Appropriate Antibiotic Use for Patients With Urinary Tract Infections Reduces Length of Hospital Stay

Abstract

Appropriate antibiotic use in patients with a complicated UTI seems to reduce length of hospital stay and therefore favors patient outcome and healthcare costs. In particular, adherence to the total set of QIs showed a significant dose-response relationship with a shorter LOS.

Antimicrobial resistance in patients with urinary tract infections and the impact on empiric therapy in Serbia

“…Improper empiric therapy has been established as a significant factor for the prolongation of hospital stay [4]; guidelines regarding empiric therapy for UTIs need to be adjusted according to local epidemiological data in order to provide optimal patient care. When compared to our results, ALOS in other European countries is significantly lower (Sweden 5.3 days, Germany 6.2 days, the United Kingdom 9.3 days) [22], strengthening the fact that, surveillance of resistance rates and implementation of appropriate empiric therapy is essential in reducing the ALOS in Serbia.…”

“…Due to the fact that identification of a pathogen often takes at least a few days, and patients usually require immediate therapy, guidelines regarding empiric treatment should be carefully created on the grounds of local epidemiology and surveillance data. Evidence-based guidelines would undoubtedly lead to marked reductions in treatment costs [3], duration of average length of hospital stay (ALOS) [4], and -most importantly -provide better patient outcomes.…”

Measuring the impact of antimicrobial stewardship programs

“…However, because the goal of an ASP is optimal therapy (according to protocol), appropriateness of therapy is an outcome measure that directly evaluates the main goal of the intervention. An example of this is the analysis with regard to the appropriateness therapy of urinary tract infections [55].…”

Adherence to European Association of Urology Guidelines on Prophylactic Antibiotics: An Important Step in Antimicrobial Stewardship

“…Postoperative infection costs were calculated by summing additional individual costs incurred by the hospital as a result of the patient suffering a postoperative infection and costs arising from infection occurring within 7 d of discharge that resulted in readmission to the hospital. We also recorded the length of hospital stay (LoS), defined as the number of days between hospital admission and discharge, as a proxy for both complexity and the cost of patient treatment[18]. For the purposes of this study we defined the minimum LoS as 1 d, because admission and discharge on the same day was considered outpatient care, in line with Spoorenberg et al[18].…”

“…We also recorded the length of hospital stay (LoS), defined as the number of days between hospital admission and discharge, as a proxy for both complexity and the cost of patient treatment[18]. For the purposes of this study we defined the minimum LoS as 1 d, because admission and discharge on the same day was considered outpatient care, in line with Spoorenberg et al[18]. We matched data for LoS with the causes of a longer hospital stay to exclude all increased LoS for other reasons.…”