Cost comparison of ceftriaxone and cefuroxime to amplicillin and cholramphenicol in the treatment of pediatric meningitis

Traditionally, maximal therapeutic efficacy and minimal toxicity of drugs have been the primary considerations in antimicrobial therapy. Selection of medications for patients was based on considerations of efficacy and toxicity of a particular drug as compared to its alternatives, and since third-party carriers readily provided reimbursement, hospitals enjoyed considerable freedom in determination of their charges to their patients. The importance of appropriate drug selection can be illustrated by the ever increasing number of cephalosporins available. Although the newest cephalosporins are considerably more expensive than first-generation cephalosporins, claims of cost savings often are made since many of the newer agents may be administered less frequently than their predecessors. To detrmine whether less frequent dosing results in cost savings, factors other than less frequent dosing results in cost savings, factors other than the acquisition cost of the drug alone must be taken into account. the objectives of this study were the following: 1.) Indentification of the steps involved in providing antibiotic therapy, from acquisition through administration and monitoring; 2.) Measurement of of the time spent at each step, and the costs generated by these steps; 3.) Calculation of the total costs for a given antibiotic regimen.