Drug use in a surgical intensive care unit.

A retrospective review of drug usage in 180 patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit was conducted. The average stay was three days and the total and daily number of drugs averaged 7.6 and 5.6, respectively. The most common drug class used was antibiotics, with cefazolin being the most commonly used antibiotic. Other commonly used drugs include analgesics, diuretics, H2-antagonists, vasoactive drugs and inotropes, antacids, and antiarrhythmics. This study indicates that patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit are exposed to a variety of potent drugs, often given in combination over a short time period. Although further studies are needed to delineate specific aspects of drug use and patient characteristics, this study suggests that there is a need for close monitoring of drug therapy in these patients with special attention to reduction of drug costs.