FTP4.1 Compliance With Antimicrobial Prescribing Guideline Recommendations

Abstract

Abstract Aims Due to concerns regarding the quality of antimicrobial prescribing in the General Surgery department at a District General Hospital, a prospective quality improvement project was undertaken to guide local antimicrobial stewardship. To assess the compliance of the General Surgery department with local antimicrobial prescribing guidelines and policies, and recommendations in the BNF and electronic medicines compendium (EMC). The aim was to evaluate the extent of change in compliance of the General Surgery junior doctors during after intervention. Methodology Prospectively collected data on the patients admitted and started on antimicrobial agents over two 3-week periods under the General Surgery department. Educational interventions were initiated in the interval between the periods of data collection. Results 91 patients were audited in Cycle 1 with a median age of 57 (9-93) years including 36 males and 55 females. Cycle 2 involved 89 patients with a median age of 60 (9-87) with 48 males and 41 females. After intervention, there was an increase in correct prescribing regime (51.6 to 56.2%), correct dose (91.2 to 98.9%), correct frequency (59.3 to 79.8%), and correct duration; when included (78.8 to 83.3%). There was a decrease in the duration being included on the prescription (36.3 to 33.7%). The increases in correct antimicrobial dosing and correct antimicrobial frequency prescriptions were statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05. Conclusion Areas for improvement in the compliance to prescribing guidelines in the department could be influenced successfully through appropriate intervention. The audit highlighted particular areas to be targeted by education.