[FARMAC: a program designed for monitoring the prescription of antimicrobials in hospitals]

The use of computer programs for monitoring the prescription of antimicrobial agents in hospitals is of paramount importance in the incorporation of electronic databases developed and analyzed by several hospital committees, including the following: infection control; pharmacy; morbidity and mortality; and quality assurance committees, as well as other key areas or departments such as pathology, pharmacy, microbiology, radiology, or hospital administration.

To describe the development and use of an "information system" employed for monitoring the prescription of antimicrobial agents in hospitalized patients.

A printed format was developed in order for physicians to ask for authorization for the use of restricted antimicrobial agents (i.e. third-generation cephalosporins and other newly introduced beta lactams, fluoroquinolones, antifungals, antivirals, etc). A computer program, "FARMAC", was designed using the Dbase IV program. FARMAC contemplates the presentation on a screen of a main menu allowing for the use of several options: admissions; antibiotic changes; consultations; discharges; hospital transfers; reports, and distribution. The reports are generated from the menu and appear on the screen or are printed in representative tables and figures. Generally speaking, the system processes information on the use of antimicrobial agents, files information, allows for consultation, of the information and generates reports quickly and efficiently.

The presentations were defined on screen, taking into account the space needed in order to avoid an inadequate distribution of the messages, therefore obtaining an optimal image. A database was created defining the necessary fields for storing information with reference to patients and usage patterns of restricted antimicrobial agents.

The development of an information and surveillance system on the prescription of antibiotics allows for consulting updated information, making the data analysis easier for decision making. Its use will allow for surveying tendencies and usage patterns of controlled and non-controlled antimicrobial agents.