Risk Factors for Inappropriate Use of Ciprofloxacin in the Emergency Department

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Ciprofloxacin, one of the most widely used fluoroquinolone, has been used for some abdominal and genitourinary infections in emergency departments (EDs). This investigation was performed to identify the risk factors of inappropriate use of ciprofloxacin in the ED. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who had visited the ED of Seoul National University Hospital from January 2002 to December 2002 and who had been prescribed ciprofloxacin as an initial empirical antibiotic. The appropriateness of ciprofloxacin use was judged according to existing institutional guidelines. RESULTS: Of the total 577 patients (219 males, mean age 53.0+/-17.1; 358 females, mean age 50.3+/-18.7), ciprofloxacin was used appropriately in 289 (50.1%). In the univariate analysis, gender, site of suspected infection, route of administration, and disposition were significantly different between the appropriate and the inappropriate use groups (p65 years old) than in younger patients (under 30 years old; OR=2.02, 95% CI=1.01-4.03), in patients having the GI tract infections than in patients having genitourinary tract infections (OR=14.28, 95% CI=8.76-23.29), in patients who were administered orally than intravenously (OR=2.45, 95% CI=2.08-5.71), and in patients who stayed in the ED than in those who were admitted (OR=4.29, 95% CI=1.98-9.34). CONCLUSION: Inappropriate use of ciprofloxacin in the ED is very common. If the emergence of ciprofloxacin resistance is to be avoided, education and efforts for judicious use of ciprofloxacin are warranted.