Aim: The aim of the study was to assess current patterns of antibiotic prescribing and the impact of a hospital antibiotic policy on these practices.
Methods: The study involved collecting information regarding hospitalized patients utilizing the ESAC audit tool.
Results: In the study site hospital, the use of the restricted agents was low whilst the use of the non-restricted agents was high. Compliance with the hospital antibiotic guidelines was 70%.
Discussion: The findings identified monitoring non-restricted antibiotics and compliance with guidelines as targets for quality improvements in our hospital. Point prevalence surveys may offer a simple method of monitoring antibiotic policies, thus, informing antibiotic stewardship.
© 2011 The Authors. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology © 2011 The British Pharmacological Society.