ABSTRACT
Background: Polypharmacy and inappropriate usage of antibiotics are common in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) which may increase morbidity, mortality, antimicrobial resistance and treatment cost. Hence, drug utilization research is crucial for measuring drug consumption using DDD/100 bed-days formula proposed by the WHO that would possibly be useful while formulating a comprehensive antibiotic policy for the institution and guide for future inter-hospital or institutional comparisons. Therefore, in this study, we proposed to evaluate the drug utilization patterns in the ICU.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted for 3 months from June 2018 to August 2018, and the data were obtained from the ICU of a tertiary care hospital. The demographic data, disease data, the utilization of different classes of drugs (WHO-ATC classification) as well as individual drugs were recorded.Results:One hundred and twelve patient’s data were evaluated. About 90% patients were prescribed with antiulcer medications during their ICU stay followed by antibiotics in more than 89% patients. Azithromycin, levofloxacin, metronidazole, ofloxacin, ceftriaxone and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were maximally utilized antibiotics with 24, 16.43, 14.27, 13.89, 12.22 and 10.97 DDD/100 bed-days respectively. Conclusions: Antiulcer medications were most commonly prescribed followed by antibiotics during ICU stay. Average numbers of drugs prescribed per patients were high. Regular prescription audit and modification of antibiotic policy is required to curtail the polypharmacy and inappropriate use of antibiotics.Background: Polypharmacy and inappropriate usage of antibiotics are common in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) which may increase morbidity, mortality, antimicrobial resistance and treatment cost. Hence, drug utilization research is crucial for measuring drug consumption using DDD/100 bed-days formula proposed by the WHO that would possibly be useful while formulating a comprehensive antibiotic policy for the institution and guide for future inter-hospital or institutional comparisons. Therefore, in this study, we proposed to evaluate the drug utilization patterns in the ICU.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted for 3 months from June 2018 to August 2018, and the data were obtained from the ICU of a tertiary care hospital. The demographic data, disease data, the utilization of different classes of drugs (WHO-ATC classification) as well as individual drugs were recorded.Results:One hundred and twelve patient’s data were evaluated. About 90% patients were prescribed with antiulcer medications during their ICU stay followed by antibiotics in more than 89% patients. Azithromycin, levofloxacin, metronidazole, ofloxacin, ceftriaxone and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were maximally utilized antibiotics with 24, 16.43, 14.27, 13.89, 12.22 and 10.97 DDD/100 bed-days respectively.Conclusions: Antiulcer medications were most commonly prescribed followed by antibiotics during ICU stay. Average numbers of drugs prescribed per patients were high. Regular prescription audit and modification of antibiotic policy is required to curtail the polypharmacy and inappropriate use of antibiotics. Keywords: Antibiotics, Daily defined doses, Drug utilization, Intensive care unit
ABSTRACT
Background: Organophosphate poisoning is poisoning due to organophosphates (OP’s), used in insecticides, medications and nerve agents. It occurs mostly during suicide attempts in the farming areas, developing world and less by accident. The study is to evaluate the drugs used, respiratory conditions, complications occurred during course of treatment.Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted for 9 months in a tertiary care hospital. The study was conducted in a 500 bedded tertiary care hospital in an intensive care unit. The study was conducted for nine months (September 2016 - May 2017).Results: A total of 234 patients who had consumed OPP with known and unknown agents were admitted in the emergency department. Out of which 180 males and 54 females.Conclusions: This study concluded that the patients consumed poison is mainly due to mental disturbances and financial problems. The stress and burden on the life will shows the effect after consumption, the maximum people suffer with respiratory problems due to poison consumption. If the government should take the measures to avoid consumption of poison and availability of poison to the public may overcome the complications and reduce the deaths due to poison.
ABSTRACT
Drug related problems can be defined as any event [or] circumstance involving the drug treatment, which interferes or potentially interferes with the patient in achieving an optimum outcome of medical care. The aim of the study was to identify drug therapy problems and to assess the pharmacist interventions in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The inpatient case records including drug history and other relevant details of the admitted patients under the cardiology department were collected and reviewed by the clinical pharmacist for drug related problems. In case if any drug related problem was identified, was discussed with the concerned physician and suitable interventions was provided and documented. A total of 112 patient case sheets were reviewed during the study period, out of which 53 drug related problems were identified from 44 patients. The most common drug related problem was found to be drug Interactions [49.05%] followed by Adverse Drug Reaction [18.86%], and failure to receive drugs [9.43%]. The most frequent suggestions provided by the intervening pharmacist were cessation of drug [24.52%], followed by Change in frequency of administration [22.64%], change in drug dose [20.75%]. The majority of level of significance of drug related problems was seen to have moderate significance in grade. The acceptance rate of recommendations and change in drug therapy was found to be high [96.21%]. The current study highlights the importance of a pharmacist in a multidisciplinary team of routinely reviewing the drug therapy for identification and resolution of drug related problems which helps in achieving better therapeutic outcomes and improved patient care