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Potential Drug-Drug Interactions with Antimicrobials in Hospitalized Patients: A Multicenter Point-Prevalence Study

Ferit Kuscu1, Aslihan Ulu1, Ayse S Inal1

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.

Medical Science Monitor : International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research
|June 21, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Hospitalized patients frequently experience drug interactions with antimicrobials. Specific antibiotics like quinolones and macrolides pose a high risk, necessitating physician caution during prescription.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Pharmacy
  • Drug Safety

Background:

  • Improper antimicrobial use leads to adverse drug events and increased healthcare costs.
  • Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are a significant concern in hospitalized patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of potential drug-drug interactions involving antimicrobial agents in hospitalized patients.
  • To identify specific antimicrobial classes associated with a higher risk of interactions.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study conducted in five Turkish hospitals.
  • Inclusion criteria: patients aged 18+ receiving at least one antimicrobial and one other drug.
  • Interactions assessed using the Micromedex® online drug reference system and classified by severity.

Main Results:

  • Antimicrobial-related drug interactions constituted 26.4% of all identified interactions.
  • Quinolones, triazoles, metronidazole, linezolid, and clarithromycin were involved in 92.1% of interactions despite representing only 25.7% of prescribed antimicrobials.
  • Independent risk factors for DDIs included the number of antimicrobials, number of total drugs, and hospitalization at a university hospital.

Conclusions:

  • Physicians must exercise increased caution when prescribing antimicrobials due to the significant risk of drug interactions.
  • Specific focus is needed on high-risk antimicrobial agents such as quinolones, linezolid, azoles, metronidazole, and macrolides to mitigate potential adverse events.

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