Adverse drug reactions to antibiotics observed in two pulmonology divisions of catanzaro, Italy: a six-year retrospective study.
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.
Gallelli
L
L
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Regional Pharmacovigilance Center, Mater Domini University Hospital, Via T. Campanella, Italy.
Ferreri
G
G
Colosimo
M
M
Pirritano
D
D
Guadagnino
L
L
Pelaia
G
G
Maselli
R
R
De Sarro
G B
GB
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
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents