title: Utilization of fluconazole in an intensive care unit at a university hospital in Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fungi have been developing resistance and merit greater attention because these microorganisms are among the major causes of hospital infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to characterize the pattern of fluconazole use in an adult intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  The setting was an intensive care unit at a university hospital in Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational retrospective study was performed between 2007 and 2010. The use of antifungal drugs was calculated as the defined daily dose per 1,000 patient-days. The pattern of fluconazole use was determined by analyzing patient charts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fluconazole accounted an average of 66.6 % of the antifungal agents prescribed. All of the patients exhibited important risk factors for the development of fungal infection. Treatment was empirical in 45.2 % of the cases and therapeutic in 54.8 % of the cases. The dose interval was inadequate in 51.1 % of the treatments. Fluconazole at doses ≥400 mg/day was related to a greater likelihood of survival. C. albicans was the most prevalent species (31.3 %). Urine was the biological material with the greatest number of positive mycological exams (71.9 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found a high utilization of fluconazole and, in most cases, its administration at intervals that were different from the recommended intervals.
authors.affiliation: Master's Program in Biosciences Applied to Pharmacy, University of Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5.790, Bloco K68, sala 106b. Jd. Universitário, Maringá, Paraná, CEP 87020-900, Brazil. taniasalci@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tânia Pereira
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Salci
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gimenes
authors.forename: Carlos Aparecido
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Terezinha Inez Estivalet
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Svidzinski
authors.forename: Silvana Martins
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Caparroz-Assef
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole