[Analysis of antibiotic therapy in 500-bed hospital: indications, administration and possibilities of cost reduction].

The introduction of a justification form in a 500-bed acute hospital before starting therapy with antibiotics resulted in a more than 30% decrease of current antibiotics costs. The cost reduction was mainly caused by reduced consumption of very expensive antibiotics. Moreover, analysis of the justification form revealed that more than 20% of diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis, postsurgical complications, or skin and bone infections were diagnosed and treated without sufficient clinical and bacteriological documentation. The use of a justification form for antibiotics is therefore not only useful for cutting costs, but also for educating physicians in how to administer rational prophylaxis and therapy with antibiotics.