The development and implementation of a jointly sponsored Pharmacy-Therapeutics and Infection Control Committee institutional use control program in anti-infective therapy is presented. The program includes a retrospective and prospective utilization review process complimented by a formal educational program and in-house controls on the use of certain antibiotics. The development of a standard protocol and methodology for the utilization review aspect of the program is presented in the light of a study of 102 patients receiving cephalosporin antibiotics over a 12-month period. The entire program and data collection components were designed for adaptability to any institution, regardless of size or resources. The data base for the review process consists of five broad areas of clinical and laboratory findings that constitute 29 measurable parameters. Prospective review utilizing clinical pharmacy services augmented by clinical microbiological monitoring systems are discussed.
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