Zahar et al reviewed aminoglycoside prescribing for hospitalized patients. They identified factors associated with appropriate and inappropriate prescribing of these antibiotics. The authors are from Hopital Henri Mondor in Crteil, France.
Patient selection: receipt of an aminoglycoside
Examples of inappropriate prescribing include:
(1) excessive treatment duration
(2) incorrect drug level monitoring
(3) failure to adjust dose for renal function, concurrent dialysis, drug interactions or body weight
(4) failure to refer to current practice guidelines
Independent predictors of appropriate prescribing"
(1) being in the ICU
(2) polymicrobial infection
(3) review by antibiotic control team or pharmacist
Inappropriate prescribing is associated with:
(1) higher rates of nephrotoxicity or other toxicity
(2) higher costs
