drug interactions

Abstract

Aminoglycosides are a group of antibiotics that have been widely used in treatment of infections especially caused by gram negative bacteria. The purpose of this research was to study the aminoglycosides use among in-patients. This study was carried out retrospectively which included the patients 18 years and above who had received aminoglycosides therapy from July 2008 until December 2008. Patients with incomplete data were excluded. A total of 104 patients were included in this study based on the inclusion criteria. The aminoglycosides were used in patients who had normal renal function and also in patients who were in end stage renal failure. Gentamicin was the most frequently used (44.2%), followed by amikacin (33.7%), netilmicin (13.4%) and the least frequently used was streptomycin (8.7%). The culture and sensitivity test had been performed only to 62% of patients. Indication was appropriate in 95.2% patients and was inappropriate in 4.8% patients (p<0.001). Appropriate doses were given to 59.6% patients and 37.4% patients had received inappropriate doses (p>0.05) and 5.8% patients were not assessable. Duration of therapy was appropriate in 87.5% patients and there were 12.5% patients did not received therapy in appropriate duration (p<0.001). A total of 77(89.5%) cases of pharmacodynamic and 9(10.4%) cases of pharmacokinetic potential drug-drug interactions between aminoglycosides and other drugs were identified. There were 3 cases had minor severity and the rest had moderate severity. Conclusion: The appropriateness of aminoglycosides use still needs to be improved in order to ensure their effectiveness and safety in clinical setting.