A utilisation analysis of antimicrobial drugs in the Intensive Care Unit of the Johannesburg Hospital.
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Date
2014-03-26
Authors
Rodopouls, George
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Abstract
A three month study to evaluate costs associated with the utilisation of antimicrobial
drugs was undertaken in the Intensive Care Unit of the Johannesburg hospital. A total of
62 patients were entered in the study. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was found to
be the most prominent bacterial pathogen (53%) followed by Acinetobucter bauma?mii
(30.6%). Candida albicans was the most prominent yeast (53%). The study identified the
use of catheters and mechanical ventilation as putative risk factors for the acquisition of
infection in the ICU. The most frequently prescribed antimicrobial drug was gentamycin
(21.7%). The acquisition cost of antimicrobial drugs was R 115 793.51 whilst the cost
associated with the use of disposables for antimicrobial drug administration was
R 15 075.67. Wastage costs were estimated to be R 3800. The total antimicrobial drug
cost was therefore estimated to be R 134 669.18 ( i.e. R 2172.08 per patient). Five
patients received inappropriate antimicrobial drug therapy. The cost of alternative
treatment would have resulted in cost savings of not less than R 827.62. The information
from this drug utilisation study helps to assess the current practice of antimicrobial use in
the ICU setting and assists in developing future protocols which will optimise the
allocation of available resources.