The impact of monitoring software on antimicrobial management in a pediatric intensive care unit

Introduction: Antimicrobial stewardship programs are necessary practices to combat resistance in hospital infections. However, studies frequently cite the scarcity of technological resources as an obstacle to the comprehensive development of ASPs.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of monitoring software on reducing antibiotic consumption and reducing resistance in a pediatric intensive care unit.

Methods: We conducted an analytical longitudinal study during the period January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2018, in the pediatric intensive care unit of a high-complexity tertiary general hospital in Brazil.

Results: In the period after the implementation of software, we observed decreases in total antimicrobial consumption (P = .037). Regarding Enterobacterales, we observed a decrease in the proportion of antimicrobial resistance of first and second-generation cephalosporin classes (P = .041) and third and fourth-generation cephalosporins (P = .028). There was a decrease in the proportion of resistance of nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli to aminoglycoside scans (P = .016). We also observed evidence of a decrease in the proportion of resistance of Staphylococcus aureus agents to oxacillin (P < .001).

Conclusions: The monitoring software reduced the total consumption of antimicrobials and decreased the proportion of resistance, therefore demonstrating its importance in controlling the development of multidrug-resistant bacteria.