Skip main navigation

New offer! Get 30% off one whole year of Unlimited learning. Subscribe for just £249.99 £174.99. New subscribers only. T&Cs apply

Find out more

Aggregating data

How and why to aggregate data.
Blue calculator on a desk
© “Doing the math” flickr photo by MoneyBlogNewz, shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

Data from individual patients can be aggregated to provide useful information about various aspects of antibiotic use at ward or hospital level.

In this step we will show some examples of aggregated data collected from 50 patients prescribed antibiotics during a PPS in a small hospital.

The table below shows aggregated data on antibiotics used within the hospital. The data from patient 552386 described in Step 2.2 is included within the amoxicillin total.

Antibiotic use

Name of drug Count of prescriptions Total number of prescriptions and % of total
Amoxicillin IIIII IIIII I 11 (22%)
Benylpenicllin IIIII III 8(16%)
Cefuroxime IIIII I 6 (12%)
Ciprofloxacin III 3 (6%)
Co-amoxiclav IIIII 5(10%)
Flucloxacillin III 3(6%)
Gentamicin IIIII II 7 (14%)
Metronidazole IIIII 5 (10%)
Vancomycin II 2 (4%)
Total   50

The table below shows aggregated data on the indications for use of antibiotics within the hospital. The data from patient 552386 in Step 2.2 is included within the COPD total.

Indications for use

Indication Count of patients Total number of patients and % of total
Acute abdominal infection III 3 (6%)
Acute exacerbation COPD IIIII II 7 (14%)
Cellulitis IIIII II 7 (14%)
Community acquired pneumonia IIIII I 6 (12%)
Diverticulitis II 2 (4%)
Neutropenic sepsis II 2 (4%)
Pyelonephritis IIII 4 (8%)
Urinary tract infection IIIII IIIII II 7 (14%)
Wound infection IIIII II 7 (14%)
Total   50

The table below shows aggregated data for several measures of the quality of prescribing within the hospital.

The data from patient 552386 in Step 2.2 is included within each of the measures.

Quality of prescribing

Measure Count of measure % for measure
Route – number of IV 25/50 50
Dose correct (as per policy for indication) 44/50 88
Frequency correct (as per policy for indication) 48/50 96
Compliance with local policy* 35/48 52
* 2 indications were not covered by local policy so could not be assessed

These tables show the range of information we can collect during a PPS and each one can be used to inform improvements in prescribing practice. We will consider how this type of data can be used later in the week.

© BSAC
This article is from the free online

Challenges in Antibiotic Resistance: Point Prevalence Surveys

Created by
FutureLearn - Learning For Life

Reach your personal and professional goals

Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.

Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.

Start Learning now