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Pharmacy initiatives to reduce clindamycin use
American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
|May 1, 1986
Summary
Clinical pharmacists and physicians educated residents on substituting metronidazole for clindamycin, increasing metronidazole use by 50% and reducing clindamycin costs by over 50%. This educational program successfully altered prescribing patterns and saved significant pharmacy expenses.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Infectious Disease Management
- Clinical Pharmacy Practice
Background:
- Resident physicians' prescribing patterns for metronidazole and clindamycin were evaluated.
- The cost-effectiveness of antibiotic selection for intra-abdominal and pelvic infections was a concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of clinical pharmacists and attending physicians on resident prescribing of metronidazole and clindamycin.
- To determine the effect of altered prescribing on antibiotic costs.
Main Methods:
- A three-month educational program was implemented for resident physicians, focusing on metronidazole substitution for clindamycin.
- The program included newsletters and clinical pharmacist participation in patient rounds.
- Drug utilization and expenditures were monitored for 12 months post-intervention.
Main Results:
- Metronidazole use increased from 18.2% to a plateau of 50% within months of the educational program.
- Clindamycin expenditures decreased by over 50%, resulting in $33,469 in pharmacy savings.
- Prescribing patterns of resident physicians were significantly altered.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive educational program effectively changed resident prescribing habits towards more cost-effective antibiotic choices.
- The availability of an equally efficacious alternative agent (metronidazole) and pharmacist involvement were key to the program's success.
- This intervention demonstrated significant cost savings in antibiotic expenditures.