Evaluation of Meropenem Use Among Septic Patients at Hua Hin Hospital, Thailand

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are an important medical concern. This problem might be resulted from an inappropriate use of antibiotics. The review of antibiotic drug use could help understanding the cause of drug resistance and eventually resolve the problem. Our retrospective cohort study aimed to review meropenem use at Hua-hin hospital, Prachuap Khiri Khan, including therapeutic indications, dosage regimens and duration of sepsis treatment. Data were gathered from patients admitted in the hospital during January to December 2013. The sources of data included patient medical records, patient database from computer program and in-house form of meropenem evaluation. A total of thirty-six cases were evaluated, 17 cases (47.2%) were male, and the average age was 58.3 (±19.9) years. There were 22 cases (61.1%) and 14 cases (38.9%) receiving meropenem as empirical and definitive therapy, respectively. According to meropenem use evaluation, there were 29 (80.6%), 33 (91.7%) and 24 (85.7%) cases that met the criteria for indication, dosage regimen, and treatment duration, respectively. Only 17 cases (60.7%; n=28) met all three criteria for appropriate meropenem use. Thus, with our finding, the role of healthcare professionals in reducing the inappropriate use of antibiotics for the entire course of treatment should be encouraged.