Original Articles
Analisi farmaco-economica dell’utilizzazione delle echinocandine presso l’Azienda Ospedaliera “SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo” di Alessandria
DOI 10.23753/htafocus2015.03.014
Eugenio Mantia, Matilde Scaldaferri, Alessandra Bianco, Roberta Cammarata, Erica Caravaggio, Manuela Rapetti, Maria Laura Savi, Francesco Cattel
Abstract
Introduction: Over the last years, the spread of nosocomial fungal infections has been associated with an increasing use of echinocandins, new molecules with the same mechanism of action approved for the treatment of Candida spp. and Aspergillo spp.
Materials and Methods: This study was performed through the analysis of medical reports for patients hospitalized in “SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo” Hospital in Alessandria, who had at least a four-days attendance in Intensive Care Unit and who received a systemic antifungal treatment with caspofungin or anidulafungin for suspected or proven fungine infection. The analysis focused on comparison of costs between patients treated with caspofungin and patients treated with anidulafungin.
Results: The analysis of costs for patients treated with caspofungin and anidulafungin showed that the choice for caspofungin for a patient with fungine infection could allow a saving corresponding to the cost of a four-days admittance in Intensive Care Unit for another patient.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that caspofungin could allow money-saving. Comparison with other antifungal agents is needed to assess on more extended population.
Key words: caspofungin, anidulafungin, candidiasis, intensive therapy, treatments cost