[Antibiotic treatment optimization by means of antibiotic treatment experts participation].
BACKGROUND
Antibiotics account for a high percentage of hospital pharmacy expenses. An elevated proportion of the prescriptions are considered inappropriate. Infectious diseases specialist could help other physicians in improving antibiotics prescriptions.


METHODS
Treatments in all patients hospitalized in four surgical wards were checked daily and recommendations were made in cases with signs of inadequate antibiotics prescriptions. The program was carried out during for 4 months and the results were compared with a similar period of the previous year.


RESULTS
562 treatments of 393 patients were reviewed . Five hundred twenty four recommendations were made (90% of them were accepted). There was a significant reduction in the number of inadequate prescriptions. Antibiotic expenditure decreased by 29,262 euros (7,240 euros/month), implying a reduction of 2.35 euros/hospitalization-bed/day. There were no statistically significant differences in the amount of hospital resistant bacteria nor in mortality between the two periods.


CONCLUSIONS
Following application of a non-compulsory control program, antibiotic prescription improved and expenditure decreased, with no change in mortality. Acceptation of the program by the physicians of the departments implicated was favourable.
Ramos Martínez
A
A
Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospiatal Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Universidad autónoma, Madrid. antrammar@yahoo.es
Muñez Rubio
E
E
Santiago Pérez
A
A
García Sanz
E
E
Manso Manrique
M
M
Torralba Arranz
A
A
Asensio Vegas
A
A
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D016527:Drug Costs; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners; D007297:Inpatients; D013030:Spain
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents