title: Effects of pharmaceutical counselling on antimicrobial use in surgical wards: intervention study with historical control group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the impact of pharmaceutical consulting on the quality of antimicrobial use in a surgical hospital department in a prospective controlled intervention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients receiving pharmaceutical intervention (intervention group, IG, n = 317) were compared with a historical control group (control group, CG, n = 321). During the control period, antimicrobial use was monitored without intervention. During the subsequent intervention period, a clinical pharmacist reviewed the prescriptions and gave advice on medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intervention reduced the length of antimicrobial courses (IG = 10 days, CG = 11 days, incidence rate ratio for i.v. versus o.p. = 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.84 to 0.93) and shortened i.v. administration (IG = 8 days, CG = 10 days, hazard rate = 1.76 in favour of switch from i.v. to p.o., 95% confidence interval 1.23 to 2.52). Intervention also helped to avoid useless combination therapy and reduced total costs for antimicrobials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A clinical pharmacist who reviews prescriptions can promote an increase in efficiency, for example, by shortening the course of treatment. Counselling by ward-based clinical pharmacists was shown to be effective to streamline antimicrobial therapy in surgical units and to increase drug safety.
authors: Institute for Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Grill
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Weber
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Lohmann
authors: Cornelia
authors: C
authors: Vetter-Kerkhoff
authors: Ralf
authors: R
authors: Strobl
authors: Karl-Walter
authors: KW
authors: Jauch
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D024382:Professional Role; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents