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QJM Advance Access published online on August 26, 2005
QJM, doi:10.1093/qjmed/hci114
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Physicians. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oupjournals.org
Received March 4, 2005
Revised July 12, 2005

Original paper

Pharmacy-implemented guidelines on switching from intravenous to oral antibiotics: an intervention study

C.M. Mclaughlin 1, N. Bodasing 2, A.C. Boyter 3, C. Fenelon 1, J.G. Fox 4, and R.A. Seaton 2*

1 From the Department of Pharmacy, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, UK
2 Infectious Diseases Unit, Brownlee Centre, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, UK
3 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
4 From the Department of Medicine, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, UK

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
R.A. Seaton, E-mail: andrew.seaton{at}northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk


  Abstract

Background: A high proportion of medical in-patients in the UK receive intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy. This may be inappropriate in non-severe infections, or unnecessarily prolonged.

Aim: To assess the impact of guideline implementation on IV antibiotic prescribing in medical admissions to a general hospital.

Design: Observational intervention study.

Methods: Data relating to infection and antibiotic therapy were collected for 4 weeks pre-intervention (group 1) and 4 weeks post intervention (group 2). Six months later, data were collected for a further 4 weeks following a second intervention (group 3). Interventions consisted of pharmacy-led implementation of guidelines incorporating criteria for IV therapy and switching to the oral route. The second intervention also included pharmacy-initiated feedback on prescribing. The main outcome measures were IV antibiotic duration, and appropriateness of the IV route and switching.

Results: Of 2365 admissions, 757 (32%) had 806 treated episodes. IV therapy was used in 40%, 46% and 36% (groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively) and was appropriate in 92% vs. 100% (group 1 vs. 2). In groups 2 and 3, oral switch timing was appropriate in 90% and 88%, vs. 17% in group 1 ( p<0.001). Between groups 1 and 2, median duration of IV therapy was reduced from 3 to 2 days ( p = 0.01). More patients in group 2 received appropriate exclusively IV therapy (65% vs. 96%, p<0.01). Duration of stay in IV-treated patients reduced from 13 to 10 days in groups 2 and 3 ( p = 0.047). IV antibiotic expenditure reduced by 13% per patient admitted between groups 1 and 2.

Discussion: Pharmacy-led introduction of antibiotic guidelines appears to result in clinically appropriate reductions in IV therapy.


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