Background The prescription of antibiotics has become one of the most critical acts in hospitals.¹ This is related to the risk of misuse of these drugs and its impact on the development of bacterial resistance and antibiotic inefficiency.

Purpose We aimed to assess broad-spectrum beta-lactam prescriptions (except carbapenems) and the impact of controlled dispensing, antimicrobial management team and antibiotic treatment reassessment in 48–72 hours.

Material and methods This is a descriptive study, which took place on a given day in all hospital units and analysed curative antibiotic broad-spectrum beta-lactam prescriptions. The assessment focused on indication, dosing, combinations, revaluation in 48–72 hours and treatment duration.

Results One-hundred and three prescriptions were identified: amoxicillin (9.70%, n=10), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (43.69%, n=45), ceftriaxone (33%, n=34), piperacillin-tazobactam (3.88%, n=4), Ceftazidime (7.76%, n=8), and Cefepime (1.94%, n=2). The compliance of the indication, dosage, combinations and re-evaluation at 48–72 hours was satisfactory, respectively 67.96% (n=70), 81.55% (n=84), 82.75% (24/29 associations) and 65.04% (n=67). The compliance of the treatment duration was only 43.68% (n=45). Controlled dispensing showed interest in total antibiotic treatment duration: 76.69% vs. 34.95% compliance for non-controlled dispensed beta-lactams (p=0.02).

Conclusion The prescription or not of broad-spectrum betalactamines is a multifactorial and complex act, but the compliance regarding the duration of treatment could be improved, in particular by a strengthening of the controls of prescriptions.

Reference and/or acknowledgements

1. Didouh M, Cheikh A, Zerhouni MW, et al. Les déterminants de la prescription des antibiotiques à l’hôpital. Revue d’Épidémiol Santé Pub 2018;66:S153.

Reference and/or acknowledgementsNo conflict of interest.