Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is emerging as a serious global health threat. In an effort to combat AMR hospitals have implemented antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs which track and guide antiobiotic use so that these medications are prescribed appropriately. At Galway University Hospital (GUH) the Galway Antimicrobial Prescribing Policy (GAPP) app is provided as part of the AMS. In addition, the ICU at GUH has a daily consultant led AMS round when treating patients. This is not available on the medical and surgical wards. As it stands we hypothesize that antimicrobial prescribing guidelines are followed to a greater extent in the ICU than on wards due to an AMS program. By conducting this project the aims are to 1) identify and compare antimicrobial use over a 3 week period in ICU, medical, and surgical wards, 2) note the patient characteristics, antimicrobial medications prescribed, and indications as documented in notes and 3) document the frequency of the adherence to prescribing guidelines and the rational for re-escalation and de-escalation throughout the study period. Being able to collect such information over an extended period of time would allow an increased understanding of the effectiveness of AMS and better promote it hospitalwide.
