LAUSR

PURPOSE Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a significant threat to human health. The root cause for this global problem is irrational antimicrobial usage. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) emphasises on the appropriate use of antibiotics and ensures strict implementation of antimicrobial policy guidelines. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of auditing of AMS programme on regulating the antimicrobial policy adherence and antimicrobial usage in hospital intensive care units. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a prospective interventional study. It consisted of pre-implementation and implementation phases 6 months each. Two hundred and eighty patients were enrolled. Details of antibiotic consumption, surgical prophylaxis, culture/sensitivity patterns, de-escalation rates, etc., were collected in both phases. The implementation phase, in addition, included stewardship audit rounds. RESULTS In pre-implementation phase and implementation phases: policy adherence rates were 23.7% and 41.8%, respectively, de-escalation rates were 22.73% and 43.48%, respectively. Cultures were sent before the initiation of antimicrobials in 36.73% cases during the pre-implementation phase, which improved to 60.41% during the implementation phase. Defined daily dose (DDD) for the antibiotics was 98.66 DDD 100BD during the pre-implementation phase, which reduced to 91.62 DDD 100BD in the implementation phase. Total days of therapy (DOT) in the pre-implementation phase were 561 DOT1000BD, which reduced to 463 DOT1000BD during the implementation phase. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of continuous monitoring of the AMS programme, therefore, has a definite role in reducing the antimicrobial consumption and improving the compliance to the policy guidelines. A more robust study for a prolonged period is, however, necessary to have a better analysis of the outcome.