An Evaluation of Compliance with an Antibiotic Policy in Surgical Wards at a General Teaching Hospital in Northern Ireland

Abstract

A study was conducted to measure adherence to an antibiotic policy in 2 surgical wards of the Antrim Area Hospital, Northern Ireland, UK, in 2006. The medical records of 183 patients (86 males and 97 females; average hospital stay, 1-86 days) were analysed. In addition, a standard questionnaire was completed by a microbiologist. Of the 183 patients, 119 patients (65%) had gastrointestinal infection (GTI), 14 (8%) had soft tissue infection (STI), 14 (8%) had urinary tract infection (UTI), 17 (9%) had lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), and 19 (10%) had other types of infection. Antimicrobial use was in compliance with the hospital antibiotic policy in 56 (31%) patients. The adherence to hospital antibiotic policy differed among diagnostic categories. It was higher in LRTI patients (59%) than in GTI patients (24%). Appropriate switching from intravenous to oral therapy was observed for only 41 (22%) patients, which is low according to the hospital antibiotic policy recommendations. It is concluded that compliance to hospital antibiotic policy among patients in surgery wards is low. The findings indicate that restrictive interventions may have a greater impact than persuasive interventions.