Effect of a selective restriction policy on antibiotic expenditure and use: an institutional model.

Strictly enforced antibiotic formulary restriction in combination with formulation of agreed guidelines for antibiotic use in common infection problems such as septicemia, febrile neutropenia, urinary tract infection, biliary sepsis, liver abscess, peritonitis, nosocomial pneumonia, soft tissue infection and purulent meningitis, generated a combined savings of 307,748.5 bahts or 13.5 per cent cost reduction over a 6 month period, and improved quality of use, appropriate 54.8 vs 67.5 per cent, statistically significance (P less than 0.002). Although this saving was offset in part by increased spending of unrestricted antibiotics, such as Penicillin and Gentamicin, an overall cost saving remained. In the months during the restrictions, no significant changes occurred regarding patients response and mortality. However, after the onset of the controls, it was revealed that antibiotics were more appropriately used afterwards. This study has shown, most importantly, that savings were achieved with no negative effect on good patient care. Moreover, the antibiotic use control was operationally successful, most house-staff and attending physicians, not only antibiotic evaluating team, have accepted the program in a very positive way. Overall, this program successfully achieved its initial goal, cost saving without compromising good medical practice. We are now continuing our program and also trying to modify so that it will be useful to all departments in the hospital.