A Retrospective, Longitudinal External Study of the robustness and reproducibility of National Antibacterial Prescribing Survey Data

Background Point prevalence surveys are used internationally to audit antibacterial use as well as the impact of interventions on improving prescribing and resistance rates. The annual National Antibacterial Prescribing Survey provides data on the appropriateness of antibacterial agent prescribing in Australian hospitals. Assessing the survey’s robustness and result reproducibility is essential to its role in improving antibacterial prescribing practice. Aim To evaluate the reproducibility of internal assessments of antibacterial agent prescribing of both guideline compliance and appropriateness from a Western Australian hospital. Method Census data of 1051 prescriptions from 2013 to 2017 surveys were independently assessed for compliance based on Australian Therapeutic Guidelines - Antibiotics, and appropriateness, based on agent selection, therapy duration and microbiological test results. Concordance of these findings with internal hospital assessments was analysed. Results This external study did not reproduce internal hospital audit results for compliance with guideline parameters. Non-compliant prescribing rate was significantly (p