Korean J Clin Pharm.  2016 Sep;26(3):238-244. 10.0000/kjcp.2016.26.3.238.

Prescription Patterns and Appropriateness of Topical Mupirocin in Ambulatory Care using the Korean National Health Insurance Claims Database

• Suh J
• Jeong KH
• Kim E

• KMID: 2358240
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjcp.2016.26.3.238

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Mupirocin, a topical antimicrobial agent has been used for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and recently mupirocin resistance was issued in some studies. The objective of this study was to analyze prescription patterns of topical mupirocin, to evaluate appropriateness of prescriptions in the ambulatory setting, and to compare frequency of mupirocin usage in South Korea with that in United States.
METHODS
Topical mupirocin prescription patterns (the number of prescription and a prescription period), and appropriateness of prescription (including a prescription rate over 10 days, a repeat prescription rate within 30 days and a prescription rate within labeled indications) were analyzed using the 2012 Health Insurance and Review and Assessment service-National Patient Sample dataset of South Korea. The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey dataset was used to quantify topical mupirocin prescription in United States for comparison.
RESULTS
In South Korea, the prescriptions rate for use over 10 days was 3%, the repeat prescription rate within 30 days was 8.87% and the prescription proportion within labeled indications was 33.84%. The most frequent diagnostic code was nonbacterial infection. The prescription rate per 1000 population of topical mupirocin in South Korea was calculated to be 46.07, whereas in United States was calculated to be 13.10.
CONCLUSION
Topical mupirocin has been used frequently and inappropriately, so further studies are required to investigate the rationale behind such prescribing mupirocin patterns.

Keyword

Mupirocin; ambulatory setting; prescription patterns; appropriateness of prescription

MeSH Terms

Ambulatory Care*
Dataset
Health Care Surveys
Humans
Insurance, Health
Korea
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Mupirocin*
National Health Programs*
Prescriptions*
United States
Mupirocin