Hospital antibiotic policy in a health district. Issue 6175 (26th May 1979)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lacey, R W
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 1:Issue 6175(1979)
• Page Start: 1389
• Page End: 1391
• Publication Date: 1979-05-26
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.6175.1389
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract : A hospital antibiotic policy is described in which only a few antibiotics were used over a two-year period. Six antibiotics--namely, ampicillin, cloxacillin, cephradine, penicillin, erythromycin, and oxytetracycline--accounted for 98% of the antibiotics consumed. Gentamicin was not used topically. Apart from high levels of resistance to ampicillin in Staphylococcus aureus (80%), the Enterobacteriaceae (37%), and Bacteroides (83%), antibiotic resistance was not a problem and no major epidemics of cross-infection occurred. With this policy antibiotic consumption declined and the total true cost of the antibiotics fell from 16 361 pounds in 1976 to 10 448 pounds in 1978.