Shailesh Atmaram Chauthankar1, Padmaja Anil Marathe, Anirudha Vyankatesh Potey, Ruchi Nimish Nanavati. 1. Departments of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and *Neonatology, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Correspondence to: Dr Padmaja Anil Marathe, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400 012, India. pam2671@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the prescription pattern (using applicable WHO indicators), cost analysis and off-label use of drugs in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary-care hospital. METHODS: The prescriptions of 460 neonates admitted to a NICU during July 2014-March 2015 were studied prospectively. RESULTS: Of 460 neonates, 54.8% were preterm and 73% were low birth weight (LBW). The mean (SD) prescription items per neonate were 5.7 (3.6). Overall off-label use was 12.3%, while 38% neonates received at least one off-label drug. Of 326 off-label drugs, antibiotics (69.6%) followed by non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (7%) were commonly used. Premature and LBW babies required more drugs with higher cost and longer stay, compared to full term and normal weight babies (P<0.01), while the pattern of off-label use was similar across both these categories (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Off-label antibiotics use was common, and prescribing practices were uniform in NICU.
OBJECTIVE: To study the prescription pattern (using applicable WHO indicators), cost analysis and off-label use of drugs in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary-care hospital. METHODS: The prescriptions of 460 neonates admitted to a NICU during July 2014-March 2015 were studied prospectively. RESULTS: Of 460 neonates, 54.8% were preterm and 73% were low birth weight (LBW). The mean (SD) prescription items per neonate were 5.7 (3.6). Overall off-label use was 12.3%, while 38% neonates received at least one off-label drug. Of 326 off-label drugs, antibiotics (69.6%) followed by non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (7%) were commonly used. Premature and LBW babies required more drugs with higher cost and longer stay, compared to full term and normal weight babies (P<0.01), while the pattern of off-label use was similar across both these categories (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Off-label antibiotics use was common, and prescribing practices were uniform in NICU.
Authors: H Christine Allen; M Connor Garbe; Julie Lees; Naila Aziz; Hala Chaaban; Jamie L Miller; Peter Johnson; Stephanie DeLeon Journal: J Okla State Med Assoc Date: 2018-10
Authors: Yan Yue; Libin Chen; Imti Choonara; Tao Xiong; Shalini Ojha; Jun Tang; Yan Wang; Linan Zeng; Jing Shi; Hua Wang; Dezhi Mu Journal: J Int Med Res Date: 2020-05 Impact factor: 1.671