• Steve A R Webb, Ed Litton, Kerryn L Barned, and Tim M Crozier.
• Aalix Health Services Consulting, Perth, WA, Australia. Steve.Webb@aalix.com.au
• Crit Care Resusc. 2013 Jun 1;15(2):143-6.

ObjectiveTo determine how frequently stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) medications prescribed in the intensive care unit are inappropriately continued on the ward and on hospital discharge.DesignRetrospective cohort study; chart review.SettingTwo Australian ICUs: one tertiary centre and one metropolitan centre.ParticipantsWe included 387 adult, non-pregnant patients who were admitted to the ICU between 1 February 2011 and 31 March 2011 and who survived to hospital discharge.Main Outcome MeasuresRate of unnecessary continuation of ICU-prescribed SUP medications on the ward and on discharge from hospital.ResultsWhile in the ICU, 329 of the 387 patients (85%) were prescribed SUP medications. Of the 233 patients who had not been taking acid-suppressive medications before admission to the ICU, 190 were prescribed SUP medications in the ICU. Of these 190 patients, most (63%) had their SUP continued in the ward without any obvious indication, and many (39%) had their SUP medications inappropriately continued on discharge from hospital.ConclusionsSUP medications commenced in ICU are frequently continued unnecessarily, both in the wards and on hospital discharge.

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