Palliative care infections and antibiotic cost: a vicious circle

Aim: In this study our aim was to evaluate the nosocomial infections and to understand factors affecting the cost of used antibiotics in palliative care unit.Materials and methods: Between 2016 and 2017, 113 patients were included in the study in palliative care unit of University of Health Sciences Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Research and Training Hospital. Patients medical records were analyzed retrospectively for nosocomial infections, chronic diseases, presence of decubitis ulcers, opioid use, enteral, parenteral feedings, mortality and antibiotic cost.Results: Nosocomial infections were observed in 74.3% of the cases and 92.0% of patients used antibiotics. The mean duration of antibiotic use was 23.13 ± 18.06 days; and the average antibiotic cost was 2009.72 ± 2153.37 TL. Length of stay, male sex, presence of decubitus ulcers, tracheostomy, enteral and parenteral nutrition significantly increased antibiotic cost. Antibiotic cost and mortality were not related statistically.Conclusions: A vicious circle in palliative care involves the following order: length of stay, increased rate of infection, use of antibiotics, infection with resistant microorganisms, use of broad spectrum antibiotics, increased length of stay; all affecting each other. Therefore, using antibiotics for aggressive treatment of infections in palliative care is contraindicated as it opposes to real philosophy of palliative care.