661 Improving Antibiotic Prescribing in a District General Hospital: A Closed Loop Audit

Abstract

Abstract Aim Broad-spectrum antibiotics are effective in decreasing wound infection and postoperative intra-abdominal abscesses for patients undergoing appendicectomy. Compliance with local hospital antibiotic guidelines is important in ensuring antibiotic efficacy and reducing potential for toxicity and antibiotic resistance. The aim was to assess the impact of educational interventions on the adherence to local antibiotic guidelines in patients undergoing appendicectomy at a Scottish district general hospital. Method Preoperative antibiotic prescribing in consecutive adult patients aged ≥ 16 years undergoing appendicectomy were audited against hospital guidelines over a four-month period between March 2019 and July 2019. We implemented change through antibiotic prescribing teaching for doctors in the surgical team and anaesthetic team. This change was subsequently evaluated through a re-audit over a three-month period between December 2019 and February 2020. Results The baseline audit demonstrated 68.8% (n = 11/16) compliance to local antibiotic guidelines among patients undergoing appendicectomy. The remaining patients had the correct choice of antibiotics, but gentamicin was prescribed in different doses. Gaps in prescriber awareness of antibiotic guidelines were identified. Following departmental teaching sessions regarding antibiotic prescribing and use of the gentamicin dosing calculator, the re-audit showed 93.8% (n = 15/16) compliance with local antibiotic guidelines among prescribers in the surgical team and anaesthesic team. Conclusions Education interventions were instrumental in improving adherence to antibiotic prescribing guidelines. This highlights the importance of regular audit and prescriber education in the promotion of antibiotic stewardship in hospitals.