Interim Evaluation of a Protocol to Optimize the Duration of Pneumonia Therapy at Hospital Discharge

Total duration of antimicrobial therapy in veterans hospitalized with uncomplicated pneumonia: Results of a national medication utilization evaluation

“…The intervention led to a decrease in median duration of therapy from 10 days (IQR = 8–13 days) to 7 days (IQR = 7–8 days) without increasing clinical failure or readmission rates. We recently reported a single‐center evaluation in which pharmacists utilizing a decision support tool while performing discharge medication reconciliation were able to reduce excessive mean duration of therapy from 9.5 days (± 2.4 days) to 8.3 days (± 2.9 days) in patients without complicated pneumonia, with a 19.2% reduction in duration of therapy prescribed at discharge . A similar approach utilizing pharmacists performing discharge review has recently been reported in a community hospital …”

“…We recently reported a single-center evaluation in which pharmacists utilizing a decision support tool while performing discharge medication reconciliation were able to reduce excessive mean duration of therapy from 9.5 days (6 2.4 days) to 8.3 days (6 2.9 days) in patients without complicated pneumonia, with a 19.2% reduction in duration of therapy prescribed at discharge. 37 A similar approach utilizing pharmacists performing discharge review has recently been reported in a community hospital. 38 Future work should recognize that few patients complete their entire course of therapy as inpatients, and the majority of treatment is prescribed upon discharge.…”