Development of indicators for evaluating the appropriate use of triazoles for invasive fungal disease: A Delphi panel survey

Abstract

Contrasted with previous studies that have only focused on a subset of indicators, this research establishes comprehensive indicators for evaluating the use of triazoles for invasive fungal disease and which cover most of the medication process: indications, therapeutic timing, duration of drug usage, drug dosage, administration method, drug interactions, medication in specific populations and pharmaceutical care. The indicators can reflect the characteristic of triazoles throughout the process of clinical administration for an invasive fungal disease, and it will be helpful as references when hospital administrators are regulating the use of antifungals.

“Antifungal Stewardship” A Pertinent Exigency in Mycobial Treatment

“…25 (b) Antifungal quality metrics: This metric mainly targets assessment of appropriateness and compliance of antifungal therapy with institutional guidelines. 12 Included under this blanket term are quality prescribing indicators 26 , the proportion of patients treated with the drug of choice for the indication (Choice of the drug) 12 , Proportion of patients prescribed appropriate dosing for the indication (Drug dose) 12 , documentation of these indications and treatment plans 27 , Therapeutic drug monitoring 12 , intravenous to oral switch 12 , dose optimization 12 , de-escalation of empirical antifungal therapy 28 , usage of first-line drugs for invasive disease 29 , timeliness of antifungal regimens 30 , and use of diagnostic tests and expert assessment 12 . These parameters serve as a complement to metrics determining quantity.…”