451. Shortage of penicillin G: impact on antibiotic prescribing at a US tertiary care centre.
- Author
-
Harbarth S, Gundlapalli AV, Stockdale W, and Samore MH
- Subjects
- Adult, Ampicillin supply & distribution, Databases, Factual, Female, Hospitals, Humans, Male, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital, Retrospective Studies, United States, Drug Prescriptions statistics & numerical data, Drug Utilization statistics & numerical data, Penicillin G supply & distribution
- Abstract
A six-year retrospective study was undertaken to examine the effect of the recent penicillin G (penG) shortage on antibiotic prescribing practices at a tertiary care centre in the US. Prior to the shortage, penG was predominantly used for intrapartum prophylaxis of group B streptococcal disease. As the supply of penG ended temporarily in October 1999, penG use declined dramatically, ampicillin replaced penG in obstetrics and a shift to broad-spectrum agents was noted in non-obstetric patients potentially eligible for penG treatment. Shortage-triggered treatment changes had a negative effect on prescribing patterns, which may contribute to antibiotic resistance.
- Published
- 2003
- Full Text
- View/download PDF