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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

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

A multicenter point-prevalence study: antimicrobial prescription frequencies in hospitalized patients in Turkey

Gaye Usluer1, Ilhan Ozgunes, Hakan Leblebicioglu

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Osmangazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir, Turkey. gusluer@ogu.edu.tr

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials
|October 6, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Hospital antimicrobial prescribing patterns show high rates of empirical use and inappropriate prescriptions, indicating a need for improved antimicrobial stewardship programs to enhance patient care quality.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Hospital Pharmacy
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship

Background:

  • Accurate data on hospital antimicrobial prescribing is crucial for enhancing prescription quality.
  • Understanding prescribing patterns aids in optimizing antimicrobial use.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze antimicrobial prescribing patterns in tertiary care hospitals.
  • To evaluate the appropriateness of antimicrobial use in hospitalized patients.

Main Methods:

  • Data collected from eighteen tertiary care hospitals on March 20th, 2002.
  • Analysis of antimicrobial agent usage in 9471 hospitalized patients.

Main Results:

  • Antimicrobials were prescribed to 30.6% of patients, with high usage in intensive care units.
  • Empirical antimicrobial orders were common (78.4%), with only 30.7% of proven infections.
  • Clinical appropriateness was 56.4%, while microbiological appropriateness was only 13.4%.

Conclusions:

  • Antimicrobial prescription rates and empirical treatment were high in hospitalized patients.
  • A significant proportion of antimicrobial prescriptions were deemed inappropriate.
  • Findings highlight the need for improved antimicrobial stewardship and prescribing practices.

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