[Use of antibiotics in hospitalized patients. Comparison of medical, surgical and gynecological units].

Abstract

Antibiotic use was evaluated retrospectively in 1229 patients of a university hospital (Basle, Switzerland). The frequency with which antibiotics were prescribed, the indication, duration of treatment, side-effects and clinical results were compared in relation to various subspecialities. 38.1% of medical, 36.4% of surgical and 24.4% of gynecological patients received one or more antibiotic during hospitalization. The main indications for antibiotic treatment were respiratory infection (57.8%) and urinary tract infections (21%) in medical patients, prophylaxis (38%) and urinary tract infections (23%) in surgery, and urinary tract infections (43%) and adnexitis or endometritis (23%) in gynecology. Amoxycillin or penicillin G were the first-line drugs for respiratory infection, cotrimoxazole for urinary tract infection and cefalothin or cefacetrile for surgical prophylaxis. Patients with endometritis or adnexitis usually received clindamycin in combination with an aminopenicillin. Aminoglycosides were employed in only 9.5% of antibiotic courses. Information on adverse reactions in the records was scanty, only generalized exanthem (13 cases) and nausea/vomiting (2 cases) being specifically mentioned. The therapeutic result was classified by the responsible physician as cure in 50.8% or definite improvement in 16.4% of patients. However, in 118 cases (29.7%) the contribution of antibiotics to the clinical outcome could not be evaluated retrospectively.

• Authors: G Kewitz, M Salfinger, J C Farina, W Dickreuter, D Berger, H Galliker, P Krupp, F Follath
• Journal: Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift (Schweiz Med Wochenschr) Vol. 111 Issue 1 Pg. 10-4 (Jan 03 1981) ISSN: 0036-7672 [Print] Switzerland
• Vernacular Title: Antibiotikaanwendung bei hospitalisierten Patienten. Vergleich von medizinischen, chirurgischen und gynäkologischen Abteilungen.
• PMID: 7209474 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Bacterial Infections (drug therapy)
• Endometritis (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (drug therapy)
• Respiratory Tract Infections (drug therapy)
• Surgery Department, Hospital
• Surgical Wound Infection (drug therapy)
• Switzerland
• Urinary Tract Infections (drug therapy)