Biomaterial Database

Antimicrobial surveillance in a VAMC teaching hospital--resulting cost avoidance. 1986

D A Powers

The economic impact of an antimicrobial surveillance service is presented. The antimicrobial surveillance service operates as a component of antimicrobial utilization review and serves as a means of identifying and reporting patterns of antimicrobial usage for the hospital. A record of all antimicrobial agent orders is maintained by the pharmacy service. Concurrent antimicrobial utilization review is conducted on specific agents using previously approved criteria. All cases of antimicrobial use failing to meet established criteria receive immediate intervention. From September, 1983 to June, 1985, a total of 229 cases of antimicrobial use received clinical pharmacy intervention. The cost avoidance appreciated from the selection of a more cost-effective regimen was $65,381.60. Additionally, extensive educational efforts directed to cefazolin q8h vs. cefazolin q6h administration resulted in a substantial reduction in cefazolin expenditures. Indiscriminate/inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents delivers a tremendous economic burden to the health care system. Utilizing antimicrobial surveillance as a component of antimicrobial utilization review serves as a means for identifying and reporting patterns of antimicrobial usage for the medical center and has a positive economic impact as illustrated.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003363	Cost Control	The containment, regulation, or restraint of costs. Costs are said to be contained when the value of resources committed to an activity is not considered excessive. This determination is frequently subjective and dependent upon the specific geographic area of the activity being measured. (From Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed)	Cost Containment,Containment, Cost,Containments, Cost,Control, Cost,Controls, Cost,Cost Containments,Cost Controls
D004363	Drug Utilization	The utilization of drugs as reported in individual hospital studies, FDA studies, marketing, or consumption, etc. This includes drug stockpiling, and patient drug profiles.	Utilization, Drug,Drug Utilizations,Utilizations, Drug
D006784	Hospitals, Teaching	Hospitals engaged in educational and research programs, as well as providing medical care to the patients.	Hospital, Teaching,Teaching Hospital,Teaching Hospitals
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000900	Anti-Bacterial Agents	Substances that inhibit the growth or reproduction of BACTERIA.	Anti-Bacterial Agent,Anti-Bacterial Compound,Anti-Mycobacterial Agent,Antibacterial Agent,Antibiotics,Antimycobacterial Agent,Bacteriocidal Agent,Bacteriocide,Anti-Bacterial Compounds,Anti-Mycobacterial Agents,Antibacterial Agents,Antibiotic,Antimycobacterial Agents,Bacteriocidal Agents,Bacteriocides,Agent, Anti-Bacterial,Agent, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agent, Antibacterial,Agent, Antimycobacterial,Agent, Bacteriocidal,Agents, Anti-Bacterial,Agents, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agents, Antibacterial,Agents, Antimycobacterial,Agents, Bacteriocidal,Anti Bacterial Agent,Anti Bacterial Agents,Anti Bacterial Compound,Anti Bacterial Compounds,Anti Mycobacterial Agent,Anti Mycobacterial Agents,Compound, Anti-Bacterial,Compounds, Anti-Bacterial
D013714	Tennessee	State bounded on the north by Kentucky and Virginia, on the east by North Carolina, on the south by Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, and on the west by Arkansas and Missouri.
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D014493	United States Department of Veterans Affairs	A cabinet department in the Executive Branch of the United States Government concerned with overall planning, promoting, and administering programs pertaining to VETERANS. It was established March 15, 1989 as a Cabinet-level position.	United States Veterans Administration,Veterans Administration (U.S.),Veterans Affairs (U.S.),United States Veterans' Administration,United States. Dept. of Veterans Affairs,Veterans Administration