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Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
11:17

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses

Published on: August 30, 2018

Antibiotic use profile at paediatric clinics in two transitional countries

Goran Palcevski1, Vladimir Ahel, Vera Vlahović-Palcevski

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia. goran.palcevski@ri.tel.hr

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
|April 10, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic use in children was significantly higher in Croatia than in Russia. This study highlights the need for urgent antibiotic control measures and guidelines in European pediatric clinics.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • Public Health Policy

Background:

  • Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health concern.
  • Understanding regional antibiotic utilization patterns is crucial for effective antimicrobial stewardship.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare antibiotic utilization patterns in pediatric clinics in Croatia and Russia.
  • To identify differences in antibiotic prescribing between two European transitional countries.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and defined daily doses (DDD) methodology.
  • Analyzed antibiotic drug usage data for the year 2000, expressed as DDD per 100 bed-days and the DU90% profile.

Main Results:

  • Croatia (Rijeka) reported 35 different systemic antibiotics used, compared to 22 in Russia (Smolensk).
  • Overall antibiotic consumption in Rijeka (28.96 DDD/100 bed-days) was over three times higher than in Smolensk (8.3 DDD/100 bed-days).
  • Distinct patterns in the top five prescribed antibiotics were observed between the two clinics.

Conclusions:

  • Significant variations in antibiotic prescribing patterns exist between the studied European pediatric clinics.
  • Urgent establishment of regional control measures and guidelines for pediatric antibiotic use is recommended.
Abstract

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