Enhanced Antibiotic Stewardship Program's Effect on Antibiotic Stewardship in Four Thai Hospitals

An antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is crucial for reducing inappropriate antimicrobial use, improving patient outcomes, and combating increasing antimicrobial resistance. However, data on the implementation of enhanced ASP networks in Asia are limited.

This quasi-experimental study evaluated an ASP collaborative network across four hospitals in Thailand (two university hospitals, a tertiary care center, and a private hospital) during 2021 and 2022. Baseline ASP activities were assessed using gap analysis surveys. Effectiveness was measured through antibiotic consumption (daily defined dose, [DDD] per 1,000 patient-days), appropriateness of antibiotic use, and the incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).

The enhanced ASP network addressed key challenges, leading to significant improvements in ASP implementation. Notable achievements included an increase in the overall appropriateness of target antibiotic use (86.5% vs. 74.4 %, p < 0.05) and a reduction in target antibiotic consumptions in all hospitals. The incidence of MDROs, including carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (30.22 vs. 6.08 per 1,000 patient-days, p < 0.05) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (1.90 vs. 0.46 per 1,000 patient-days, p < 0.05), declined significantly in one hospital. The incidence of multidrug-resistant pathogens declined after the implementation of the enhanced ASP in two hospitals.

The enhanced networking program in this study significantly improved ASP implementation across diverse hospital settings in Thailand. It addressed challenges such as insufficient financial support. Notable improvements were observed in the appropriateness of antibiotic use and overall antibiotic consumption, potentially contributing to the reduction in multidrug-resistant pathogens. These findings highlight the effectiveness of a collaborative ASP network in Asia.