Limitations
Although this study provides novel data, it is primarily limited by
cohort size. Larger groups would allow for risk stratification of
patients to identify patient-specific risk factors that result in
multiple courses of antibiotics or susceptibility to adverse treatment
events. Additionally, multi-centre studies would reduce chance of error
and offer statistical comparisons with our own cohort.
Adverse effects from treatment can also be caused by other confounding
factors, particularly in this multimorbid patient group. Therefore, we
did not count all abnormal results in our research to avoid this. We
only evidenced drug discontinuations that clinicians felt was directly
related to the antibiotic and subsequently required change.
Additionally, other clinical deterioration and inpatient admissions that
occurred during treatment that was not thought to be directly related to
antibiotic treatment were excluded.