| Characteristics | n (%) | median (IQR) |
| Gender | ||
| Male | 20 (62.5) | |
| Female | 12 (37.5) | |
| Race | ||
| Malay | 25 (78.1) | |
| Chinese | 4 (12.5) | |
| Indian | 3 (9.4) | |
| Presence of comorbidities | ||
| No | 17(53.1) | |
| Yes | 15 (46.9) | |
| Presence of sepsis | ||
| No | 3 (9.4) | |
| Yes | 29 (90.6) | |
| Type of infection | ||
| Empiric | 31 (96.9) | |
| Targeted | 1 (3.1) | |
| Types of broader spectrum antibiotics used | ||
| Meropenem | 27 (84.4) | |
| lmipenem/ Cilastatin | 3 (9.4) | |
| Vancomycin | 2 (6.3) | |
| Types of narrower spectrum antibiotics used | ||
| Piperacillin -tazobactam | 11 (34.4) | |
| Cefepime | 6 (l8.8) | |
| Ampicillin - sulbactam | 5 (15.6) | |
| Amoxicillin- clavulanic acid | 3 (9.4) | |
| Ceftriaxone | 2 (6.3) | |
| Others | 5 (15.6) | |
| Sepsis free after treatment in ICU | ||
| No | 11 (34.4) | |
| Yes | 21 (65.6) | |
| Survival Upon Dicharge | ||
| No | 10 (31.3) | |
| Yes | 22 (68.8) | |
| (Length of ICU stay (days | 9.0 (10.00) | |
| (Length of hospitalization (days | 18.5 (17.00) | |
| Mortality post 30 days | ||
| No | 21 (65.5) | |
| Yes | 11 (34.4) | |
| Hospital readmission post 30 days | ||
| No | 32 (100) |
Note: Note: IQR = Interquartile range
Table 1: Demographic characteristics of patients in ICU, Hospital Seberang Jaya from October 2019 till October 2020 (n=32)
| Laboratory parameters | Pre-intervention | Post-intervention | p-value |
| median (Interqua rtile) | median (Interquartile) | ||
| Creatinine (µmo]/L) | 133.5 (92.00-290.75) | 106.0 (84.25-292.75) | 0.459 |
| Haemoglobin (g/dl) | 9.8(8.13-13.45) | 9.7 (8.68-10.90) | 0.935 |
| Arterial blood pH | 7.4 (7.29-7.42) | 7.4 (7.19-7.42) | 0.231 |
| Albumi n (g/l) | 22.0 (17.00-27.00) | 20.0 (16.25-23.00) | •0.021 |
| Respiratory rate (breaths per m inute) | 24.0 (21.00-24.75) | 20.0 (19.00-26.50) ' | 0.044 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 122.0 (109.00- 129.00) | 121.0 (94.00-128.25) ' | 0.018 |
| Heart rate (beats per minute) | 78.5 (74.00-95.75) | 74.0 (65.00-80.50) | •0.010 |
| Condition | n (%) | n (%) | |
| Requiring blood transfusion | 0.065 | ||
| No | 19 (90.5) | 7 (63.6) | |
| Yes | 2 (9.5) | 4 (36.4) | |
| Tachycard ia | 0.361 | ||
| No | 21(91.3) | 9 (100.0) | |
| Yes | 2 (8.7) | 0 |
Note: Paired t-test and Pearson's chi-square test for independence.
*p value<0.05
Table 2: Comparison of the laboratory parameters and conditions of patients in ICU, Hospital Seberang Jaya from October 2019 till October 2020 (n=32)
| Para meters | Presence of comorbidities | p-value | |
| No, n (%) | Yes, n (%) | ||
| Sepsis free after treatment in ICU | '0.004 | ||
| No | 2 (l8.2) | 9 (81.8) | |
| Yes | l5 (71.4) | 6 (28.6) | |
| Survival upon discharge | '0.001 | ||
| No | l (lO.O) | 9 (90.0) | |
| Yes | l6 (72.7) | 6 (27.3) | |
| Mortality post 30 days | '0.004 | ||
| No | l5 (71.4) | 6 (28.6) | |
| Yes | 2 (18.2) | 9 (81.8) | |
Note: aPearson's chi-square test for independence.
*p value<0.05
Table 3: Association between presence of comorbidities and parameters of patients in ICU, Hospital Seberang Jaya from October 2019 till October 2020 (n=32)
| Cost before escalation | Cost after de-escalation | p-value | |
| mean (±SD) | mean (±SD) | ||
| Cost of antibiotics, MYR | ±203.90( 306.94) | ±130.77( 145.03) | *0.001> |
Note: Paired t-test for independence.
*p value<0.05
Table 4: Cost before escalation versus cost after de-escalation of therapy for patients in ICU, Hospital Seberang Jaya from October 2019 till October 2020 (n=32)
Tables at a glance