Background and Importance The AWaRe classification of antibiotics, developed by the World Health Organization, is a useful tool for monitoring antibiotic consumption, defining targets and verifying the effects of stewardship policies that aim to optimise antibiotics use and reduce antimicrobial resistances. Antibiotics are classified into three groups, Access, Watch and Reserve, considering the impact on antimicrobial resistance and emphasising the importance of their appropriate use. The ‘Access’ group contains antibiotics used in the first- and second-line treatment of infections. The ‘Watch’ group contains broad-spectrum antibiotics with a higher potential of developing resistance. The ‘Reserve’ group contains last-resort antibiotics used for multidrug-resistant infections.

Aim and Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate and monitor the consumption of antibiotics for parenteral use in the hospital wards, considering the AWaRe classification, during a period of 6 months (from January 2023 to June 2023).

Material and Methods From January 2023 to June 2023 all the requests of antibiotics for parenteral use were analysed using an informatic database and classified according to the AWaRe classification and the hospital wards. Moreover, the prescriptions appropriateness was verified by checking the validity of the documentation needed (antibiograms, infectivologist reports).

Results In the period considered 110.662 vials of antibiotics for parenteral use were dispensed. Among these, 68.096 vials (61.53%) were antibiotics from the ‘Watch’ group. Meropenem and Ceftriaxone resulted the most administered molecules, especially in Respiratory disease and Emergency wards.

26.942 (24.34%) antibiotic vials were dispensed from the ‘Access’ group and 15.624 (14.11%) from the ‘Reserve’ one. Cefazolin and Metronidazole (‘Access’) and Colistimethate (‘Reserve’) resulted the most used antibiotics in their categories, with higher prevalence in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Surgery and Respiratory disease wards, respectively.

Conclusion and Relevance We found out high antibiotic consumptions, in particular for the ‘Watch’ category, probably due to antibiotic resistance towards the molecules from the ‘Access’ group. These data confirm the importance of the role of the hospital pharmacist, who can promote adherence to guidelines and the correct use of antibiotics, actively contributing to the antimicrobial stewardship programme

References and/or Acknowledgements 1. Mudenda, et al. Antimicrob Steward Health Epidemiol. 2023;3(1):e84.

Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest.