RESUMO
One of the major goals of any medical center is to provide safe, cost-effective drug therapy. To ensure rational antimicrobial therapy and control hospital drug costs, a criteria-based antibiotic surveillance program was developed. This method of antibiotic restriction provided exceptional cost savings in our institution. Clinical pharmacy interventions resulted in physician education and an 18% increase in compliance with the program criteria producing in a one-year period a $43,000 cost avoidance for antibiotic expenditures.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Custos de Medicamentos/estatística & dados numéricos , Uso de Medicamentos/economia , Serviço de Farmácia Hospitalar/economia , Antibacterianos/administração & dosagem , Antibacterianos/economia , Redução de Custos , Controle de Formulários e Registros , Hospitais com 300 a 499 Leitos , Hospitais de Veteranos/economia , Humanos , Serviço de Farmácia Hospitalar/estatística & dados numéricos , TennesseeAssuntos
Cimetidina/uso terapêutico , Sistemas de Informação em Farmácia Clínica , Controle de Custos/métodos , Tratamento Farmacológico/economia , Ranitidina/uso terapêutico , Cimetidina/administração & dosagem , Cimetidina/economia , Controle de Custos/economia , Custos de Medicamentos , Tratamento Farmacológico/normas , Hospitais com 300 a 499 Leitos , Hospitais de Veteranos/economia , Humanos , Ranitidina/administração & dosagem , Ranitidina/economia , TennesseeRESUMO
Leuprolide is the first member of the class of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist analog to be released in the U.S. The pharmacology of leuprolide is complex and not yet completely defined. This agonist analog is more potent than natural GnRH and appears to be capable of occupying pituitary GnRH receptors. This results in a "down regulation" of the receptors' activity and gonadotropin release, ultimately decreasing serum testosterone levels to those seen following castration. Leuprolide has been found effective in the palliative treatment of advanced cases of prostatic cancer and is not associated with the cardiovascular and thromboembolic toxicity seen with conventional diethylstilbestrol therapy. Leuprolide is administered by daily subcutaneous injections and has been generally well tolerated. The most common adverse effects are hot flashes and a possible flare-up of prostatic carcinoma symptoms on initial dosing. As clinical experience grows in the use of GnRH agonist analog, GnRH will assume a greater role in the treatment of metastatic prostatic cancer.
