RESUMO
Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to antiretroviral drugs have a varied pattern and wide spectrum of severity from mild to very serious. The lack of a pre-established time-reaction sequence hampers the causality assessment of ADRs. Recognition of pattern of ADRs to antiretroviral drugs in a particular setup might sensitize the reporters to report ADRs, especially in setups dependent on spontaneous reporting. Aim and Objectives: The study of pattern and time-reaction sequence for ADRs reported to antiretroviral drugs. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study was conducted at a first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) center after obtaining approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Pattern of ADRs associated with ART was done by analyzing the type of ADRs, severity, and outcome of ADRs reported to antiretroviral drugs. Mean duration of time lapse between administration of drug to onset of adverse drug reaction was calculated. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis. Results: There were 73 adverse reactions reported. Most common type of adverse reaction was cutaneous (53.42%) followed by anemia (31%). Causality assessment of most ADRs was concluded as possible (60.27%). Most ADRs were of moderate severity and 12% were severe reactions. Reactions such as anemia and neuropsychiatric ADRs often occurred late, while maculopapular rash usually occurred within 30 days of drug administration. Conclusions: ADRs to ART include an array of reactions ranging from mild rash to psychosis or severe anemia. Most of these reactions are of moderate severity and have a favorable outcome. Many of these reactions actually occur almost a month after initiating a drug regime suggesting the need for intensive monitoring around this time.
RESUMO
Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the commonly encountered infections and a large number of drugs are indicated in UTI ranging from oral conventional drugs to most advanced injectable drugs. Cost-minimization analysis (CMA) is employed to project the least costly drug when two treatments are shown to be therapeutic equivalents. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to perform a CMA at a tertiary care center to determine the least expensive drug for UTI and to project a cheapest alternative from available options based on the results of CMA. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted over duration of 3 months in the clinical departments on patients diagnosed to have UTI and prescribed empirical antimicrobial treatment. The approval of Institutional Ethics Committee was sought before beginning the study. Pattern of drug prescription and average cost incurred in the treatment of patients with empirical antimicrobial therapy was calculated. CMA included the projection of the least expensive drug based on average cost incurred per patient in outpatients and inpatients respectively. Results: A total of 59 patients of UTI given empirical treatment were included in the study. Fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins were commonly used drugs for empirical treatment of UTI. Nitrofurantoin (average cost of 11–14 Rs. per patient) can be projected as the cheapest drug for empirical treatment of UTI on outpatient basis as well as a drug to supplement injectables in indoor patients. Injectable ciprofloxacin can be projected as the most inexpensive alternative for empirical treatment of UTI in patients of the inpatient department. Conclusion: Nitrofurantoin for oral treatment and ciprofloxacin in injectable form are cheapest among available alternatives for empirical treatment of UTI. To prevent treatment failures and increase in cost of treatment, correlation of results of CMA with local antimicrobial sensitivity pattern is important.