Implementing an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in an Oncology Center in Lima, Peru: A Model for Low- and...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The emergence of antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global health threat.
• Effective antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are crucial for optimizing antimicrobial use and combating resistance.
• Peru lacked a comprehensive ASP until the initiative described herein.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the implementation and impact of Peru's first antimicrobial stewardship program.
• To evaluate changes in antimicrobial prescription auditing and acceptance of recommendations.
• To assess the effect of the ASP on the utilization of specific antimicrobials and surgical prophylaxis.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of antimicrobial prescription data from 2016 to 2023.
• Monitoring the proportion of audited antimicrobial prescriptions and accepted recommendations.
• Tracking the usage trends of vancomycin and meropenem.
• Evaluating the adherence to guidelines for surgical prophylaxis.

Main Results:

• Audited antimicrobial prescriptions increased from 60% to 95% between 2016 and 2023.
• Acceptance rates for stewardship recommendations rose from 65% to 95%.
• Vancomycin and meropenem use decreased by 95% and 84%, respectively.
• Over 90% of recommendations for surgical prophylaxis were implemented.

Conclusions:

• The establishment of Peru's first antimicrobial stewardship program significantly improved antimicrobial prescribing practices.
• The program demonstrated high rates of recommendation acceptance and substantial reductions in the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
• These findings highlight the success of a national ASP in enhancing antimicrobial stewardship and potentially mitigating resistance.