Prevalence of Potential Drug-Drug Interactions in an Intensive Care Unit at a Brazilian Hospital

The present study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in prescriptions for inpatients in an intensive care unit (ICU) at a Brazilian hospital. The data were retrieved from the handwritten prescription and medical records of inpatients during hospitalization in the ICU between August 2007 and November 2007. The data were obtained during the first 24 h of hospitalization. Potential DDIs were identified using the Micromedex system. Inpatient, drug, and DDI characteristics were described. Of the 147 patients who were admitted to the ICU during the period of study, 79 (53.7 %) were male. The average age of all of the inpatients was 59.7 +/- 18.7 years. Potential DDIs were identified in 79 (53.7 %) inpatients. Most of them (31; 21 %) had major DDIs. The most common major DDI in this sample was fentanyl + rnidazolam in eight inpatients (5.4 %). More studies on the pharmacoepidemiology of DDIs and their clinical impact can contribute to pharmacist insertion into the clinical team in Brazil.