International journal of antimicrobial agents
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Sep 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyLinezolid for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens in China.
In this randomised, double-blind, comparator-controlled, multicentre study conducted in China, 142 hospitalised patients aged 18-75 years with pneumonia (n=80) or complicated skin and soft-tissue infection (cSSTI) (n=62) due to suspected or known Gram-positive pathogens were randomised (1:1) to receive either linezolid 600mg (n=71) or vancomycin 1g in patients aged < or =60 years or 0.75g in patients aged >60 years (n=71) intravenously every 12h. The duration of treatment was 10-21 days for patients with pneumonia and 7-21 days for patients with cSSTI. Clinical outcomes were assessed at end-of-treatment (EOT) visit and follow-up (FU) visit 7-28 days post therapy. ⋯ The incidence of drug-related adverse events (AEs) was 25.4% (18/71) for linezolid and 16.9% (12/71) for vancomycin. Four (5.6%) linezolid-treated and eight (11.3%) vancomycin-treated patients discontinued the study drug because of an AE. Linezolid was well tolerated and effective for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens, including meticillin-resistant S. aureus.
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Sep 2008
Drug utilisation 90% (DU90%) profiles of antibiotics in five Chinese children's hospitals (2002-2006).
This study surveyed the pattern of inpatient antibiotic use in five Chinese children's hospitals between 2002 and 2006, focusing on the antibiotics accounting for 90% of the volume utilised as well as the level of adherence to guidelines. The Anatomical Therapeutical Chemical Classification/Defined Daily Doses (ATC/DDD) and the drug utilisation 90% (DU90%) methodologies were used. In October 2004, national antibiotic guidelines were issued that divided antibiotics into non-restricted, restricted and special use grades. ⋯ We also observed a decrease in the ranks of some restricted and special use antibiotics after the guidelines were issued in one hospital. The DU90% profiles were proven to be useful in studying the pattern of antibiotic use in hospitals. Finally, the study observed the effectiveness of guidelines for antibiotic use in some hospitals, although injectable antibiotics were widely used in children's hospitals in China.