Objective: To study the cost of antimicrobial therapy along with concomitant drug therapy in Critical Care Unit (CCU). Material and Method: Study was conducted at charitable trust hospital of metro city in India. Total 270 patients admitted in CCU were included. Daily bill of drugs from patients were taken and cost mentioned in the bill was recorded. Currency was converted from Indian to United States currency (`54.81 INR = 1$USD). Data were analyzed by student ‘t’ test, x2 test and Z test. Results: Patients were divided according to Group A(directly/first admitted in CCU) and Group B (transferred from ward/operation theatre to CCU). Duration of hospital stay in CCU, patients on ventilator support, mortality were significantly (p<0.05) higher in directly admitted Group A patients as compared to transferred Group B patients. Cost of antimicrobial therapy was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Group A as compared to Group B patients and accounted more than one third to cost of total drug therapy. Cost of concomitant drugs like inotropes was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Group A patients. Cost of gastrointestinal drugs and analgesics were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Group B patients. Cost of antimicrobials like piperacillin+tazobactam, cefoperazone+sulbacatm were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Group A patients. Cost of amikacin and metronidazole per patient were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Group B. Cost of beta lactam antimicrobials like amoxicillin+clavulinate, piperacillin+tazobactam and cefoperazone+sulbacatm accounted more than 40% of cost of antimicrobials. Conclusion: Cost of antimicrobial therapy was higher in directly admitted Group A patients in CCU. Cost of antimicrobials per patient was accounted more than one third of total cost of drug therapy in CCU. In antimicrobials cost of beta lactam antimicrobials was higher as compared to other antimicrobials.
Key words: Antimicrobials, Critical Care Unit (CCU), Cost.
