Improving the Prescription of Antibiotics in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The proposed quality improvement (QI) project aims to improve the prescription of antibiotics in acute exacerbations of COPD. The literature states that there is overprescription of antibiotics in AECOPD. Data was collected to review the management of AECOPD in an emergency department in Dublin. The management of patients admitted with AECOPD, over a set period of time, was reviewed with a detailed focus on the prescription of antibiotics in patients with no infiltrate on chest x-ray. Results from the data collection showed that there was overprescription of antibiotics in this population in accordance to Beaumont AECOPD guidelines. Quality improvement tools such as the fishbone diagram and DMAIC were used to identify the route causes and identify improvement measures that could be put in place. The results of the data collection has led to the development of a QI plan that targets both the healthcare professional and the patient. This QI project aims to improve the prescription of antibiotics in AECOPD.