Report on the Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Prescribing in Secondary Care in Wales November/December 2009

A point prevalence survey of antimicrobial prescribing in secondary care in Wales was undertaken in November and December 2009 and the results are published by the Welsh Antimicrobial Resistance Programme of Public Health Wales. The survey was undertaken to assess how many antimicrobials are prescribed to hospital patients, and the reasons why, and was carried out in 335 wards at 23 hospitals in Wales. A total of 6,460 patients were surveyed, of whom 1,905 were prescribed antimicrobials, equating to 29.5 per cent. Figures remained almost unchanged from the survey carried out in 2008, where 30.7 per cent of patients surveyed had been prescribed antimicrobial agents. The survey found that 72 different antimicrobial agents were prescribed to patients, of which co-amoxiclav was most commonly prescribed. The most common reason for prescription was community or hospital-acquired respiratory tract infections. Surveys like this help us to assess exactly how and why antimicrobials are prescribed in Welsh hospitals and where changes could be made.