Abstract

ANTIBIOTICS IN CRITICAL CARE SETTING: UTILIZATION PATTERN

Urechi Ihuoma Awhamefule*

ABSTRACT

Drug therapy in critically ill patient is very complicated, hence it is important to monitor use of medications in patients under Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as they are widely used and largely contribute to increased drug therapy problems. This study aimed to assess the usage pattern of antibiotics used in critical care setting of a tertiary care hospital. A prospective observational study was conducted in patients of either gender, aged >18 years who are admitted in the critical care unit for more than 24 hours and receiving at least one antibiotic. All relevant details of the study patients were collected from patients' case notes, treatment charts, and laboratory/diagnostic test reports, and were evaluated. IBM SPSS software was used to analyse the data. Out of the 744 prescriptions reviewed, 500 (67%) patients met the study criteria and were included in the study. The average number of drugs per patient was 14.16 (Range: 3-32). Beta lactam +beta lactamase inhibitors [n=352(30.29%)] and Cephalosporins [247 (21.26%)] were the commonly prescribed antibiotic class. Ceftriaxone (n=206, 25.75%) was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic. Piperacillin+tazobactam [n=173(47.79%)] was the most commonly prescribed fixed drug combination. A total of 287(57%) of the patients were prescribed with antibiotics as an empirical therapy. This study however, revealed a high utilization of antibiotics and a high cost of treatment which was comparable to other published data.

Keywords: Antibiotics, Utilization pattern, Intensive Care Unit, Critical care setting.