Abstract
The World Health Organization recommends the measurement of antimicrobial consumption using defined daily dose (DDD) as the gold standard method. However, the DDD measure, which is only the aggregated purchase data of antimicrobials, cannot easily assess the appropriateness of antimicrobial use. The present study evaluated antimicrobial consumption in our hospital from January 1, 2005 to June 30, 2013 using the days of therapy (DOT) method, which is recommended as an antimicrobial stewardship program metric. Time series analysis of ceftazidime consumption showed significant decreases in the values measured by the DDD method and the DOT method, but no significant change in the DDD/DOT ratio, which indicated that reduction of patient numbers or shortened treatment duration had lead to the decrease in total ceftazidime consumption. Analysis of meropenem consumption showed significant increases in the values measured by the DDD method and the DDD/DOT ratio, but no significant change in the values measured by the DOT method, which indicated that elevation of the daily dose had lead to increased total meropenem consumption. Analysis of teicoplanin consumption found significant increases in the values measured by the DDD/DOT ratio and significant decrease in the values measured by the DOT method, but no significant change in the values measured by the DDD method, which indicated that elevation of the daily dose and reduction of patient numbers or shortened treatment duration had lead to no change in total teicoplanin consumption. From these results, we conclude that the measurement of antimicrobial consumption using the DDD method with the DOT method was useful for trend analysis of antimicrobial consumption and promotion of appropriate use.
