Korean J Intern Med.  2009 Dec;24(4):374-380. 10.3904/kjim.2009.24.4.374.

Evaluation of Ceftriaxone Utilization at Multicenter Study

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
  • 2Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University East-West Neo Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
  • 5Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejon, Korea.
  • 6Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  • 7Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hopital, Daegu, Korea.
  • 8Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  • 9Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea.
  • 10Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. jhsong@ansorp.org
  • 11Korea Food & Drug Administration, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
As bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents has grown due to the increasing use of antimicrobial agents, we sought to evaluate the suitability of ceftriaxone usage (representative of third generation cephalosporins) at 10 university hospitals in Korea. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the appropriateness of antibiotic usage in 400 adult patients who received ceftriaxone between February 1, 2006 and June 30, 2006. Drug utilization evaluation (DUE) methods were based on standards set forth by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists. The DUE criteria used in this study were modified to be more suitable in our hospital setting: justification of drug use, critical and process indications, complications, and outcome measures. RESULTS: The average patient age was 64.4 years. The utilization of ceftriaxone was appropriate in 262 cases (65.5%) for the justification of use, while inappropriate use was observed in 138 cases (34.5%). Common reasons for inappropriate use of ceftriaxone included continued empiric use for presumed infections, prophylactic perioperative injection, and empiric therapy for fever. Most of the critical indications showed a high rate of suitability (66.5-98.5%). Complications occurred in 37 cases (9.3%). With respect to outcome measures, clinical responses were observed in 60.7% of cases, while only 15.7% of cases showed evidence of infection eradication via negative cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate use (65.5%) of ceftriaxone was higher than inappropriate use (34.5%) at university hospitals in Korea. Inappropriate utilization, however, including continued empiric use for presumed infections and prophylactic perioperative injection remained high. Intensification of educational programs and antibiotic control systems for ceftriaxone is needed to improve the suitability of antimicrobial use.

Keyword

Drug utilization review; Ceftriaxone

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use
Ceftriaxone/adverse effects/*therapeutic use
Child
Child, Preschool
*Drug Utilization Review
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Treatment Outcome
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