Trends in antimicrobial utilization at a Spanish general hospital during a 5-year period.
OBJECTIVE
Antimicrobials are a major part of hospital pharmacy budgets and must be considered in resource planning and spending projections. This study describes the profile of antibiotic use at a medium-sized hospital (by examining the ICU separately) and analyses its evolution over the period 1996-2000.


METHODS
Descriptive and retrospective study. Pharmacy records were reviewed to identify oral and parenteral antimicrobial agents administered to inpatients. Results were expressed in Daily Defined Doses (DDD) per 100 stays and day.


RESULTS
During the 5-year study period 176.162 DDD/100 s-d of antibiotics were consumed in the ICU, whereas in the rest of the hospital usage was much lower (54.438 DDD/100 s-d). Aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, penicillins, glycopeptides and carbapenems were the most commonly used groups of antimicrobials in the ICU, and penicillins, cephalosporins, trimethoprim/sulfonamide combinations, aminoglycosides and quinolones in the rest of the hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
ICUs have some special features which make them different to the other inpatient areas. Because of that fact we consider it important to study this specific patient-care area separately.
Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Basque Country University, Spain. osbhenal@vc.ehu.es
Lorena
L
Hermosilla Nájera
Andrés
A
Canut Blasco
Miguel
M
Ulibarrena Sanz
Eider
E
Abasolo Osinaga
Luis Carlos
LC
Abecia Inchaurregui
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents