A retrospective study of serious adverse drug reactions and associated risk factors in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) cause physical, psychological and economic harm to patients and society. This study was undertaken to understand serious ADRs in a tertiary care hospital and risk factors associated with it.Methods: The serious adverse reactions that occurred over a one-year period were assessed. The serious adverse drug reactions, action taken, outcome, predictability, suspect drug, causality, patient demographics and risk factors for the reaction was collected. Chi-square test was applied for observing relationships of predisposing factors for serious ADRs.Results: Out of a total of 984 reported adverse drug reactions, 94 (9.55%) were serious. Hematological disorders (41.05%) were the common serious ADRs followed by electrolyte disturbances (18.94%). Anticancer agents were the suspect drugs for majority of serious ADRs. Serious ADRs contributed to 39 (0.05%) admissions in the hospital. Recovery occurred in 97.87% of the patients. The causality was possible in 91.48% (n=86) and probable in 8.51% (n=8) of the serious adverse drug reactions. Males, patients even with a single concomitant disease and those with more than 2 concomitant medications were at increased risk (p<0.05) for developing serious ADRs.Conclusions: Serious ADRs are a significant problem in health care. Measures should be taken to detect and treat them at the earliest to reduce suffering of the patient.

Pharmacotherapy of Opportunistic Infections in HIV Patients: A Review.

With the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, there is a dramatic decrease in the morbidity and mortality related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. Due to varying degree of immunosuppression, patients are prone to various number of infections in their lifetime. Respiratory system, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and the skin are the most susceptible for opportunistic infections. Timely management of these microbial infections followed by chemoprophylaxis is essential as per the guidelines for the management of opportunistic infections in HIV. The development of drug toxicities and drug resistance in managing patients with HIV has always remained a clinical challenge. Consideration is given to the numerous pharmacokinetic interactions between drugs used to treat and prevent opportunistic infections and antiretroviral drugs, along with complications like immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. Clinicians must be aware about optimal strategies present for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in order to improve health and provide high quality of care for the patients.