What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to identify hospital-level factors that predict antibiotic use in various countries.

April 6, 2026Open Access

Identifying hospital-level predictors for antibiotic use: a Global Point Prevalence Survey study among Belgian, Philippine and South African hospitals

ABAnnelies BovenUniversity of Antwerp AIAnna IvanovaHasselt University AVA. VersportenUniversity of Antwerp

Key Points

The research aims to identify hospital-level factors that predict antibiotic use in various countries.
Analysis of antibiotic use data from 138 hospitals participating in Global Point Prevalence Survey.
Application of linear mixed models to assess predictors of antibiotic prevalence.
Utilization of stepwise forward and backward selection modeling to determine optimal models for each country.
No common predictors for antibiotic use were found across Belgium, the Philippines, and South Africa.
The proportion of patients with invasive devices was linked to increased odds of antibiotic prescribing.
Country-specific factors influenced antibiotic prescribing patterns and predictors.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Understanding determinants that influence antibiotic use is crucial for developing effective stewardship interventions that optimize the use of antibiotics and ultimately mitigate the burden of antibiotic resistance. This study aims to find hospital-level predictors of antibiotic use among hospitals worldwide. Methods Antibiotic use data were collected from hospitals that participated in 2022–23 in the Global Point Prevalence Survey (Global-PPS) basic inpatient and Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) modules from three countries with high participation degrees: Belgium, the Philippines and South Africa. A linear mixed model was applied to predict hospital-level prevalence, considering all variables from the Global-PPS as potential predictors. Stepwise forward and backward selection modelling were conducted to identify the best-fitting models per country separately. Results In total, data from 138 hospitals were retrieved, including 19 Belgian, 55 Philippine and 64 South African hospitals. No predictors were shared across the three countries, such as hospital type, proportion of occupied medical beds and proportion of available guidelines. However, the proportions of admitted patients with certain invasive devices were significant predictors for increased odds of hospital-wide antibiotic prescribing, despite the type of invasive device varying between countries. Conclusions Factors related to the patient mix, including the proportion of patients with an invasive device, are associated with increased odds of antibiotic prescribing at hospital level. Considering substantial differences in predictors associated with country-specific patient populations and hospital characteristics, more research is needed to explore additional determinants, such as healthcare system and broader contextual factors that may influence hospital-level antibiotic prevalence.

Demander à l'IA

Bookmark

View Full Paper