Assessment of the results of clinical pharmacists’ interventions on the use of antibiotics at a medical center in Vietnam between 2021 and 2022

Article published in J. Pharm. Pharmacogn. Res., vol. 11, no. 5, pp. 787-796, Sep-Oct 2023.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres23.1663_11.5.787

Original Article

Duyen Thi My Huynh¹, Chat Luong Luong², Quang Loc Duyen Vo³, Ba Kien Tran⁴, Van De Tran^5*

¹Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho 900000, Vietnam.

²Gia Rai Medical Center, Tran Van Son, Gia Rai, Bac Lieu, Vietnam.

³Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Can Tho University, Campus II, 3/2 Street, Can Tho 900000, Vietnam.

⁴Department of Pharmaceutical Administration, Hai Duong Central College of Pharmacy, 324 Nguyen Luong Bang, Hai Duong 170000, Vietnam.

⁵Department of Health Organization and Management, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 179 Nguyen Van Cu, Can Tho 900000, Vietnam.

*E-mail: tvde@ctump.edu.vn

Abstract

Context: The rational use of antibiotics is a priority when antibiotic resistance has become severe. Clinical pharmacists’ interventions can help increase the rate of rational antibiotic use.

Aims: To determine the effect of clinical pharmacists’ interventions on the use of antibiotics and factors related to inappropriate antibiotic use in inpatients at the Department of Surgery, Gia Rai Town Medical Center, Vietnam.

Methods: An interventional and cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from January 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, at the Department of Surgery, Gia Rai Town Medical Center, Vietnam.

Results: There were 710 patients (355 patients in pre-intervention and 355 patients in post-intervention) included in this study. The group of antibiotics used the most was beta-lactam (pre- and post-intervention rates were 60.2% and 61.0%, respectively). The parenteral route was the most commonly used (63.9% in pre-intervention and 60.7% in post-intervention). The rationality of the indication increased after the intervention (from 85.7% to 96.2%); the rationality of the dose increased after the intervention (from 90.5% to 95.2%); the rationality of the number of times of use increased after the intervention (from 90.4% to 98.4%); the rationality of the time increased after the intervention (from 94.8% to 95.1%); the general rationality increased after the intervention (from 66.5% to 85.6%). Infections were associated with inappropriate antibiotic use (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Effective clinical pharmacists’ interventions helped raise the rate of rational use of antibiotics. Besides, inappropriate antibiotic use was found to be associated with infections, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions in this field.