Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of antimicrobial usage: the first step for antimicrobial stewardship

Abstract

The identification of antimicrobial use patterns is essential for determining key targets for antimicrobial stewardship interventions and evaluating the effectiveness thereof. Accurately identifying antimicrobial use patterns requires quantitative evaluation, which focuses on measuring the quantity and frequency of antimicrobial use, and qualitative evaluation, which assesses the appropriateness, effectiveness, and potential side effects of antimicrobial prescriptions. This paper summarizes the quantitative and qualitative methods used to evaluate antimicrobials, drawing insights from overseas and domestic cases.

Keywords: Anti-infective agents; Antimicrobial stewardship; Drug resistance; Prescription.

Figure 1

Flowchart of the Korea National Antimicrobial Use Analysis System (KONAS). Adapted from 2023 Annual report on antimicrobial use in Korean hospitals [23].

Figure 2

Representative external benchmarking using the web-based Korea National Antimicrobial Use Analysis System analysis program.