Abstract
A carbapenem use restriction program was developed to promote correct antimicrobial use in our hospital since December 15 2005. As a result, significant changes were found in antimicrobial consumption, but the problem was how to maintain the situation. Therefore, we promoted correct antimicrobial use continuously. Medical departments have different protocols for use of antimicrobial. So pharmacists were requested to monitor the relationship between dosage and dosage period for each medical department individually. In this study, we developed the “antimicrobial use graph” to assess the average dosage and total dosage period of each medical department or the hospital. The average dosage of penicillins, fourth-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems tended to show high dose administration in our hospital. The total dosage period of penicillins, first-generation, second-generation and third-generation cephalosporins tended to show long course administration, on the other hand oxacephems, fourth-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems tended to show short course administration in our hospital. Consequently, correct use was established in many medical departments. The antimicrobial use graph is useful as an index for comparing each medical department and the overall antimicrobial consumption.
