The Impact of an Antimicrobial Utilization Program on Antimicrobial Use

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Antimicrobial Prescribing Practices

In brief

Multidisciplinary antimicrobial utilization teams (AUT) have been proposed as an effective mechanism for improving antimicrobial use, but data on their efficacy remain limited. The researchers postulated that a multi-disciplinary AUT would improve antimicrobial use in a teaching hospital when compared to the standard of care (no AUT intervention). Design: Randomized-controlled intervention trial. Setting: A 953-bed urban teaching hospital. Patients: Patients admitted to internal medicine ward teams who were prescribed selected antimicrobial agents (piperacillin-tazobactam, levofloxacin, or vancomycin) during the 10month study period. Intervention: Eight internal medicine ward teams were randomized monthly to academic detailing by the AUT while 8 internal medicine ward teams were randomized indication-based prescription of broad spectrum antimicrobials. Measurements: Proportion of appropriate empiric, definitive, and end antimicrobial usage (antimicrobial use from the initiation of therapy until definitive therapy is prescribed).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00552838

Run by

Washington University School of Medicine

People needed

785

Starts

2002-10-01

Expected to finish

2003-08-01

Last updated by the study team

2007-11-02

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 85. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• All patients prescribed vancomycin, piperacillin-tazobactam, or levofloxacin during the time period of the study.

Where it is running

• Grady Memorial Hospital — Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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