Denominator Matters in Estimating Antimicrobial Use: A Comparison of Days Present and Patient Days

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2018 May;39(5):612-615. doi: 10.1017/ice.2018.54. Epub 2018 Mar 26.

Abstract

Patient days and days present were compared to directly measured person time to quantify how choice of different denominator metrics may affect antimicrobial use rates. Overall, days present were approximately one-third higher than patient days. This difference varied among hospitals and units and was influenced by short length of stay.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:612-615.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Bias
  • Cross Infection
  • Data Collection / methods*
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents