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Cost analysis of two clindamycin dosing regimens
1School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033.
DICP : the Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|December 1, 1989
Summary
The eight-hourly administration of clindamycin (900 mg) with gentamicin is more cost-effective than the six-hourly regimen. This optimized dosing strategy reduces overall drug therapy costs while maintaining similar efficacy and safety.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Infectious Disease Management
Background:
- Optimizing drug administration protocols is crucial for cost containment in healthcare.
- Clindamycin and gentamicin are commonly used antibiotics requiring careful consideration of dosing and administration methods.
- Previous studies have not comprehensively evaluated the cost-effectiveness of different clindamycin and gentamicin dosing schedules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the cost-effectiveness of two clindamycin and gentamicin administration regimens.
- To analyze acquisition, nursing, and pharmacy costs associated with each regimen.
- To determine the most economical drug delivery method without compromising patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A clinical trial comparing clindamycin 900 mg every 8 hours (eight-hourly group) admixed with gentamicin versus clindamycin 600 mg every 6 hours (six-hourly group) given separately.
- Detailed cost analysis including intravenous supplies, nursing administration, and pharmacist/technician manufacturing costs.
- Statistical analysis to determine significant differences in total drug therapy costs between the groups.
Main Results:
- The six-hourly group incurred significantly higher costs for intravenous supplies ($181.5 vs $67.6), nursing administration ($28.6 vs $10.7), and pharmacy/technician manufacturing ($15.4 vs $13.3) compared to the eight-hourly group (p < 0.05).
- Mean total drug therapy costs were significantly greater for the six-hourly clindamycin regimen ($527.4) versus the eight-hourly regimen ($433.3) (p < 0.05).
- No significant differences in efficacy or safety were implied between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- Administering clindamycin 900 mg every 8 hours (eight-hourly) admixed with gentamicin is a more cost-effective drug delivery method.
- This optimized dosing strategy offers significant savings in acquisition, nursing, and pharmacy costs.
- The eight-hourly regimen provides a cost-effective alternative with comparable efficacy and safety to the six-hourly regimen.