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Impact of A Collaborative Strategy to Reduce the Inappropriate Use of Acid Suppressive Therapy in Non–Intensive Care Unit Patients

Background: Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) is inappropriately prescribed in more than 30% of non–intensive care unit (ICU) patients, leading to unnecessary adverse events as well as increases in economic burden. Objective: There was an increasing trend in the prophylactic use of acid suppressive therapy (AST) in non–critically ill patients at our institution, which prompted this initiative aimed at reducing the inappropriate use of AST in non-ICU patients. Methods: This was a retrospective interventional study that consisted of formulation of a guideline, education to the hospitalist service, and intervention by clinical pharmacists. All adult non-ICU patients admitted to the hospitalist service who were newly initiated on AST were considered for inclusion. The primary outcome was a comparison of the proportion of inpatient days with inappropriate AST. Secondary outcomes included a comparison of patients discharged on inappropriate AST and drug acquisition costs, successful pharmacy interventions, hospitalist interventions, incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) or gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, and drug costs averted through pharmacy intervention. Results: There were 61 patients in the historical group and 81 patients in the interventional group. This intervention resulted in a 31% absolute reduction in inappropriate patient days of AST and a 24% absolute reduction in patients discharged on inappropriate AST. There were 23 successful interventions. There were no cases of CDI and 1 GI bleed. This intervention resulted in an 87% reduction in drug acquisition costs per patient. Conclusions: A collaboration between clinical pharmacists and a hospitalist service can significantly reduce the inappropriate use of AST in non-ICU patients.