The clinical and economic benefits of administering piperacillin-tazobactam by continuous infusion.

Beta-lactam antibiotics, such as piperacillin-tazobactam, are commonly administered frequently throughout the day as intermittent infusions over a period of 30-60 min. However, increasing knowledge of how these antibiotics kill bacteria has made continuous infusion a valuable option to achieve maximal clinical outcomes while consuming the least amount of institutional resources. Continuous infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam is currently used at our hospital because of its clinical and economic benefits when compared with intermittent infusion.

National trends in the outpatient treatment of anxiety disorders.

Background: Recent advances in psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy have increased the number of treatment options for anxiety disorders. This article examines changes in outpatient treatment of anxiety disorders in the United States between 1987 and 1999.

Method: Analyses are presented of service utilization data from 2 nationally representative surveys of the general population: the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey and the 1999 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Cost and effectiveness of venlafaxine extended-release and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the acute phase of outpatient treatment for major depressive disorder.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to estimate the cost and effectiveness of venlafaxine extended-release (VXR) compared with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the outpatient treatment of major depressive disorder.

Methods: Pooled data from 8, 8-week, randomized, double-blind studies comparing treatment of major depressive disorder with venlafaxine/venlafaxine XR (n = 851), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine, paroxetine, fluvoxamine; n = 748), or placebo (4 studies; n = 446) were retrospectively analyzed to determine the economic implications of symptom remission from the perspective of a US third party payer and that of an employer. A decision modeling approach was used to determine cost and effectiveness ratios.

Acute and continuation treatment adequacy with venlafaxine extended release compared with fluoxetine.

Study Objective: To compare treatment adequacy in the management of depression during the acute and continuation phases between patients newly treated with venlafaxine extended release (XR) and those newly treated with fluoxetine.

Design: Retrospective observational analysis of pharmacy claims data.

Setting: Large California-based managed care organization.

Cost analysis of continuous versus intermittent infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam: a time-motion study.

The time and associated costs (drug, labor, supply) of administering a continuous versus an intermittent i.v. infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam were compared.

Comorbidities and associated treatment charges in patients with anxiety disorders.

Objective: To describe comorbidities and treatment charges in patients receiving initial anxiolytic therapy for anxiety disorders.

Design: Retrospective data analysis.

Patients: Six thousand six hundred forty-seven patients with anxiety disorders.