[Antibiotics in elderly patients: Impact of clinical practice evaluation]

Improving the use of antimicrobial drugs is a national objective. To this end an evaluation of clinical practice was implemented on prescribed antibiotics in elderly patients, in the Besançon Teaching Hospital.

In 2005, a clinical audit compared the adequacy of antibiotic prescriptions to national guidelines in 37 patients. An improvement plan was implemented, including the drafting of local guidelines (adapted national guidelines) "Antibiotic prescription in elderly patients" by a multidisciplinary team. The Antibiotics Committee approved it. A retrospective study compared antibiotic prescription of 62 patients to these guidelines. The methodology was based on Gyssen's algorithm. The assessment criteria were: relevance of the indication, absence of a better alternative, respect of recommended dose, duration, and timing.

The rate of overall conformity was 26% in 2005, 57% in 2007. Antibiotic choice was adequate in 61% of cases in 2005, 78% in 2007. In 63% of cases, a more efficient alternative was advised in 2005, 10% of cases in 2007. Treatment duration, dose, and timing were adequate in 54 - 92 - 96% in 2005 respectively and 86 - 92 - 100% of cases in 2007. Ciprofloxacin was prescribed in first line for 42% of urinary infections in 2005, 0% in 2007.

This approach improved antibiotic prescriptions because of better guideline observance by physicians. The main improvement concerned fluoroquinolones. It should be continued to confirm antibiotic good use and protect our hospital bacterial ecology.