Prevention of Adverse Events in Hospitalized Patients Using an Antimicrobial Review Program

Overview

Journal West J Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 1999 Nov 24

PMID 10560287

Authors

B J Guglielmo

A D Luber

R L Corelli

J F Flaherty

R A Jacobs

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether an antimicrobial review system is associated with a reduction in antimicrobial-associated adverse events.

Design: All antimicrobial medication orders for patients hospitalized over a two-year period were evaluated. High-level interventions intended to prevent adverse antimicrobial events were collated. Based on literature estimates of adverse antimicrobial events, potential reduction of high-level adverse antimicrobial events was estimated.

Setting: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Division of Infectious Diseases at a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Results: A total of 452 interventions were classified as "high-level." The incidence of preventable adverse antimicrobial events requiring intervention was 16 per 1000 antimicrobial orders. The incidence of high-level errors necessitating intervention was 4.4 per 1000 antimicrobial orders. An estimated 125 to 198 high-level adverse events were avoided.

Conclusion: An antimicrobial review program has the potential to reduce significant adverse events in hospitalized patients.

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