Appropriateness of Empirical Antibiotic Therapy for Cervicitis and Urethritis Prescribed in the Emergency Department.
Hosp Pharm
; 58(1): 106-110, 2023 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36644749
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
Sexually transmitted infections are a prevalent global health care problem. Treatment guidelines have recently been updated as a result of antimicrobial resistance and public health trends. The aim of the study was to assess the appropriateness of empirical antibiotic therapy prescribed for cervicitis and urethritis in the emergency department.Methods:
We designed a retrospective observational cohort study. We included adult patients with suspected cervicitis or urethritis who attended the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in 2020. We excluded patients with suspected pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy or prostatitis and those requiring admission to hospital. Appropriateness of empirical antibiotic therapy was evaluated taking into account 4 aspects indication, dosing, duration of therapy, and route of administration. Data were obtained from the electronic medical record, the electronic prescription program, and the discharge summary.Results:
The study population comprised 176 patients; mean age was 28.9 years (SD = 7.7), and 90.9% were men. The most prescribed treatment was the combination of ceftriaxone and azithromycin (83.0%). Treatment was inappropriate in 71.6% of patients. A total of 159 drug errors were recorded. The most frequent cause was undertreatment (36.4%) related to underdosing (46.5%), particularly with regard to ceftriaxone. The percentage of errors was 11.9% for indication, 84.9% for dosing, 3.1% for duration, and 0% for route of administration.Conclusions:
A high percentage of patients who attended the emergency department for suspected cervicitis or urethritis received an inappropriate empirical antibiotic regimen. The main reason was undertreatment due to underdosing.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudo:
Guideline
/
Observational_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Hosp Pharm
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Espanha