Abstract

PINILLA GONZALEZ, Rafael et al. Impact of a control program on the antimicrobial consumption by surgical patients. Rev Cubana Cir [online]. 2013, vol.52, n.1, pp. 2-12. ISSN 0034-7493.

Introduction: Antimicrobials is an essential therapeutic resource in surgical patients, but they are frequently used in an inappropriate way. Objective: To demonstrate the changes in the antimicrobial consumption patterns related with a control program. Methods: Intervention study conducted in the surgical services of "Joaquin Albarrán" hospital in the period of May 2008 to December 2010. It included evaluations of quality of prescription and of feedback in the medical assistance team, educational sessions, checking of antimicrobial use policies and consultations with the antibiotic regulatory committee. The monthly antimicrobial consumption rates were registered and expressed as dose prescribed per 1000 patient-days. Results: The most frequently used antibiotics were cephalosporins, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, penicillin and cotrimoxazole. The high consumption rates of ceftriaxone (94.4 DPD) and cefazoline (88. 3 DPD) was underlined along with the evident decrease in the consumption of first, third and fourth generation cephalosporins, whereas cefuroxime consumption increased from 23.8 (2008) to 35.7 (2010) DPD. Sodium penicillin (36.0 DPD), amoxicillin (7.2 DPD) and amoxicillin plus sulbactam (5.8 DPD) represented the most used penicillin. The consumption rate of metronidazole decreased from 312.4 to 75.7 DPD, that of ciprofloxacin from 220.8 to 52.4 DPD, chloramphenicol from 27.9 to 3.5 DDP and cotrimoxazole from 99.4 to 26.6 DDP in the years 2008 and 2010 respectively. Conclusions: It was evident that the control program implemented in the surgical services has brought about changes in the consumption patterns indicating improvement in the quality of prescribing patterns.

Keywords : antimicrobial; consumptions; control program; surgery; intervention.