[A hospital-wide intervention program to optimize the utilization quality of carbapenems and glycopeptides]

To investigate the impact of intervention program upon improvement of utilization quality of carbapenems and glycopeptides.

Multifaceted intervention program of carbapenems and glycopeptides was conducted at our hospital. It involved written justification forms, expert consultation committee meetings, audit, feedback and re-feedback. From November 1, 2007 until October 31, 2008, retrospective audit and feedback were performed on all patients dosed with carbapenems or glycopeptides. Case reports were reviewed and data of ratio of appropriate antibiotic use, length of hospital stay, total cost, mortality and rate of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) were collected and compared between the first and second half year of antibiotic intervention program.

A total of 397 cases were reviewed, 75 cases discussed at expert committee meetings and 58 feedback letters delivered to responsible doctors. The consumption of both carbapenems and glycopeptides decreased. The appropriate use of carbapenems and glycopeptides increased from 37.8% (45/119) to 53.5% (48/127, P < 0.05) and from 45.6% (36/79) to 63.9% (46/72, P < 0.05) respectively. The total cost and mortality of patients dosed with glycopeptides decreased from a median of RMB 65,700 (30,300 - 146,900) yuan to 55,700 (36,700 - 90,900) yuan, and from 39.2% to 26.4% respectively. The rate of VRE decreased from 5.63% in 2007 to 3.80% during the second half year of 2008.

Antibiotic intervention program of carbapenems and glycopeptides is effective in decreasing the inappropriate antibiotic use.