Drug Evaluation of Meropenem Use in Lautoka Hospital from January 2017- January 2018

A blood culture plus other relevant body fluids confirmed positive for an organism shown to be resistant to all other available (or appropriate) antibiotics.
2. A confirmed outbreak of an organism resistant to all other available (or appropriate) antibiotics in the Intensive Care Units only (NICU, P ICU or adult ICU), as empirical therapy for patients with clinical evidence of infection, for a maximum of 72 hours pending results of microbiology specimens. If infection with a multi-resistant organism is not microbiologically confirmed at this time, Meropenem must be ceased and appropriate alternative antimicrobial therapy instituted. Once the outbreak is declared controlled by the Infection Control Unit, empirical antibiotic therapy must revert to a non-Meropenem containing regimen.ln both situations the duration of treatment should be the decision of the treatment Consultant.
Continuous medical education, functional drug and therapeutic committees and regular drug utilization evaluation programs could help in accomplishing the milestone of rational medication use [4] In addition provision of standard treatment guidelines, accompanied with onsite training and supervision may be helpful in guiding physicians in the appropriate use of Meropenem in particular and antimicrobial in general. Efforts of individuals may not change the practice altogether, but it could influence on the numerous negative aspects of antibiotic usage in healthcare practice