Antibiotic prescription and cost patterns in a general intensive care unit

Pharmacy Practice

  • Norberto Krivoy1Division of Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Rambam Medical Center and B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, ISRAEL.
  • Wissam Abed El-Ahal1Division of Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Rambam Medical Center and B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, ISRAEL.
  • Yaron Bar-Lavie2General Intensive Care Unit, Rambam Medical Center and B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, ISRAEL.
  • Salim Haddad3Pharmacy Service, Rambam Medical Center and B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, ISRAEL.

Volume 5 Issue 2 Pages 67-73

Abstract

Aim/Background: Antibiotic prescription habits, cost pattern, and the prospective intervention in an Intensive Care Unit were analyzed. Materials and Methods: Data on antibiotic utilization and costs were collected prospectively from individual electronic charts from August 2003 to January 2004, and retrospectively from August to December 2002. Results: A total of 180 and 107 patients were surveyed in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, Piperacillin-Tazobactam (13.8%) and Imipenem/Cilastin (11.2%) were the most prescribed medications; while, in 2003, Vancomycin (12.6%) and Imipenem/Cilastin (11.3%) were prescribed, respectively. Total defined daily dose (DDD) and Drug Utilization 90% (DU90%) index for 2002 and 2003 were 2031.15 and 2325.90 DDDs (p>0.1) and 1777.57 and 2079.61 DU90%, respectively (p>0.1). The Median Total Cost /100 admission days (CI 95%) were NIS13,310 (11,110;18,420) and NIS13,860 (6,710;18,020) (p=0.66), respectively. Conclusion: Interventional programs should focus on promoting infectious control with rational antibiotic prescription aimed at minimizing the future emergence of bacterial resistance and futile expenses.

Keywords

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Drug Utilization
  • Hospitals
  • Israel
Pharmacy Practice

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