Antimicrobial stewardship program at a tertiary care academic medical hospital: Clinical, microbiological and economic impact. A 5-year temporary descriptive study

Abstract

IntroductionFew prospective studies analyze, with sufficient duration, the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program (AMSP) carried out entirely in a hospital. MethodsDescriptive study evaluating the consumption of antimicrobials expressed in defined daily doses (DDD) per 100 hospital occupied bed-days (OBDs) stratified in medical, surgical and intensive care unit (ICU) and the incidence of densities (ID) per 1,000 hospital OBDs of the prevalent multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in a tertiary hospital, over a period of 5 years before and after the implementation of an AMSP. Analysis of direct costs and those associated with hospital stay and mortality. ResultsA total of 32,802 patients with antibiotic treatment were included in the intervention period (2013–2017). Non-imposed advice was exercised in 14.9%. The degree of adherence to recommendation was 87.9%, direct treatment and de-escalation being the most frequently admitted interventions (P<0.001). Overall hospital consumption of antibacterials in DDD/100s decreased by 5.7% (77.04 vs. 71.33) between 2008 and 2017. In ICU, the average DDD/100s showed a reduction from 155 to 113 (mean difference -18, P=0.005). There was a decrease in the DI/1000 OBDs of MDROs in the post-intervention period (RR 0.78; CI 95% [0.73, 0.84], P<0.001). The average annual cost of antibacterials declined from €1,435,048 to €955,805 (mean difference -€469,243; P=0.001). ConclusionLong-term maintenance of a hospital AMSP was associated with a reduction in antibiotic consumption, especially in ICU, as well as a beneficial ecological impact and economic savings.