Antibiotic audit in medicine intensive care unit of tertiary care centre: A must do exercise

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health threat.
• Understanding current antibiotic prescribing practices is essential for AMR containment.
• Antibiotic stewardship programs aim to optimize antibiotic use for improved patient outcomes and reduced resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate empirical antibiotic prescribing patterns in suspected sepsis patients within an intensive care unit (ICU).
• To assess the rationality and appropriateness of antibiotic use based on national guidelines.
• To identify areas for improvement in antibiotic stewardship.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective audit was conducted in the ICU of a tertiary care center in Bihar, India.
• Data collected included patient demographics, severity scores (SOFA, APACHE II), prescribed antibiotics, infection etiology, and patient outcomes.
• Prescribing practices were compared against National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines.

Main Results:

• Combination antibiotic therapy was administered to the majority of patients (53%).
• Third-generation cephalosporins were the most frequently prescribed antibiotic class.
• Rational antibiotic combinations aligned with policies were observed in 73.7% of patients, with appropriate doses in 89.5%.

Conclusions:

• Audits are mandatory for ensuring quality healthcare delivery.
• Findings highlight the importance of regular antibiotic stewardship audits to refine prescribing practices and combat AMR.