ABSTRACT:
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) represents areas for specific and concentrated therapy of many types, including drug therapy. The objective of the study was to assess Drug Utilization (DU) 90 % in ICU; to facilitate the rational use of drugs and to monitor prescribing practices in ICU. The study was conducted in a 12 bedded general ICU for eight weeks in Civil Hospital Nasik, which handles 900 - 1100 patients per annum during May to July 2009. Basic data concerning the patients such as their duration of ICU stay, patient care indicators, prescription indicators, complimentary indicators, Defined Daily Doses (DDD), and DU 90% was calculated. Data were obtained by analyzing all the drugs prescribed with the exception of intravenous fluids. The potential for polypharmacy is discussed, as is the cost of such therapy. Total 435 prescriptions in 113 patients were prescribed with a mean of 8 drugs/patient having average duration of stay 4 days in ICU. Number of drugs per prescription was 6. Average cost per prescription was Rs.79.47/-. 5.82 Drugs were found in injectable form per prescription and 383 out of 435 prescription drugs were from essential drug list. The average consulting and dispensing time was 9.25 min and 5.47 min respectively. 39 out of 60 drugs were utilized in 90 % (DU 90%). The DDD/1000/day for Hydrocortisone was the highest (2404mg) and Prochlorpheniramine was the lowest (104mg). Study revealed certain drugs such as Hydrocortisone, Dexamethasone, Procain insulin, and Benzyl penicillin is of significance in ICU while patient care indicators reveals satisfactory patient care.