Outcomes of multisite antimicrobial stewardship programme implementation with a shared clinical decision support...

Studies evaluating antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) supported by computerized clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have predominantly been conducted in single site metropolitan hospitals.

To examine outcomes of multisite ASP implementation supported by a centrally deployed CDSS.

An interrupted time series study was conducted across five hospitals in New South Wales, Australia, from 2010 to 2014. Outcomes analysed were: effect of the intervention on targeted antimicrobial use, antimicrobial costs and healthcare-associated Clostridium difficile infection (HCA-CDI) rates. Infection-related length of stay (LOS) and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were also assessed.

Post-intervention, antimicrobials targeted for increased use rose from 223 to 293 defined daily doses (DDDs)/1000 occupied bed days (OBDs)/month (+32%, P  <   0.01). Conversely, antimicrobials targeted for decreased use fell from 254 to 196 DDDs/1000 OBDs/month (-23%; P  <   0.01). These effects diminished over time. Antimicrobial costs decreased initially (-AUD$64551/month; P  <   0.01), then increased (+AUD$7273/month; P  <   0.01). HCA-CDI rates decreased post-intervention (-0.2 cases/10 000 OBDs/month; P  <   0.01). Proportional LOS reductions for key infections (respiratory from 4.8 to 4.3 days, P  <   0.01; septicaemia 6.8 to 6.1 days, P  <   0.01) were similar to background LOS reductions (2.1 to 1.9 days). Similarly, infection-related SMRs (observed/expected deaths) decreased (respiratory from 1.1 to 0.75; septicaemia 1.25 to 0.8; background rate 1.19 to 0.90.

Implementation of a collaborative multisite ASP supported by a centrally deployed CDSS was associated with changes in targeted antimicrobial use, decreased antimicrobial costs, decreased HCA-CDI rates, and no observable increase in LOS or mortality. Ongoing targeted interventions are suggested to promote sustainability.