Antimicrobial stewardship: 6a-The proportion of prescriptions for which the indication for prescribing the antimicrobial is documented

The proportion of prescriptions for which the indication for prescribing the antimicrobial is documented.

For the numerator and denominator, there may be one or more prescriptions for any one patient during an episode of care. All prescriptions meeting the criteria for the numerator or the denominator should be counted.

For the numerator, 'documented' means the prescriber has recorded the indication or reason for prescribing the antimicrobial in the patient's healthcare record. To be counted towards the numerator, the documented indication should be clear and specific enough for decision making and intervention if necessary. For example, use terminology consistent with Therapeutic Guidelines or locally endorsed guidelines such as ‘community-acquired pneumonia’. Documenting indications such as ‘infection’ or even ‘chest infection’ are unlikely to assist in ensuring antimicrobial treatment is optimised, and should not be counted as meeting the requirement for the numerator.

Presented as a percentage.

(Numerator ÷ Denominator) x 100​

Number of prescriptions for which the indication for prescribing the antimicrobial is documented.

Number of prescriptions for antimicrobials.

See the Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard (ACSQHC 2020) for key considerations to optimise the use of antimicrobials.

See Antimicrobial Stewardship in Australian Health Care (ACSQHC 2018) for further information on antimicrobial stewardship prescribing principles.

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Applicable settings:

All hospital settings, including public and private hospitals, 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. Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard. Sydney: ACSQHC; 2020.

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Antimicrobial Stewardship in Australian Health Care 2018. Sydney: ACSQHC; 2018.