Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Oct 26, 2023; 11(30): 7302-7308
Published online Oct 26, 2023. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i30.7302
Clinical pharmacists’ involvement in carbapenem antibiotics management at Wenzhou Integrated Hospital
Xue-Mei Xu, Cai-Yu Pan, Da-Li Zeng
Xue-Mei Xu, Cai-Yu Pan, Da-Li Zeng, Department of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Xu XM and Pan CY proposed the study concept; Zeng DL contributed to the data collection; Pan CY contributed to the formal analysis; Xu XM and Zeng DL participated in the survey; Xu XM contributed to these methods; Zeng DL guided the research; Pan CY and Zeng DL validated this study; Xu XM, Pan CY, and Zeng DL contributed to study visualization; and Xu XM, Pan CY, and Zeng DL reviewed and co-wrote the manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Wenzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital (No. 2019-L059).
Informed consent statement: All study participants or their legal guardians provided written informed consent before study enrollment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: We have no financial relationships to disclose.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Xue-Mei Xu, MS, Attending Doctor, Department of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, No. 75 Jinxiu Road, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China. miexiong076505@126.com
Received: September 12, 2023
Peer-review started: September 12, 2023
First decision: September 25, 2023
Revised: September 27, 2023
Accepted: October 8, 2023
Article in press: October 8, 2023
Published online: October 26, 2023
Processing time: 42 Days and 23 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

This study analyzed the utilization patterns of carbapenem antibiotics at Wenzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital and highlighted the integral role of clinical pharmacists in their management and rational use. Carbapenem antibiotics are crucial for treating severe infections in hospitals; however, their irrational and extensive use has led to the emergence of carbapenem-resistant bacteria.

Research motivation

The main objectives of this study were to analyze the utilization patterns of carbapenem antibiotics at Wenzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital over a specified period and investigate the role of clinical pharmacists in managing and promoting their rational use. This study aimed to provide insight into the trends of carbapenem consumption and sales, assess key indicators such as drug utilization index (DUI), defined daily doses (DDDs), and antibiotic utilization density (AUD), and evaluate the economic and social benefits associated with different carbapenems. Ultimately, this study aimed to emphasize the importance of clinical pharmacists in ensuring appropriate antibiotic use and optimizing patient care.

Research objectives

The main objectives of this study were to analyze the utilization patterns of carbapenem antibiotics at Wenzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital over a specified period and investigate the role of clinical pharmacists in managing and promoting their rational use. This study aimed to provide insight into carbapenem consumption and sales trends, assess key indicators such as DUI, DDDs, and AUD, and evaluate the economic and social benefits associated with different carbapenems. Ultimately, this study aimed to emphasize the importance of clinical pharmacists in ensuring appropriate antibiotic use and optimizing patient care.

Research methods

This study retrospectively analyzed carbapenem use at Wenzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. Several key indicators, including DUI, DDDs, proportion of antimicrobial drug costs to total hospitalization expenses, AUD, and utilization rates in different clinical departments, were comprehensively analyzed. These indicators provide insight into the patterns of carbapenem use and allow for the assessment of the economic and social benefits associated with different carbapenems. The data analysis aimed to elucidate the trends and preferences for carbapenem use, shedding light on the important role played by clinical pharmacists in their management and rational use.

Research results

This study found a decline in the consumption and sales of specific carbapenems at Wenzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital from 2019 to 2021. The preference for certain types of carbapenems increased, and clinical pharmacists played a vital role in promoting appropriate antibiotic use. Overall, hospital utilization of carbapenem antibiotics was reasonable with a downward usage trend.

Research conclusions

This study revealed reasonable utilization of carbapenem antibiotics at Wenzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital with a decreasing trend in consumption and sales over the analyzed period. Clinical pharmacists play a crucial role in promoting appropriate use of carbapenems. These findings indicate a decline in the consumption and sale of specific carbapenems as well as an increasing preference for certain types of carbapenems. This study emphasizes the importance of clinical pharmacists in ensuring rational antibiotic use and highlights their significant contribution to patient care.

Research perspectives

Future studies should consider several key aspects: investigating the factors influencing carbapenem use trends, evaluating the impact of clinical pharmacist interventions, assessing the economic and social implications of carbapenem use, monitoring long-term carbapenem resistance, and conducting comparative analyses with other healthcare facilities. By addressing these issues, researchers can gain a comprehensive understanding of carbapenem utilization patterns and the role of clinical pharmacists, both of which will contribute to effective antimicrobial stewardship and patient care.