DUE of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients.

In this retrospective study of 30 patients with urinary tract infections, a drug usage evaluation indicated that 60% of the patient population sampled were appropriately switched to ciprofloxacin from IV antimicrobial agents; inappropriate use was identified in 40%. The drug's safety profile indicates that patients can be safely removed from IV antimicrobial therapy and continue treatment on ciprofloxacin, a measure which reduces treatment costs. These costs also can be lowered when inappropriate ciprofloxacin use is ruled out in patients with organisms sensitive to less costly oral antimicrobials. Identifying which patients should be removed from parenteral therapy maximizes the economic benefit of ciprofloxacin therapy and optimizes the impact of pharmacy intervention on patient care.