Background: Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, pneumonia causes great morbidity and mortality and responsible for high healthcare costs. Levofloxacin is one of the recommended drug for treatment pneumonia. But as the rate of use increases, resistance to levofloxacin will likely rise. The object of this study was to evaluate use of levofloxacin to prevent resistance by developed criteria, and provide information to implement pharmacy intervention for optimal switch iv to po.
Methods: This study was conducted in patients with pneumonia who were discharged from pulmonology ward at Ulsan University Hospital for seven months from June 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. The evaluation criteria were 6 items; 1) treatment dose, 2) duration of treatment, 3) evaluation for pDDI, 4) evaluation for implementation of essential examinations, 5)evaluation for optimal iv to po switch, 6) adverse drug reaction monitoring. All of medical record was collected retrospectively by EMR
Results: The total of 125 patients were analyzed. Among 125 patients, and 17 patients were excluded in evaluation for treatment period and optimal iv to po switch due to death during therapy. Treatment dose were appropriate in all patients, and treatment period were appropriate in 66.7% patients. 34.4% patients were appropriate in pDDI evaluation and implement rate of essential examination were high except TDM(BST 100%, ECG 96.4%, INR 100%, TDM 0%). 46.3% patients were suitable for optimal iv to po switch. No adverse effect were reported to ADR program, but several symptoms were recorded such as rash, itching, elevated LFT to EMR.
Conclusion: We concluded further efforts are needed to appropriate use of antimicrobials and ASP(Antimicrobial Stewardship Program) would be helpful to achieve effective use.