A prospective study of antimicrobial-related adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients.
OBJECTIVE
No previous systematic evaluation of antimicrobial-related adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in Taiwanese patients has been reported. The present study aimed to assess the incidence, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and causative agents of antimicrobial-ADRs in hospitalized patients.


METHODS
299 patients who received antimicrobial treatment during hospitalization in the infection ward of a tertiary hospital for at least two days from October 1, 1999 to February 29, 2000 were prospectively enrolled. Data of patients with parenteral antimicrobial-related ADRs were retrieved for further analysis.


RESULTS
The incidence of antimicrobial-related ADRs (93.1% type B) was 24.1%. Compared with patients without ADRs, patients with antimicrobial-related ADRs were more likely to have a previous history of drug allergy (27.8% vs 16.2%, p=0.035) and had longer duration of hospitalization (28.3 +/- 21.0 vs 12.6 +/- 9.4 days, p<0.001). The incidence of parenteral antimicrobial-related ADRs in terms of total courses was 16.3% (78/480). Carbapenems (53.8%), amphotericin B (52.9%), and glycopeptides (37.0%) had the highest incidence of associated ADRs. Blood dyscrasias (32.1%), dermatomucosal effects (23.1%), and febrile reactions (17.9%) were the three most common manifestations of ADRs.


CONCLUSIONS
Antimicrobial-related ADRs occurred frequently in Taiwanese hospitalized patients.
Sun
Hsin-Yun
HY
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen
Yee-Chun
YC
Wang
Yi-Wen
YW
Gau
Churn-Shiouh
CS
Chang
Shan-Chwen
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents