Clinical outcome of pharmacist-led prospective audit with intervention and feedback after expansion from patients using specific antibiotics to those using whole injectable antibiotics

Prospective audit with intervention and feedback (PAF) and preauthorisation of antimicrobials are core strategies for antimicrobial stewardship (AS). PAF participants were expanded from patients using specific antibiotics to those using whole injectable antibiotics to evaluate clinical outcome. From January 2016 to December 2016, PAF was performed in patients using specific antibiotics (period 1) and from January 2017 to December 2017, PAF was performed in patients using whole injectable antibiotics (period 2). PAF was implemented for 5 days every week by pharmacists involved in infectious diseases chemotherapy. In total, 11,571 and 11,103 patients used antibiotic injections during periods 1 and 2, respectively. No significant difference in mortality within 30 days from the initial use of injection antibiotics was observed. The average duration of hospitalisation was significantly shorter during period 2 among patients using antibiotics; however, this was not significantly different from that of patients not receiving antibiotics. The average duration of therapy for intravenous antibiotics was significantly shorter during period 2 than during period 1. The ratio of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to S. aureus was significantly low during period 2. The duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy for Escherichia coli bacteraemia during period 2 decreased significantly. De-escalation and appropriate antimicrobial treatment rates at specific doses during period 2 increased significantly. Expansion of patients eligible for PAF from patients using specific antibiotics to patients using whole injectable antibiotics shortened hospital stays, suppressed drug resistance, and promoted the appropriate use of antibiotics.