Formula to help select rational antimicrobial therapy (FRAT): its application to community- and hospital-acquired urinary tract infections

The selection of antimicrobial agents is guided by the use of formularies w hich often constrain prescribing options. There are several factors which i nfluence the inclusion of specific agents. Two of the most important factor s are microbial etiology of a disease and the incidence of antibiotic resis tance. Various surveillance programs have highlighted the regional differen ces in antimicrobial susceptibility/resistance among various pathogens. Thi s simple formula enables individual physicians, pharmacy and therapeutic co mmittees and managed care formulary managers to harness local etiology and susceptibility information. In this paper the formula is applied to communi ty- and hospital-acquired urinary tract infections. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.