부산대학교 도서관

Background: Intensive care units (ICUs) are specialized units where patients with critical conditions are admitted for getting specialized and individualized medical treatment. High mortality rates have been observed in ICUs, but the exact reason and factors affecting the mortality rates have not yet been studied in the local population in Pakistan. Aim: This study was aimed to determine rational use of antibiotic therapy in ICU patients and its impact on clinical outcomes and mortality rate. Methods: This was a retrospective, longitudinal (cohort) study including 100 patients in the ICU of the largest tertiary care hospital of the capital city of Pakistan. Results: It was observed that empiric antibiotic therapy was initiated in 68% of patients, while culture sensitivity test was conducted for only 19% of patients. Thirty- percent of patients developed nosocomial infections and empiric antibiotic therapy was not initiated for those patients (P Conclusion: It was concluded that empiric antibiotic therapy is beneficial in patients and leads to a reduction in the mortality rate. Factors including irrational antibiotic selection, prescribing contraindicated drug combinations, and use of nephrotoxic drugs were associated with high mortality rate and poor clinical outcomes. Keywords: clinical outcomes, mortality rate, intensive care unit, rational use of antibiotics, nosocomial infections, medication review
Introduction Intensive care units (ICUs), also known as intensive therapy units or critical care units, are special hospital wards that provide treatment and monitoring for critically ill patients. Since patients [...]