Cost Reduction and Resource Optimization: Economic Evaluation of an Antimicrobial Program in an Infectious Diseases Hospital

The Antimicrobial Management Program (AMP) is an institutional strategy aimed at optimizing antimicrobial use in healthcare services, ensuring therapeutic efficacy, reducing adverse events associated with inappropriate use, preventing the selection of resistant microorganisms, and lowering unnecessary healthcare costs. In an infectious diseases hospital, patients often require intensive and prolonged antimicrobial use, making this setting particularly vulnerable to resistant bacteria and high expenditures on costly therapies. This study aimed to analyze the economic impact of the AMP on antimicrobial treatment costs in an infectious diseases hospital. This is a descriptive and retrospective study based on AMP monitoring data collected in 2024 in a tertiary hospital specializing in infectious diseases. Information was obtained from program performance indicators, including planned versus actual antimicrobial expenditure and adherence to clinical stewardship interventions. The study was approved under protocol number 7. 423. 682 and CAAE 85396524. 8. 0000. 5044. In 2024, projected antimicrobial expenditures were estimated at R590, 626. 48. Through AMP intervention strategies, actual spending totaled R298, 503. 35, resulting in direct savings of R292, 123. 13 and an optimization rate of 50. 54%. These results were achieved through interdisciplinary clinical audits, early treatment reassessments, and promotion of responsible use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials. The program also had a positive clinical impact, with infection cure rates of up to 27% in some months and hospital mortality rates below 26% among monitored patients. The AMP proved effective in reducing antimicrobial expenditures in an infectious diseases hospital without compromising clinical outcomes. The savings of over R290, 000 in a single year demonstrate the strategy’s economic potential, particularly in high-complexity settings. Strengthening such initiatives is essential for the sustainability of healthcare systems and the fight against antimicrobial resistance.