Optimizing Antibiotic use and Awareness in Hospitals: Establishing Effective Antimicrobial Stewardship Pathways.

Abstract

Background: Antibiotic resistance poses a significant challenge in healthcare, requiring effective management of antibiotic use. This study examines systemic antibiotic consumption at ASST Bergamo Ovest, a northern Italian hospital, from January 2022 to June 2023, with a focus on Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) and prescription appropriateness.

Objective: This retrospective observational study aims to analyze antibiotic usage trends and to evaluate prescribing practices against national guidelines.

Methods: Data on systemic antibiotic consumption were reviewed, categorized by the AWaRe classification system (Access, Watch, Reserve), and analyzed using the Defined Daily Dose per 100 patient-days metric.

Results: The study observed a 7% overall reduction in antibiotic use, including a 5% decrease in the AWaRe Watch category. Despite this progress, the appropriateness of prescribing remained consistently low. These findings suggest partial alignment with the Italian Plan against Antibiotic Resistance but highlight the need for improvement in prescribing practices.

Conclusion: While ASST Bergamo Ovest has reduced antibiotic consumption and the use of higher-risk antibiotics, low prescribing appropriateness underscores the need for enhanced real-time monitoring and more effective stewardship programs. Targeted interventions are essential to improve prescribing practices, combat multidrug-resistant infections, and meet European antibiotic stewardship standards.