Prescribing patterns of echinocandins in adult patients in a private hospital in Gauteng, South Africa
Background: Worldwide, the leading cause of invasive candidiasis and the fourth leading cause of hospital-acquired infections are the Candida species (spp.) group. One of the most important tools in fighting such drug-resistant fungi is the appropriate use of antifungal agents. Objectives: The stud...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajid.co.za/index.php/sajid/article/view/470 |
| Summary: | Background: Worldwide, the leading cause of invasive candidiasis and the fourth leading cause of hospital-acquired infections are the Candida species (spp.) group. One of the most important tools in fighting such drug-resistant fungi is the appropriate use of antifungal agents.
Objectives: The study aimed to determine echinocandins’ general prescribing patterns and how they are associated with the treatment period.
Method: A quantitative, observational, and descriptive was used, and included patients receiving antifungal treatment in a private hospital in Gauteng, South Africa between 01 January 2015 to 31 December 2015.
Results: Of the 146 patient files included, 102 patients (69.9%) received caspofungin and 44 patients (30.1%) were treated with anidulafungin. For the former, 99 (97.1%) patients received a loading dose (LD) of 70 mg, while 200 mg anidulafungin was only prescribed to 30 patients (68.2%). In line with maintenance dose guidelines, the majority (98.1%) of caspofungin-treated patients received 50 mg IV daily, whereas 4 (3.9%) patients were treated at higher doses (70 mg daily). Anidulafungin was administered at various maintenance doses, including 400 mg (2.3% of patients), 200 mg (52.3%), 100 mg (43.2%) and 50 mg (2.3%) IV daily.
Conclusion: Our results can be utilised to produce a hospital-specific algorithm in terms of Candida-infected patients.
Contribution: These findings contribute to our understanding of prescribing patterns of antifungal agents and the impact thereof on treating Candida spp. Infections. |
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| ISSN: | 2312-0053 2313-1810 |