RESUMEN
One of the major goals of any medical center is to provide safe, cost-effective drug therapy. To ensure rational antimicrobial therapy and control hospital drug costs, a criteria-based antibiotic surveillance program was developed. This method of antibiotic restriction provided exceptional cost savings in our institution. Clinical pharmacy interventions resulted in physician education and an 18% increase in compliance with the program criteria producing in a one-year period a $43,000 cost avoidance for antibiotic expenditures.
Asunto(s)
Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Costos de los Medicamentos/estadística & datos numéricos , Utilización de Medicamentos/economía , Servicio de Farmacia en Hospital/economía , Antibacterianos/administración & dosificación , Antibacterianos/economía , Ahorro de Costo , Control de Formularios y Registros , Hospitales con 300 a 499 Camas , Hospitales de Veteranos/economía , Humanos , Servicio de Farmacia en Hospital/estadística & datos numéricos , TennesseeAsunto(s)
Cimetidina/uso terapéutico , Sistemas de Información en Farmacia Clínica , Control de Costos/métodos , Quimioterapia/economía , Ranitidina/uso terapéutico , Cimetidina/administración & dosificación , Cimetidina/economía , Control de Costos/economía , Costos de los Medicamentos , Quimioterapia/normas , Hospitales con 300 a 499 Camas , Hospitales de Veteranos/economía , Humanos , Ranitidina/administración & dosificación , Ranitidina/economía , TennesseeRESUMEN
Leuprolide is the first member of the class of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist analog to be released in the U.S. The pharmacology of leuprolide is complex and not yet completely defined. This agonist analog is more potent than natural GnRH and appears to be capable of occupying pituitary GnRH receptors. This results in a "down regulation" of the receptors' activity and gonadotropin release, ultimately decreasing serum testosterone levels to those seen following castration. Leuprolide has been found effective in the palliative treatment of advanced cases of prostatic cancer and is not associated with the cardiovascular and thromboembolic toxicity seen with conventional diethylstilbestrol therapy. Leuprolide is administered by daily subcutaneous injections and has been generally well tolerated. The most common adverse effects are hot flashes and a possible flare-up of prostatic carcinoma symptoms on initial dosing. As clinical experience grows in the use of GnRH agonist analog, GnRH will assume a greater role in the treatment of metastatic prostatic cancer.