Antimicrobial Justification form for Restricting Antibiotic Use in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Objective: To study whether introduction of an antimicrobial justification form deters clinicians from prescribing restricted antimicrobials and results in de-escalation of these antimicrobials.

Methods: Clinicians were asked to fill a justification form if prescribing an antimicrobial from the pre-identified restricted group. Antimicrobial usage pattern over next year was compared with that in the one year preceding the introduction of justification form.