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Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (2002) 49, 587-592
© 2002 The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

Leading article

Guidelines for antibiotic usage in hospitals

Erwin M. Brown,*

Department of Medical Microbiology, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK

In this issue of the Journal van de Beek et al.1 describe a prospective audit of compliance with national guidelines for the empirical therapy of adult patients with bacterial meningitis in The Netherlands. The consensus-based guidelines were developed by a multidisciplinary group of experts in bacterial meningitis. Patients were assigned to one of four categories: age 16–60 years, no risk factors; age >60 years, no risk factors; age >16 years with risk factors; age >16 years, recent neurosurgery. An antibiotic regimen was recommended for patients in each of the categories. The guidelines were disseminated in booklet form and the audit was begun 1 year after they were issued.

Overall, only 87 patients (33%) received treatment that was in accordance with the guidelines; the rates of compliance for patients in the four groups ranged from 16% to 49%. Reassuringly, although adoption of the guidelines was poor, 95% of patients were . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Stages of the guideline process

Development

Dissemination

Implementation

Evaluation

National versus local guidelines

Notes

References


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