A review of the hospital-acquired infection, Clostridium Difficile Toxin (CDT) in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick has found that Ireland’s incidence of the infection remains high, and that the use of multiple antibiotics needs to be avoided to reduce CDT in hospitals.
The study’s authors, from the Clinical Audit Department, found there were 21 cases in the hospital in 2006, which they describe as a high prevelence. They also found that 40 per cent of the hospital’s pharmacy budget, amounting to €22,359.10 a month, is spent on the antibiotics augmentin, rocephin and tazocin, three of the five drugs most frequently prescribed to patients prior to their infection with CDT.
“The cost of antibiotics associated with CDT is approximately €5,843 per patient per episode of infection,” according to the study. “The associated costs for the 21 cases is €122,703 for antibiotics alone, and 30 per cent of this might have been prevented, saving an estimated €86,000.”
According to the authors, the use of multiple antibiotics and/or the extended use of the group of antibiotics, floroquinolones, should be avoided. “The incidence of CDT has been increasing for years, but the recent emergence and spread of strains that produce much higher levels of potent toxin have made control even more urgent,” state the authors. “These potent strains have emerged in Ireland over the last year and this deadly toxin-type is associated with the use of floroquinolones”.
They recommend the use of the antibiotics tazocin and tavanic, as they are more “bowel friendly” than the other commonly used drugs, and said a new medication record with automatic stop dates for antibiotics has been developed in the hospital.
The research will be presented in coming weeks as part of a series of audit presentation evenings in the Mid-Western Regional hospital.
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