title: Antibiotic control measures in Dutch secondary care hospitals.
abstract: Control measures for the use of antibiotics are essential because of the potential harmful consequences of side effects. Various methods have been developed to help curb undesirable antibiotic prescription. We performed a survey in Dutch secondary care hospitals (response rate 73%) to make an inventory of these measures and elucidate possible shortcomings. Almost every hospital was using an antibiotic formulary (97%), sometimes supported by extra restrictions in antibiotic choice (55%). Local practice guidelines (95%) were commonly present, but effective implementation, for example using intranet applications, could be improved (21%). National guidelines had received little attention in the composition process of local guidelines (19%). Other measures such as educational programmes for specialists (11%) and feedback on antibiotic prescription (52%) remained largely underused, although their effective implementation may optimise antibiotic prescription in hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Quality of Care Research (229), Department of internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. J.Schouten@aig.umcn.nl
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schouten
authors.forename: M E J L
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hulscher
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Natsch
authors.forename: R P T M
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Grol
authors.forename: J W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Meer
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003625:Data Collection; D004363:Drug Utilization; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006761:Hospitals; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D009426:Netherlands; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents