Implementation of a quality improvement strategy to optimise the management of community acquired pneumonia in a rural health setting.

Problem: In Australia, inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials is higher in rural and regional areas than in major city hospitals. Inappropriate prescribing is defined as the prescription of antimicrobial agents that do not adhere to guidelines in terms of type of antimicrobial chosen, dose and/or duration or are deemed unnecessary. A review of antimicrobial prescribing in a Queensland rural Hospital and Health Service (HHS) identified that respiratory infections were an area for potential improvement.