[Evaluation of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid prescriptions in a teaching hospital of Parisian suburb].
OBJECTIVE
Prospective study of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (amox-clav) prescriptions in the medical departments of a teaching hospital that prescribes this antibiotic very often.


METHODS
From April to May 2004, each patient treated by amox-clav was included. Data were collected (age, sex, past diseases, associated-diseases, reason for hospitalization, prior antibiotic therapy, date of amox-clav prescription, indication for amox-clav prescription, other associated antibiotics, nosocomial or community-acquired infection, site of infection, bacteriologic samples and bacterial identification, treatment duration and status of the physician). Data were analysed by a muldisciplinary group and compared with a referential used for antibiotic prescriptions in our hospital.


RESULTS
One hundred and two medical files were analysed. Seventy-one percent of amox-clav prescriptions were in adequation with the referential. Combination of three criteria (indication of antibiotic therapy, choice of amox-clav and of an antibiotic combination) showed that 58 (57%) was acceptable, 29 (28%) was debatable and 15 (15%) was unacceptable. Unacceptable prescriptions were often made by a junior. The majority of inadequate antibiotic prescriptions referred to acute pulmonary infections. Antibiotic combinations were often inadequate and treatment duration was too long. The quality of the prescription was more accurate when made by a senior.


CONCLUSIONS
An effort should be made in our teaching hospital to optimize antibiotic prescriptions.
Dupont
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Service de médecine interne-2, CHU Ambroise-Paré, 9, avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, 92104 Boulogne cedex, France. caroline.dupont@apr.aphp.fr
Massé
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Auvert
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Page
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Heym
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Espinasse
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Hanslik
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T
Rouveix
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E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010297:Paris; D011446:Prospective Studies
D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination