Antibiotic misuse in medium-sized Swiss hospitals.

Area of Science:

• Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics
• Infectious Diseases
• Antimicrobial Stewardship

Background:

• Antibiotics represent a significant hospital drug expenditure.
• Misuse and overuse of antibiotics contribute to rising healthcare costs and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
• Effective antibiotic stewardship is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes and resource management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate antibiotic utilization patterns in Swiss non-university hospitals.
• To identify the extent of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing on surgical and medical wards.
• To estimate potential cost savings associated with appropriate antibiotic use and infectious disease consultation.

Main Methods:

• A one-day prevalence study was conducted across eight Swiss non-university hospitals.
• Inpatient antibiotic use was assessed on surgical and medical wards.
• Prescriptions were evaluated for appropriateness, indications, and potential cost implications.

Main Results:

• 25% of inpatients were on antibiotics; 47% of evaluated prescriptions were deemed inappropriate.
• Inappropriate antibiotic use was significantly higher in surgical wards (58%) compared to medical wards (34%).
• Prophylactic antibiotic use showed higher rates of inappropriateness (72%) than treatment use (41%).

Conclusions:

• Substantial antibiotic misuse exists in Swiss hospitals, particularly in surgical settings and for prophylaxis.
• Infectious disease consultations could lead to significant cost savings by optimizing antibiotic prescribing.
• Implementing robust antibiotic stewardship programs is essential to reduce inappropriate use, control costs, and mitigate antimicrobial resistance.