Antibiotic control measures in Dutch secondary care hospitals
Schouten, J.A.; Hulscher, M.E.J.L.; Natsch, S.; Grol, R.P.T.M.; van der Meer, J.W.M.
Netherlands Journal of Medicine 63(1): 24-30
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-2977 PMID: 15719849 Document Number: 588141
Control measures for the use of antibiotics are essential because of the potential harmful consequences of side effects. Various methods have been developed to help curb undesirable antibiotic prescription. We performed a survey in Dutch secondary care hospitals (response rate 73 %) to make an inventory of these measures and elucidate possible shortcomings. Almost every hospital was using an antibiotic formulary (97 %), sometimes supported by extra restrictions in antibiotic choice (55 %). Local practice guidelines (95 %) were commonly present, but effective implementation, for example using intranet applications, could be improved (21 %). National guidelines had received little attention in the composition process of local guidelines (19 %). Other measures such as educational programmes for specialists (11 %) and feedback on antibiotic prescription (52 %) remained largely underused, although their effective implementation may optimise antibiotic prescription in hospitals.