Publications by authors named "Sarah Cl Metcalf"
Article Synopsis
- The study examined antimicrobial prescribing practices for adult inpatients at Canterbury District Health Board, focusing on adherence to guidelines and funding criteria.
- About 42% of inpatients received antimicrobial therapy, mainly to treat infections, with a high compliance rate for prescriptions (74% guideline-compliant).
- However, key quality indicators such as documentation of indications and timely cessation of surgical prophylaxis fell below target rates, indicating a need for improvement in prescribing practices.
Aims: To assess a persuasive multimodel approach to decreasing unnecessary intravenous (IV) clarithromycin use for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) hospitals.
Methods: In December 2013, CDHB guidelines for empiric treatment of CAP changed to prioritise oral azithromycin over IV clarithromycin. The multimodel approach we used to implement this change included obtaining stakeholder agreement, improved guidelines access, education and pharmacist support.
Aim: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) has become an established option for management infections requiring intravenous therapy. As the uptake of OPAT has increased, the clinical governance has changed and is now managed via virtual clinics and increased use of district nurses in addition to specialist outpatient review. The aim of this study was to report the characteristics, diagnoses, treatment and outcomes of patients managed by the service over 12 months in 2015/6 and compared these features with those of patients treated with OPAT in 1999.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: We aimed to describe how antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is practised in New Zealand's diverse rural hospital network.
Methods: Rural hospital medical practitioners were surveyed to estimate the utilisation of prescribing resources and specialist support for AMS, and attitudes towards AMS. Questions reflected recommended strategies for AMS programmes.
Aims: To evaluate an antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) initiative to change hospital prescribing practice for metronidazole.
Methods: In October 2015, the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) AMS committee changed advice for metronidazole to promote two times daily dosing for most indications, prioritisation of the oral route and avoidance of double anaerobic cover. Adoption of the initiative was facilitated via change in prescribing guidelines, education and ongoing pharmacy support.