A computer-assisted management program for antibiotics and other antiinfective agents

Computer-assisted management of antiinfective drug therapy in patients with infections may improve care and reduce the cost of treatment. LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah uses a computer program to assist physicians in choosing antibiotics. Researchers compared the treatment of 545 patients managed by the program to 1,136 patients treated before the program was instituted. The computer program helped physicians significantly reduce excess drug dosages, selection of inappropriate drugs, prescription of drugs to which the patient was allergic, and the costs of treatment.