The results of collaborative antibiotic stewardship ward round in the trauma and orthopaedic directorate of a district general hospital

Author(s): Andy Tanagho, Sameh Hatab, Susan Roberts, Sandeep Shewale

Abstract: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global problem for health care services, with fewer antimicrobials entering the market and some pathogenic organisms becoming resistant to commonly used antimicrobials. Antimicrobial stewardship (AS), including evidence-based standard setting, education and communication, and audits of practice, has become a key method of preventing the rise in AMR. Data on antibiotic consumption are often obtained through prospective and retrospective point prevalence audits of antibiotic usage, but such studies are very resource intensive and only provide a snapshot of consumption. The objective of the study reported here was to examine orthopaedic antibacterial usage at a District General Hospital trust level over a two-year period after a collaborative AS programme was implemented.