Nosocomial Infections in ICU

Study finds frequent inappropriate ulcer-prevention medicine use in Ethiopian ICUs

Researchers studied stress ulcer prophylaxis—medicines intended to reduce the risk of stomach ulcers or bleeding—among 229 critically ill patients in three public hospital ICUs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In this prospective observational study, inappropriate use was reported during admission, the ICU stay and at discharge. The findings describe prescribing patterns in these hospitals and do not prove that any patient outcome was caused by the medicines or by their inappropriate use.