title: Inappropriate continuation of stress ulcer prophylaxis beyond the intensive care setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine how frequently stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) medications prescribed in the intensive care unit are inappropriately continued on the ward and on hospital discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study; chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two Australian ICUs: one tertiary centre and one metropolitan centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 387 adult, non-pregnant patients who were admitted to the ICU between 1 February 2011 and 31 March 2011 and who survived to hospital discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rate of unnecessary continuation of ICU-prescribed SUP medications on the ward and on discharge from hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While in the ICU, 329 of the 387 patients (85%) were prescribed SUP medications. Of the 233 patients who had not been taking acid-suppressive medications before admission to the ICU, 190 were prescribed SUP medications in the ICU. Of these 190 patients, most (63%) had their SUP continued in the ward without any obvious indication, and many (39%) had their SUP medications inappropriately continued on discharge from hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SUP medications commenced in ICU are frequently continued unnecessarily, both in the wards and hospital discharge.
authors: Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: K J
authors: KJ
authors: Farley
authors: Kerryn L
authors: KL
authors: Barned
authors: Tim M
authors: TM
authors: Crozier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents