title: A national network of infectious diseases experts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to consider the implementation of a network of infectious diseases (ID) experts to optimize the antibiotic prescriptions of community and hospital practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational prospective study was conducted among ID experts in the Pays-de-la-Loire Region to evaluate the number of calls and to determine the practitioner's reasons for soliciting ID expertise. For each phone consultation, four criteria were recorded during 5 days: origin of the call (internal/external), kind of question (diagnostic/therapeutic) time spent for the advice provided, type of advice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 386 phone consultations for 20 infectious disease specialists were recorded during the study period (5 days); 81% were internal to the hospital, 7.7% from another hospital, and 11.3% from private practice, 56.3% of the questions concerned a therapeutic strategy, 21% a diagnostic advice, and 22.6% concerned both diagnosis and therapy. Two third of the questions were answered within 10minutes. In 68.7% of cases, the ID specialist answered immediately, 19.8% of calls required following-up the patient, 6% led to refer the patient to an ID consultation, and 5.5% to hospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey results stress the important need for such ID expertise, both in hospitals and in ambulatory medicine. Collaboration of ID specialists in a regional network would allow an easy and permanent access to antibiotic therapy advice for prescribers. This network would improve the quality and safety of care.
authors.affiliation: Centre MedQual, hôpital St-Jacques, CHU de Nantes, 85, rue St-Jacques, 44093 Nantes, France. Electronic address: aurelie.marquet@chu-nantes.fr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marquet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ollivier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boutoille
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thibaut
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Potel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballereau
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice; D005602:France; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D055552:Infectious Disease Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008511:Medicine; D011364:Professional Practice; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013689:Telephone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Bon usage des antibiotiques; Conseil en infectiologie; Good use of antibiotics; Infectious disease specialists; Regional network; Référents en antibiothérapie; Réseau régional; Solicited consultations