A multicenter point-prevalence study: antimicrobial prescription frequencies in hospitalized patients in Turkey.
BACKGROUND
Accurate information about prescribing patterns in hospitals is valuable in improving the quality of antimicrobial prescriptions.


METHODS
Data on the use of antimicrobial agents in eighteen tertiary care hospitals were collected on March 20th 2002.


RESULTS
One or more antimicrobials were ordered in 2900 (30.6%)of 9471 hospitalized patients. The reasons of hospitalization of the patients receiving antimicrobials were medical treatment (42.5%), elective surgery (39.6%), treatment of infectious disease (17.1%) and emergent surgical procedures (10.4%). The highest consumption frequencies were found in surgical (81.6%) and medical (55.2%) intensive care units. The 48.8% of antimicrobials were given for treatment and 44.2% for prophylactic use. The most common reasons for treatment were found as lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, surgical wound infections and febrile neutropenia. Antimicrobials were ordered empirically in 78.4% of patients. The proven infection ratio was found as 30.7%. The 56.4% and 13.4% of orders were evaluated as clinically and microbiologically appropriate respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that antimicrobial prescription and empirical treatment ratios were high and inappropriate at inpatient groups.
Usluer
Gaye
G
Department of Infectious Diseases, Osmangazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir, Turkey. gusluer@ogu.edu.tr
Ozgunes
Ilhan
I
Leblebicioglu
Hakan
H
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D016527:Drug Costs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents