Antimicrobial usage in forty-three hospitals in England

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Abstract
The usage of antimicrobial agents was studied in 18,163 patients in the National Prevalence Survey in 1980. 4037 (22%) of patients were receiving antimicrobials and the commonest prescription was ampicillin or amoxycillin in 26% of patients, followed by cloxacillin (12%) and cotrimoxazole (11%). Metronidazole was used in 9% of patients and was frequently given by rectal suppository. The oral route of administration was used in 72% of patients and intravenous therapy (9·9%) was more common than intramuscular (6·7%) The highest usage was seen in patients on eye wards and the intensive therapy units, and the lowest in maternity and acute geriatric wards. Antimicrobial therapy was given more often to men than women in all age groups. The cost of antimicrobial therapy was £1·69 per patient treated per day but this accounted for less than 1% of the total costs of inpatient care. Parenteral therapy particularly with metronidazole, the cephalosporins and aminoglycosides accounted for 72% of the antimicrobial costs.

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