Resource-saving advice from an infectious diseases specialist team in a large university hospital: an exportable model?

ABSTRACT  Aim: To assess epidemiological features of patients for which a consultation by the infectious diseases consultation team was required, and the rate of clinical advice that led to resource-saving advice (R-SA): discontinuation of inappropriate therapy or prophylaxis, de-escalation and switch from parenteral to oral therapy. Materials & methods: An infectious diseases consultation team was implemented in a 1100-bed university hospital in Italy. Results: The most frequent infections for which an infectious diseases consultancy was required were pneumonia, bloodstream infections (17% by Candida) and urinary tract infections. In 828 patients (41.4%), interventions with the possibility of R-SA were suggested. Conclusion: Resource-saving advices were possible in 41% of cases. Recent surgery, having a central venous catheter, bloodstream, abdominal, surgical site or bone and joint infections were correlated to a higher probability of receiving R-SA.