Loading...
The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends establishing antimicrobial stewardship programs, with the goal of optimizing clinical outcomes while minimizing the unintended consequences of antimicrobial therapy. However, the best method for such stewardship is unknown. Now, researchers have evaluated the effects of using a computer-assisted approval system to guide antimicrobial prescription at a hospital in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia.
The system listed standard indications — and durations of approved use — for 28 restricted antimicrobials. Approval for standard indications for indication-specific periods could be obtained through any networked computer in the hospital. For nonstandard indications, 24 hours of approval could b…