Antimicrobial stewardship: 3a-The proportion of patients with an adverse reaction to an antimicrobial with comprehensive documentation of the reaction in their healthcare record

The proportion of patients with an adverse reaction (including allergy) to an antimicrobial with comprehensive documentation of the reaction in their healthcare record.

For the numerator and denominator, ‘adverse reaction to an antimicrobial’ refers to a response to an antimicrobial that is noxious and unintended, and occurs at doses normally used in people for the prophylaxis or therapy of disease. This may include, but is not limited to, nausea, allergy and anaphylaxis to antimicrobials.

If the patient has multiple antimicrobial adverse reactions documented in their healthcare record then documentation of all adverse reactions should describe the active ingredient(s), nature and severity of the reactions for the patient to be counted in the numerator. 

Presented as a percentage.

(Numerator ÷ Denominator) x 100​

Number of patients where the documentation of their adverse reactions to antimicrobials in their healthcare record describes the active ingredient(s), nature and severity of the reactions.

Number of patients with an antimicrobial adverse reaction documented in their healthcare record.

See the Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard (ACSQHC 2020) for key considerations on adverse reactions to antimicrobials.

See the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. 2nd ed. Medication Safety Standard for information relating to documenting adverse drug reactions.

N[NN]

Applicable settings:

All hospital settings, including public and private hospitals, acute, subacute facilities, outpatient and day procedure services

General practice and other community and primary healthcare settings such as Hospital in the Home, Aboriginal community controlled health services, dental practices and community pharmacies

Residential aged care services.

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. 2nd ed. Sydney: ACSQHC; 2017.

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard. Sydney: ACSQHC; 2020.