# P-1356. Cross Sectional Audit and Prospective Study of AWaRe Antibiotics in Three Tertiary Care Hospitals

**Authors:** Shibi Selvaraj, R Sanjai, Shobana Selvaganesan

PMC · DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf695.1543 · Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2026-01-11

## TL;DR

This study examines antibiotic use in three hospitals and finds that most antibiotics fall into a high-risk category, suggesting a need for better stewardship to combat resistance.

## Contribution

The study provides a cross-sectional audit of AWaRe antibiotic usage in tertiary hospitals, highlighting stewardship needs.

## Key findings

- 43% of patients received AWaRe antibiotics, with 84% of those in the 'Watch' category.
- Only 18% of patients received 'Access' antibiotics, while 12% received 'Reserve' antibiotics.
- The findings emphasize the need for improved antibiotic stewardship to reduce resistance risks.

## Abstract

Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to public health, exacerbated by inappropriate antibiotic use in tertiary care hospitals. A study in three such hospitals can assess stakeholders' knowledge and practices, guiding interventions to enhance antibiotic stewardship. Improved awareness and responsible antibiotic use are crucial in combating resistance and preserving antibiotic efficacy.

AWaRe has been classified into three groups by WHO – world health organization. They are Access, watch & reserve. A cross sectional prospective study was conducted among three hospitals. The audit tool, a simple and validated instrument, encompassed patient demographics, diagnosis, antibiotic details, infectious disease consultation, final diagnosis. The antibiotic stewardship team, guided by an Infectious Disease specialist, systematically collected and analysed the data using descriptive statistics.

In the study (N=376), 43% received aware antibiotics in three tertiary care hospitals. 18% received access antibiotic; 84% received watch antibiotic and 12% received reserve antibiotic shown in table 1 belowTable: 1AWaRe antibiotic utilization in tertiary care hospitalsCATEGORYFREQUENCY (N)PERCENTAGE (%)Patients Admitted (Total)376100%Patients Prescribed with AWaRe Antibiotic16343%Access3018%Watch13784%Reserve2012%

AWaRe antibiotic utilization in tertiary care hospitals

The study reveals concerning antibiotic usage trends across three tertiary care hospitals, with 43% of patients receiving antibiotics, predominantly categorized as Watch (84%). Urgent interventions, including robust stewardship programs guided by infectious disease specialists, are imperative to mitigate resistance emergence and safeguard antibiotic efficacy through enhanced awareness and adherence to guidelines.

All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12791731