ABSTRACT
Introduction: Voriconazole (VRCZ) is a triazole antifungal agent for which therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is recommended. At Juntendo University Hospital, the VRCZ TDM implementation rate was 42% between January 2011 and October 2017. Here, we report that modifications to the hospital’s drug ordering system improved the implementation rate of VRCZ TDM.Method: In August 2018, the drug ordering system was modified so that a message appeared on the screen to notify clinicians of the need to monitor VRCZ blood concentrations and to recommend a date for sample collection. In addition, the laboratory orders for VRCZ levels were digitized. We compared two one-year periods before and after implementation of the modifications (August 2017 to July 2018 and August 2018 to July 2019) to verify the effect of the changes.Result: Results showed an increase in the TDM implementation rate: 12 patients (42.8%) received TDM before modification of the system, and 26 patients (92.9%) received TDM after modification of the system. Further, the rate of blood sampling at the recommended time point for estimating blood concentration (day 5-7 after the start of administration) improved after system modification, i.e., blood samples were collected from 18 patients (64.3%) at the steady state point. In contrast, blood samples were collected from only 6 patients (21.4%) before system modification. When blood concentrations deviated from the target range in patients who received TDM, clinicians took appropriate actions, such as reducing drug doses, prescribing drug holidays, or discontinuing medications.Conclusion: A system that provides information related to VRCZ blood concentration measurements can help clinicians provide patients with optimal pharmacotherapy.
ABSTRACT
Resumen La enfermedad fúngica invasora (EFI) es una entidad que afecta pacientes inmunocomprometidos y críticamente enfermos. En los últimos años, el número de pacientes con riesgo de presentarla viene en aumento, con el consecuente incremento de la formulación de antifúngicos de manera profiláctica, anticipada o empírica. Algunos estudios que evaluaron el uso adecuado de antifúngicos han mostrado que hasta 72% de las formulaciones pueden ser inapropiadas, exponiendo a los pacientes al riesgo de efectos adversos e interacciones medicamentosas, con mayores costos de la atención. Se han recomendado diferentes intervenciones para el control y el uso racional de antimicrobianos, conocidas como "antimicrobial stewardship", las que se pueden aplicar al uso de antifúngicos denominándose "antifungal stewardship"". Se presenta una revisión de la literatura médica sobre el uso apropiado de antifúngicos y el impacto de la implementación de programas de optimización del uso de estos medicamentos en algunos centros.
Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is a condition affecting immunosuppressed and critically ill patients. Recently there has been an increase in the amount of patients at risk for IFD, which implies an increase in the prescription of antifungal agents as prophylactic, pre-emptive or empiric therapy. Some studies evaluating appropriateness of antifungal prescription have shown that inappropriate formulations reach 72%, exposing patients to side effects, pharmacological interactions and rising costs. Some groups have recommended many interventions to control and make a rational use of antimicrobials, into strategies known as "antimicrobial stewardship", these interventions are useful also for antifungal agents and it has been named "antifungal stewardship". Here we present a narrative review of the scientific literature showing published articles about appropriate use of antifungal agents and the experience of some centers after implementing antifungal stewardship programs.
Subject(s)
Humans , Inappropriate Prescribing/prevention & control , Invasive Fungal Infections/drug therapy , Antimicrobial Stewardship/methods , Antifungal Agents/administration & dosage , Antifungal Agents/adverse effects , Immunocompromised Host , Drug Monitoring , Inappropriate Prescribing/statistics & numerical data , Invasive Fungal Infections/diagnosisABSTRACT
Resumen Introducción: El incremento de la enfermedad fúngica invasora (EFI) en pacientes inmunocomprometidos ha conducido a la frecuente prescripción de fármacos altamente activos pero de elevado costo económico. Objetivo: Caracterizar el uso de antifúngicos, evaluar su indicación y determinar consumo y costos asociados. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, desde enero de 2015 a abril de 2016. Auditoría de prescripciones y revisión de fichas clínicas; cada prescripción se clasificó de acuerdo a si correspondía a una EFI posible, probable o probada. Se calcularon consumos y costos de tratamientos. Resultados: Se auditaron 152 prescripciones de antifúngicos en 79 pacientes. El costo total de los medicamentos antifúngicos fue de US$ 714.413. El 52,1% del gasto (US $ 372.319) correspondió a indicaciones en EFI probada, 10,7% (US $ 76.377) EFI probable, 0.8% (US $ 5.638) no-EFI, 12,2% (US $ 87.459) EFI posibles y 1,5% (US $ 10.896) EFI descartada y 22,6% (US$ 161.723) fue profilaxis. El mayor consumo fue en indicaciones relacionadas a EFI probada con un DOT probada de 10,54 días, siendo anfotericina B liposomal y voriconazol iv los fármacos con mayor consumo con un DOTprobada AnBL de 3,15 y DOT probada voriconazol iv de 3,01. Conclusiones: El consumo de medicamentos antifúngicos genera altos costos correspondiente al 12% del presupuesto total de farmacia de nuestra institución. El gasto se asoció principalmente a indicaciones en EFI probadas, voriconazol y anfotericina B liposomal los con mayor consumo, lo que sumado a su alto costo y días prolongados de terapia generan un gran impacto en el presupuesto.
Background: The increase of invasive fungal disease (IFD) in immunocompromised patients has led to the frequent prescription of highly active antifungal drugs but with a high economic cost. Aim: To characterize the use of antifungals drugs, evaluate its prescription and determine consumption and associated costs. Methods: Retrospective descriptive study from January 2015 to April 2016. Audit of prescriptions and review of clinical files. Each prescription was classified according to whether it corresponded to a possible, probable or proven invasive fungal disease (IFD). Consumptions and treatment costs were calculated. Results: 152 antifungal prescriptions were audited in 79 patients. The total cost of antifungal medications was US $ 714,413. 52.1% of the expenditure (US $ 372,319) corresponded to indications in proven IFD, 10.7% (US $ 76,377) probable IFD, 0.8% (US $ 5,638) non-IFI, 12.2% (US $ 87,459) IFD possible and 1.5% (US $ 10,896) non-IFD and 22.6% (US $ 161,723) was prophylaxis. The highest consumption was in indications related to IFD tested with a proven DOT of 10.54 days, with liposomal amphotericin B and iv voriconazole the drugs with the highest consumption with a DOT probable_AnBL of 3.15 and DOT proven voriconazole iv of 3.01. Conclusions: The consumption of antifungal drug medications generates high costs at 12% of the total pharmacy budget of our institution. The expense was associated mainly with the indications in IFI tested the voriconazole and amphotericin B liposomal with the highest consumption which added to its high cost and prolonged days of general therapy a big impact in the budget.