UTILIZACION DE IMIPENEM/CILISTATINA EN UN HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO

The aim of the study was to describe and evaluate the use of imipenem/cilastatin at a university hospital after its approval by the hospital Pharmacotherapeutic Commission. We identified all the patients treated over a period of 3 months and we reviewed the case histories and treatment sheets. The main variables analyzed were the indication for use of imipenem, the therapeutic schedule followed and the hospital services where it was used. We also carried out a qualitative appraisal of the use. During the period of study 52 patients were treated with imipenem/cilastatin. 57% of these patients were admitted to the ICU. The main indications for the use of imipenem were sepsis (27%) and intraabdominal infections (23%). The dose administered most commonly was 3-4 g a day (42%). We recorded one case of convulsions probably connected with the use of imipenem. In the qualitative appraisal we considered that the use of imipenem was proper in 36 cases (69%) and improper in 16 (31%). We observed quantitative and qualitative differences in use between the different services. The results of this study reveal the need to apply the antibiotics use criteria recently introduced at the hospital, after approval by the Pharmacotherapeutic Commission. These criteria should be based on the general antibiotics policy agreed upon at each hospital by the corresponding authorities.