ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the peri-operative use of parenteral antibiotics in 100 patients undergoing abdominal surgery. METHOD: Prospective criterion audit. RESULTS: There is a need for the close monitoring of antibiotic usage within hospitals, because 39% of the patients received inappropriate antibiotic therapy.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Surgical Procedures, Operative/standards , Abdomen/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Australia , Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , Intraoperative Care , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/prevention & control , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
In a prospective longitudinal study of patients in a general surgical ward, the relative cost-efficiencies of a long-acting third generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone--mean plasma elimination t 1/2 390 min) and a short-acting second generation cephalosporin (cephamandole: mean plasma elimination t 1/2 32 min) were determined. The total cost of therapy for 24 h was +32.88 for cephamandole and +22.78 for ceftriaxone, that is, a reduction of 31%. Considerable cost containment can be achieved by using third generation cephalosporin agents that only require the administration of one intravenous injection per day.
Subject(s)
Cefamandole/therapeutic use , Ceftriaxone/therapeutic use , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Infections/drug therapy , Abdomen , Cefamandole/administration & dosage , Cefamandole/blood , Ceftriaxone/administration & dosage , Ceftriaxone/blood , Humans , Infections/economics , Injections, Intravenous/economics , Prospective Studies , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The emetic actions of syrup of ipecacuanha have been evaluated in 105 adult patients presenting at the emergency department of the Royal Perth Hospital with a diagnosis of accidental or intentional poisoning. The australian Pharmaceutical Formulary (APF) and the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) formulations of the syrup were compared and gave similar overall emetic responses of 88% and 89% respectively at a dose level of 15 ml. A 30 ml dose regimen of the APF formulation gave a slightly but not significantly increased overall emetic response of 96%. There were no differences between the three groups of patients in the time taken to vomit, the duration of vomiting or the volume of stomach contents recovered.
