A prospective study of antimicrobial-related adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE No previous systematic evaluation of antimicrobial-related adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in Taiwanese patients has been reported. The present study aimed to assess the incidence, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and causative agents of antimicrobial-ADRs in hospitalized patients. METHODS 299 patients who received antimicrobial treatment during hospitalization in the infection ward of a tertiary hospital for at least two days from October 1, 1999 to February 29, 2000 were prospectively enrolled. Data of patients with parenteral antimicrobial-related ADRs were retrieved for further analysis. RESULTS The incidence of antimicrobial-related ADRs (93.1% type B) was 24.1%. Compared with patients without ADRs, patients with antimicrobial-related ADRs were more likely to have a previous history of drug allergy (27.8% vs 16.2%, p=0.035) and had longer duration of hospitalization (28.3 +/- 21.0 vs 12.6 +/- 9.4 days, p<0.001). The incidence of parenteral antimicrobial-related ADRs in terms of total courses was 16.3% (78/480). Carbapenems (53.8%), amphotericin B (52.9%), and glycopeptides (37.0%) had the highest incidence of associated ADRs. Blood dyscrasias (32.1%), dermatomucosal effects (23.1%), and febrile reactions (17.9%) were the three most common manifestations of ADRs. CONCLUSION Antimicrobial-related ADRs occurred frequently in Taiwanese hospitalized patients.