Evaluation of Initial Outcomes of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in a Nonprofit Hospital in Brazil

Abstract

Background: One of the main global public health challenges is the fight against microbial resistance, according to the World Health Organization. Inadequate use of antimicrobials is considered one of the main factors related to the phenomenon and is quite common in the hospital environment. Managing the use of antimicrobials in hospitals has become a necessity and has shown positive results in many ways, such as maximizing the effects of pharmacotherapy, preventing the emergence of resistant microorganisms, and reducing healthcare costs. Methods: The prescriptions for patients admitted to a 380-bed nonprofit private hospital in Belo Horizonte, Brazil were monitored from January 1, 2019, to August 31, 2019, with a monthly average of 251 patients followed by the antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) team (1 infectious diseases doctor and 2 clinical pharmacists). Patients selected for follow-up and intervention were those submitted to intravenous, intramuscular, and/or oral antibiotic therapy with the following antimicrobial agents: piperacillin/tazobactam, carbapenem, polymyxin B, tigecycline, vancomycin, teicoplanin, daptomycin, third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, quinolone, and aminoglycosides. Patients on prophylactic or antimicrobial treatment not mentioned above were excluded from surveillance. Interventions were dose adjustments, drug adjustment by culture results, intravenous to oral treatment switch, and discontinuation of therapy. Results: There were 318 interventions, and 64.82% of the interventions performed by the AMS team were accepted by prescribers. The interventions provided a total savings of BR$ 119,706 (~US$30,000) in direct antimicrobial spending. Correlating the interventions with the defined daily dose (DDD) measurement and comparing data from the same period in 2018, we detected a reductions in the consumption of several antimicrobials: ceftriaxone (25.6%), ciprofloxacin (45.7%), meropenem (34%), piperacillin/tazobactam (12.7%), teicoplanin (18.8%), vancomycin (20.6%), cefepime (23.9%) and polymyxin B (26%). We also detected reductions in days of therapy (DOT) for most of these drugs, such as polymyxin B, with an average reduction of 2 DOT. Conclusions: Reducing antimicrobial use is one of the key strategies for avoiding unnecessary exposure and selective pressure leading to the emergence of resistant microorganisms. The measured data point to a favorable trend in the rational use of antimicrobials in our institution with simple interventions. The results presented were used to reaffirm the importance of the AMS team in our institution. More data on length of stay, indirect costs, reduction of side effects, mortality, and occurrence of microbial resistance should be made.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None