- Authors: Lapão L, Pinto P, Silva MM, Simões AS
- Publication Year: 2016
- Journal: European Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Conference on Information Systems
- Link: http://haitool.ihmt.unl.pt/papers/EMCIS_2016.pdf
About thirty seven thousand people die per year in Europe due to infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. Combating antimicrobial resistance is a world top priority so that lives can be saved and associated costs reduced. Indiscriminate antibiotic prescription is an additional and unnecessary selection pressure that accelerates the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. In this way, initiatives that aim to reduce antimicrobial resistance should take into
account antibiotic prescription quality. This paper presents HAITool: a Surveillance and Decision Support System to manage, prevent, and control healthcare-associated infections. The information system was developed using Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM), and is empowered with innovative applications of data visualisation techniques. The information system, designed in close collaboration with healthcare professionals, includes integrated
visualisations of patient, microbiology, and pharmacy data, facilitating antibiotic resistant bacteria monitoring, antibiotic prescription support, and clinical decision quality. It also includes an alert component for antibiotic prescriptions, ESKAPE+C and multi-drug resistant microorganism according with norms and guidelines. HAITool has been evaluated, using the Österle principles and interviews with physicians and infection control practitioners, as a very useful Surveillance and Decision Support System.