A survey of emergency physicians' prescription of piperacillin/tazobactam

INTRODUCTION. Piperacillin/tazobactam (Pip/Taz) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, often prescribed in emergency departments (EDs). Excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics may lead to the rise of antimicrobial resistance, a concerning health issue. We investigated physicians’ adherence to regional guidelines and their considerations when prescribing Pip/Taz in the ED. METHODS. In this cross-sectional survey, a ten-item survey questionnaire was administered to ED physicians in five EDs from 10 January to 7 February 2024. RESULTS. A total of 261 physicians employed in the ED were invited to participate in the survey. Among these, 144 physicians completed the survey, yielding a response rate of 55.2%. Based on the results, 25% were unaware of the regional guidelines on the prescription of Pip/Taz. In addition, over the past month, 25% had prescribed Pip/Taz in situations where regional guidelines recommended a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, primarily because of concerns regarding the patient’s condition (74.3%); 30.6% of those who deviated from guidelines were consultants. CONCLUSIONS. This study found that a fourth of physicians in EDs were unaware of regional guidelines for prescribing Pip/Taz. Moreover, one in every four physicians purposely deviated from the recommended type of antibiotics, mainly because of concerns about the patient’s clinical condition. FUNDING. None. TRIAL REGISTRATION. Not relevant.