title: Hospital use of antimicrobial drugs. Survey at 19 hospitals and results of antimicrobial control program.
abstract: Costs and use of antimicrobial agents in 1976 at 19 hospitals were surveyed by review of pharmacy records. Total costs of antimicrobial drugs at individual hospitals ranged from $0.65 to $1.75 per patient day and accounted for 16% to 41% of total pharmacy drug costs. There was marked variation among hospitals in use of specific antimicrobial agents, especially cephalosporins and clindamycin. The cephalosporin and aminoglycoside antibiotics accounted for 66% of the total cost of antimicrobial agents. An 18-month antimicrobial drug control program at one hospital decreased antimicrobial drug costs by 31%. The major effect was in reducing cephalosporin use. The results of the control program document that a significant portion of hospital antimicrobial use is inappropriate and can be eliminated without apparent detriment to patient care.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000191:economics; D004469:Economics, Hospital; D006761:Hospitals; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D010380:Peer Review; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents