Using information technology to reduce the inappropriate use of surgical prophylactic antibiotic

Abstract  Despite implementation of practical guidelines, continuing education programs in our hospital, the percentage of inappropriate
prophylactic antibiotic usage remains high. The aim of this study was to investigate whether information technology can reduce
the misuse of surgical prophylactic antibiotic. We started physician continuing education programs in January 2005 and initiated
feedback system in July 2005. The computerized reminder system was implemented in April 2006. Relevant data about the surgical
prophylactic antibiotic usage were collected and was separated into three groups. Group 1 consisted of data from January 2005
to June 2005, while group 2 and group 3 consisted of data from July 2005 to March 2006 and April 2006 to December 2006, respectively.
The percentage of no prophylactic antibiotic in clean procedures and the duration of prophylactic antibiotic in clean-contaminated
procedures were recorded and analyzed. Furthermore, the surgical wound infection rates were also collected. In clean procedures,
the percentage of no prophylactic antibiotic after surgery decreased in the long run. In parotidectomy, submandibular gland
surgery and thyroidectomy patients, the percentage even reached 100% at the end of this study. In clean-contaminated procedures,
the duration of prophylactic antibiotic after surgery was also reduced except in laryngectomized patients at the end of this
study. Information technology such as feedback and reminder systems is an effective method to reduce inappropriate usage of
surgical prophylactic antibiotic.

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory MiscellaneousDOI 10.1007/s00405-008-0588-xAuthors
Shih-An Liu, Taichung Veterans General Hospital Department of Otolaryngology Taichung Taiwan, ROCYung-Tsung Chiu, Taichung Veterans General Hospital Department of Education and Research Taichung Taiwan, ROCWhe-Dar Lin, Overseas Chinese Institute of Technology Department of Information Technology No. 100, Chiao Kwang Road Taichung 407 Taiwan, ROCShu-Jan Chen, Overseas Chinese Institute of Technology Department of Information Technology No. 100, Chiao Kwang Road Taichung 407 Taiwan, ROC

Journal European Archives of Oto-Rhino-LaryngologyOnline ISSN 1434-4726Print ISSN 0937-4477 (Source: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology)