title: Adverse drug reactions to antibiotics observed in two pulmonology divisions of catanzaro, Italy: a six-year retrospective study.
abstract: We retrospectively analysed adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with antibiotic therapy and reported over a 6-year period, from January 1995 to December 2000, in clinical notes of two Pulmonology Units of "Mater Domini" University Hospital and "Pugliese-Ciaccio" Hospital, both located in Catanzaro, Italy. Antibiotics were responsible for 92 (44.9%) out of 205 episodes of ADRs. In particular, 22 episodes (23.9%) were observed after penicillin G administration, 19 episodes (20.7%) following ceftazidime and cefotaxime administration, 16 episodes (17.4%) after therapy with ampicillin, and 35 reactions (38%) were further reported during treatments with other antibiotics. We determined that the drug-ADR relationship was certain in 63% of the reports; withdrawal of the suspected drug led to recovery in 95% of cases. In conclusion, this retrospective evaluation demonstrated that antibiotics are a common cause of ADRs in hospitalised patients and, therefore, drug surveillance can successfully identify targeted adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Regional Pharmacovigilance Center, Mater Domini University Hospital, Via T. Campanella, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferreri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colosimo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pirritano
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guadagnino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelaia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maselli
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: De Sarro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents