Drug utilization review of parenteral clindamycin therapy

A concurrent drug utilization review was conducted to evaluate the appropriateness of parenteral clindamycin use, the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects, and to implement, if necessary, corrective actions to improve parenteral clindamycin use. Criteria for the appropriate use of clindamycin were prepared, reviewed, and approved by the P & T Committee of the City of Memphis Hospital (CMH) and University of Tennessee Medical Center/William F. Bowld Hospital (UTMCH). Forty-five patients were included in the audit. Overall, in 43/45 (96%) of the patients audited, clindamycin use was deemed appropriate. This audit provided the opportunity for positive reinforcement of physician prescribing practices and helped to foster a cooperative, rather than an adversarial relationship, between pharmacists and physicians involved in drug utilization review.