Ochsner Foundation Hospital of the Ochsner Medical Institutions (OMI), a 532‐bed tertiary care facility in New Orleans, uses a formulary review process common to many institutions. Considered in the selection of antimicrobial therapy are efficacy, safety, and cost. At OMI, ticarcillin‐clavulanate plus gentamicin are the standard broad‐spectrum antimicrobial agents for initial treatment of suspected mixed infections. The pharmacy department provides an aminoglycoside‐monitoring program and convenient dosing guidelines. The regimen has resulted in good therapeutic outcomes and few adverse effects. Bacterial resistance has not been detected. Future plans include a large‐scale concurrent review of patient outcomes, resistance patterns, and rates of fungal overgrowth associated with the