The effect of preauthorization and prospective audit and feedback system on oral antimicrobial prescription for outpatients at a children's hospital in Japan

Abstract

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) for oral antibiotics is still uncommon, despite the fact that oral antibiotics prescription accounts for 90% of total antibiotic consumption in developed countries. We introduced preauthorization and prospective audit and feedback (PAF) system on broad-spectrum oral antimicrobials as a part of ASP intervention from October 2015 in a tertiary children's hospital in Japan. Antimicrobial consumption and cost of targeted oral antimicrobials decreased from 11.1 days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 outpatient visits and 860,040 yen ($ 7167: 1 $ = 120 yen) to 1.9 DOT per 1000 outpatient visits and 142,200 yen ($ 1185) annually, respectively (p < 0.001). Interrupted time-series analysis showed that prescriptions for targeted antimicrobials decreased rapidly after initiation of preauthorization (p < 0.001). Prescriptions for non-targeted oral antimicrobial increased temporarily (p < 0.001), but a decreasing trend was found after the initiation (p < 0.001). In pre-intervention period, the main indications for using targeted antimicrobials were upper and lower respiratory infection, urinary tract infections, prophylaxis for medical procedures and otitis media, but only 21.4% of them were appropriate prescription. The appropriate prescription rate of post -intervention period increased to 58.5%. During the study period, the susceptibility pattern of major bacteria to these antimicrobials did not change. In conclusion, introduction of the preauthorization and PAF for selected oral antimicrobials decreased the antimicrobial use of both targeted and non-targeted antimicrobials. This intervention may be an effective method of ASP for other children's hospitals.