Impact of simplified therapeutic guidelines on antibiotic prescriptions: a prospective multicentre comparative study

Objectives: We studied the impact of simplified therapeutic guidelines (STGs) associated with accompanied self-antibiotic reassessment (ASAR) on antibiotic use. Methods: Prospective antibiotic audits and feedback took place at 15 hospitals for 12months, allowing STGs with <= 15 drugs to be devised. STGs were explained to prescribers through sessions referred to as ASAR. Optimal therapy was defined by the conjunction of a diagnosis and the drug specified in the STGs. Analysis of consumption focused on critical drugs: amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. Results: We compared prescriptions in five hospitals before (n=179) and after (n=168) the implementation of STGs + ASAR. These tools were associated with optimal therapies and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid prescriptions [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.28, 95% CI 1.82-5.92 and 2.18, 95% CI 1.38-3.44, respectively] and fewer prescriptions for urine colonization [AOR 0.20 (95% CI 0.06-0.61)]. Comparison of prescriptions (n=1221) from 10 departments of three clinics with STGs + ASAR for the first quarters of 2018 and 2019 revealed that the prescriptions by 23 ASAR participants more often complied with STGs than those by 28 other doctors (71% versus 60%, P=0.003). STGs alone were adopted by 10 clinics; comparing the prescriptions (n=311) with the 5 clinics with both tools, we observed fewer unnecessary therapies in the latter [AOR 0.52 (95% CI 0.34-0.80)]. The variation in critical antibiotic consumption between 2017 and 2018 was -16% for the 5 clinics with both tools and +20% for the other 10 (P=0.020). Conclusions: STGs + ASAR promote optimal antibiotic therapy and reduce antibiotic use.