How Does Antimicrobial Stewardship Affect Inappropriate Antibiotic Therapy in Urological Patients?

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Infectious Disease Management
• Antimicrobial Stewardship

Background:

• Antimicrobial stewardship teams (ASTs) are increasingly recognized but their impact on urological patients requires further investigation.
• Evaluating AST interventions is crucial for optimizing antibiotic use in specialized patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the clinical outcomes of AST interventions in urological patients.
• To analyze changes in antibiotic use and diagnostic practices within a urology department following AST involvement.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of urological patients treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics (2014-2018) at Kobe University Hospital.
• Analysis of interventions discussed in AST meetings for patients with potentially inappropriate antibiotic therapy.
• Statistical analysis of annual trends in inappropriate antibiotic use and culture submissions.

Main Results:

• 11.4% (118/1033) of audited patients received inappropriate antibiotic therapy.
• Significant decrease in inappropriate antibiotic use and interventions for indefinite infections (p=0.012, p=0.033).
• Significant increase in blood and drainage culture submissions (p=0.009, p=0.035).

Conclusions:

• AST interventions appear effective in optimizing antibiotic prescribing in urology.
• Increased familiarity with infectious disease management among urologists may result from AST collaboration.
• Enhanced diagnostic testing (cultures) correlates with improved stewardship practices.