Evaluation of a successful fluoroquinolone restriction intervention among high-risk patients: A mixed-methods study

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a quality improvement initiative to restrict fluoroquinolone prescribing on two inpatient units housing high-risk patients and applied a human factors approach to understanding the barriers and facilitators to success of this intervention by front-line providers. METHODS: This was a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental study. This study was conducted on two inpatient units at a tertiary care academic medical center: the medical-surgical intensive care and abdominal solid organ transplant units. Unit-level data were collected retrospectively for 24 months pre- and post- fluoroquinolone restriction intervention, implemented in July 2016, for all admissions to the study units. Our restriction intervention required antimicrobial stewardship pre-approval for fluoroquinolone prescribing. We explored barriers and facilitators to optimal fluoroquinolone prescribing using semi-structured interviews attending, fellow and resident physicians, advanced practice providers and pharmacists on these units. RESULTS: Hospital-onset C. difficile infection did not decrease significantly, but fluoroquinolone use declined significantly from 111.6 to 19.8 days of therapy per 1000 patient-days without negatively impacting length of stay, readmissions or mortality. Third generation cephalosporin and aminoglycoside use increased post-restriction. Providers identified our institution’s strong antimicrobial stewardship program and pharmacy involvement in antimicrobial decision making as key facilitators of fluoroquinolone optimization and patient complexity, lack of provider education and organizational culture as barriers to optimal prescribing. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroquinolones can be safely restricted even among high-risk patients without negatively impacting length of stay, readmissions or mortality. Our study provides a framework for successful antimicrobial stewardship interventions informed by perceptions of front line providers.