Evaluating the Clinical Use of Cefoperazone/ Sulbactam and Post-discharge Antibiotics Practices in Infectious Diseases Patients

Abstract

Background: Rational use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials and appropriate post-discharge de-escalation are important components of antimicrobial stewardship. Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the clinical use of Cefoperazone/Sulbactam in hospitalised patients with infectious diseases and to examine post-discharge antibiotic prescribing practices by assessing the appropriateness of therapy, duration of treatment, clinical outcomes, and compliance with antimicrobial stewardship guidelines. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the inpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Pune, India, over six months. Data from 130 patients were collected using a validated patient profile form and included demographics, diagnoses, comorbidities, laboratory findings, microbiological results, treatment patterns, clinical outcomes at discharge, and discharge medications. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: The study examined Cefoperazone/Sulbactam use in 130 inpatients over a six-month period at a tertiary care hospital. The mean age of the cohort was 55.77 years (approximately 56 years), and the sex distribution was approximately equal (53% male and 47% female). Urine culture and sensitivity testing was performed in 53 patients (40.77%), and 17 isolates were identified; the most frequent Gram-negative organisms were Escherichia coli (7.69%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.54%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (1.54%). Compliance with treatment guidelines was high, with 81.16% of male and 83.61% of female patients adhering to recommended practices. The study also identified a substantial switch from intravenous to oral therapy at discharge. Conclusion: The findings indicate that Cefoperazone/Sulbactam was used with high guideline compliance in this inpatient cohort, particularly for infections involving Gram-negative organisms. The study emphasises the importance of adherence to recommended treatment guidelines, appropriate microbiological testing, and responsible antimicrobial stewardship. It also underscores the need for continuous surveillance and rational antibiotic use to support appropriate clinical practice and limit the development of antimicrobial resistance.