IV Antimicrobial Review…Who #CARES?
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All Authors
Atack, K
Hackney, S
Nguyen, L
Tariq, Z
Nazir, S
Catt, S
Wolf, T
O’Cofaigh, E
LTHT Author
Atack, Kelly
Hackney, Sarah
Nguyen, Lam
Tariq, Zara
Nazir, Shazia
Catt, Sara
Wolf, Thomas
O’Cofaigh, Emma
Hackney, Sarah
Nguyen, Lam
Tariq, Zara
Nazir, Shazia
Catt, Sara
Wolf, Thomas
O’Cofaigh, Emma
LTHT Department
Medicines Management & Pharmacy Services
Clinical Pharmacy
Corporate Services
Informatics
Specialty & Integrated Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Clinical Pharmacy
Corporate Services
Informatics
Specialty & Integrated Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Non Medic
Advanced Clinical Pharmacist
Pharmacy Technician
Data Manager
Information Analyst
Pharmacy Technician
Data Manager
Information Analyst
Publication Date
2025
Item Type
Conference Abstract
Language
Subject
Subject Headings
Abstract
Background
IV antimicrobial review is a marker of antimicrobial stewardship, and national guidance stipulates trusts should be aware of their performance to drive improvement. Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) previously counted IV antimicrobial reviews via the clinical review function on eMeds, relying on clinicians to complete, with <10% monthly completed. The Pharmacy Infection Team worked with Information & Insight to develop process where clinicians can write #CARES #decision based on the outcome of their review and data is automatically counted. The CARES acronym is from the national ‘Start Smart then Focus’ guideline and stands for ‘Cease, Amend, Refer, Extend & Switch). #CARES was launched at LTHT in September 2024 trust wide.
Aims
• Improve data collection of antimicrobial reviews to allow for monitoring and supporting AMS performance.
• Improve the number of reviews completed to improve number of patients switched from IV to oral.
• To compare data between the new and previous processes.
Methods
Data is automatically collected monthly and presented on the ‘performance data’ section of the Infection homepage on Leeds Health Pathways.
Results
• By January 2025, 9% of IV antibiotics had #CARES documented in their clinical notes.
• Speciality and Integrated Medicine had the best performance with 23.97% of IV antibiotics having #CARES documented, followed by Abdominal Medicine & Surgery, with 15.54%.
• Leeds Childrens Hospital, Head & Neck and Chapel Allerton did not have any #CARES documented in Jan 2025.
Conclusion
The #CARES data, compares with the previous clinical review data, a well established system in place for years. More work needs to be done to raise awareness of the new process to encourage further uptake in all clinical areas. More work also needs to be done, to review the different decisions made and identify areas of improvement where there are higher levels of IV antimicrobials being continued.