobial prophylaxis need to be made a priority at both the national and institutional levels.
Sekimoto
Miho
M
Department of Healthcare Economics and Quality Management, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Konoe-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
Imanaka
Yuichi
Y
Evans
Edward
E
Ishizaki
Tatsuro
T
Hirose
Masahiro
M
Hayashida
Kenshi
K
Fukui
Tsuguya
T
D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019091:Critical Pathways; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D018588:Fee-for-Service Plans; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires