While most providers believe that programs aiming to reduce the threat of antimicrobial resistance can improve pediatric care, many admit they use workarounds from time to time, according to survey results published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Researchers conducted a survey at large children's hospital from February 2017 through June 2017. The survey included both closed-and open-ended questions. They invited 394 caregivers to take the survey, and they received responses from 160.
They found 92.4 percent of prescribers believed that antimicrobial stewardship programs improve the quality of care, and 73.8 percent reported that these programs make room for their own judgment.
However, 68.7 percent of respondents reported occasionally engaging in workarounds. The reasons for engaging in workarounds included not wanting to change therapy that appears to be working and the desire to do everything possible for patients.
Twenty-six percent also said they believe that antimicrobial stewardship programs can threaten efficiency. Additional analysis showed that prescribers perceived that following antimicrobial stewardship programs involved too many phone calls and caused communication breakdowns with the pharmacy, among other issues.