Most Important Factors Driving Usage of Antibiotics in the ICU Setting are Availability in Intravenous Formulation, Activity Against Key Gram Negative Pathogens, Drug Interactions and Bactericidal Activity

Intensive Care Setting Is Characterized by Lower Level of Usage Restrictions, According to a New Report from AMR and Decision Resources

MALVERN, Penn. and WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ — Arlington Medical Resources (AMR) and Decision Resources find that the most important factors that influence antibiotic selection in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting are an agent’s availability in intravenous (IV) formulation, activity against Pseudomonas and extended-spectrum beta lactamase producing pathogens and drug-drug-interactions. Achievement of rapid therapeutic concentration is often necessary in this hospital setting and many critically ill patients cannot be given oral antibiotics. Other important attributes include bactericidal activity. However, attributes such as anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity and a low propensity to induce resistance are important across all hospital settings.

“Patients in the ICU setting tend to be significantly sicker and more debilitated than patients in general wards. The infections they suffer are often more severe and they often have underlying conditions that can complicate treatment. Therefore, factors influencing antibiotic selection and prescribing dynamics in the ICU setting differ from the broader hospital ward settings,” stated John Lebbos, M.D., vice president of infectious diseases at Decision Resources.

The new report entitled Hospital Anti-Infectives Insight Series: Antibiotic Usage Patterns and Drivers of Prescribing in the ICU Setting also finds that in many hospitals, the ICU setting has a lower level of use restrictions than the general wards, reflecting the need for physicians practicing in the ICU to prescribe highly potent antibiotics. Nearly 25 percent of surveyed physicians state that the level of restrictions placed on antibiotics in the ICU setting is lower than that in general wards and an additional 24 percent of surveyed physicians indicate that no restrictions are placed on antibiotics in the ICU setting.

About Hospital Anti-Infectives Insight Series

AMR and Decision Resources’ new Hospital Anti-Infectives Insight Series analyzes hospital antibiotic prescribing patterns using AMR’s comprehensive and highly detailed clinical data in conjunction with Decision Resources’ disease area knowledge, primary research and extensive understanding of emerging therapies and forecasts. These reports examine the reasons behind physicians’ product preferences, factors driving hospital antibiotic prescribing patterns and receptivity to emerging antibiotics.

2008 Hospital Anti-Infectives Insight Series reports include:

• Hospital Anti-Infectives Insight Series: Nosocomial Pneumonia
• Hospital Anti-Infectives Insight Series: Skin & Skin Structure Infections
• Hospital Anti-Infectives Insight Series: U.S. Antibiotic Usage Patterns and Drivers in the ICU Setting

About AMR

AMR (www.AMR-data.com) serves the market intelligence needs of the pharmaceutical and diagnostic imaging industries. Research includes clinical inpatient databases that directly link anti-infective drug with indication/procedure, formulary and stocking status tracking studies, drug purchasing audits and diagnostic imaging procedure volume/contrast media usage audits. AMR is a Decision Resources, Inc. company.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources (www.DecisionResources.com) is a world leader in market research publications, advisory services and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources and master their chosen markets. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources, Inc. company.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

Decision Resources, Inc. is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources, Inc. at www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

All company, brand or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

    For more information, contact:

    Natalia Morales
    Decision Resources
    781-296-2691
    nmorales@dresources.com

    Elizabeth Marshall
    Decision Resources, Inc.
    781-296-2563
    emarshall@dresources.com

SOURCE Arlington Medical Resources; Decision Resources