Antimicrobial stewardship, procalcitonin testing, and rapid blood-culture identification to optimize sepsis care in critically ill adult patients: A quality improvement initiative

Sepsis is a leading cause of hospital mortality, particularly in the intensive care unit (ICU) , and the related financial costs to healthcare systems are substantial.  Antimicrobial use in ICUs is considerable; early, and effective antimicrobial therapy has been associated with improved sepsis outcomes. However, up to 50% of antimicrobials are sub-optimally prescribed, contributing to adverse events, increased costs, and antimicrobial resistance.  Authors of this study examined the effect of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP), procalcitonin testing and rapid blood-culture identification on hospital mortality in a prospective quality improvement project in critically ill septic adults. Secondarily, they reported antimicrobial guideline concordance, acceptance of ASP interventions, and antimicrobial and health-resource utilization. Institute of Health Economics Senior Economist, Dr. Charles Yan was a co-author on the study.