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Assessment of the impact of clinical recommendations on antibiotic use for CAP and HCAP: results from an implementation program in an Academic Hospital

Cattani G, Madia A, Arnoldo L, Brunelli L, Celotto D, Grillone L, Valent F, Castriotta L et al.

Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita, 2020

231 participants

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Local guidelines and recommendations to treat common infectious diseases are a cornerstone of most Antimicrobial Stewardship programs. The evaluation of the adherence to guidelines is an effective quality measure of the programs themselves; the proposed evaluation model aimed at examining antibiotic treatment for pneumonia.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective pre-post intervention study was conducted in a North-Eastern Italian Academic Hospital.

METHODS: 231 patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia and 95 with Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia were divided into pre- and post-intervention groups (188 and 138, respectively). A course and a pocket summary of Pneumonia Regional Recommendations were the stewardship activities adopted. The compliance degree of prescriptions with Regional Recommendations was tested for drug(s), dosage and duration of treatment in both groups for Community-Acquired and Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia and a comparison with International guidelines was performed.

RESULTS: A significant improvement in the compliance with Regional Recommendations for the variable drug emerged for Community-Acquired (38.8% vs 52.2%), but not for Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia; no significant variation in compliance was registered for dosage and duration of treatment. The significant decrease in consumption of levofloxacin showed the positive impact of the Regional Antimicrobial Stewardship programs. A high level of adherence to International Guidelines for the…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 231 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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