Cost effective analysis of tab. nitrofurantoin vs. inj. ceftriaxone as an empirical therapy in patients of urinary tract infection at a tertiary health care centre

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are commonly seen in adults, Urinary tract infection and asymptomatic bacteriuria in adults are a significant health care burden. In a developing country it is necessary to minimize the cost of therapy while giving maximum health benefits to the patient. Appropriate antimicrobial selection is clearly important, as treatment failures will increase the cost of care and result in additional morbidity for patients. Empirical treatment of urinary tract infection is common at tertiary health care center, authors conducted a pharmacoeconomic study to evaluate cost effectiveness of the empirical treatment.Methods: Patients with similar symptoms suffering from UTI were divided into 5 groups with 10 patients in each group. Each group was subdivided into two subgroups with subgroup A having five patients receiving tab nitrofurantoin and subgroup B having 5 patients receiving inj ceftriaxone. Out of the total cost of therapy, percentage of cost attributed to tab nitrofurantoin was compared with inj ceftriaxone. Most cost-effective antibiotic was analysed. Average number of admission days for groups of UTI patients receiving tab nitrofurantoin and inj ceftriaxone were calculated and compared. Group of UTI patients receiving antibiotic with least number of admission days was calculated.Results: Percentage of cost attributed to Nitrofurantoin therapy out of total cost in urinary tract infection patient was less than percentage of cost attributed to inj Ceftriaxone in all five groups of patients and was found to be statistically significant (p <0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in average number of admission (IPD) days between groups of patients receiving tab nitrofurantoin and inj ceftriaxone (p>0.05).Conclusions: In current study authors found tab nitrofurantoin to be more cost effective than inj ceftriaxone as an empirical therapy in UTI patients.