Abstract
Purpose
To determine the pharmacoeconomic impact of antimicrobial treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) in a large urban jail.
Patients and Methods
Retrospective comparison of PUD-related pharmacy and laboratory expenditures over a 2-year period before and after the institution of a PUD treatment protocol with the priority ofHelicobacter pylori eradication for inmates in Rikers Island Correctional Facility.
Results
After the protocol was adopted, total pharmacy-related and laboratory-related expenses for PUD care decreased by 40.2%, and expenditures for ranitidine declined by 52.2%. There was an increase in spending for antimicrobial agents andH. pylori antibody testing, but this was insignificant compared to the savings generated by decreased ranitidine usage. Annual savings in our facility as a result of this intervention were $123,449.
Conclusions
Modern therapeutic strategies for PUD aimed at eradicatingH. pylori can result in significant savings in the institutional setting; these savings are largely attributable to the decreased usage of histamine-2 receptor antagonists.
Key Words: Cost, Jail, Peptic ulcer disease, Treatment
Full Text
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Footnotes
Montefiore-Rikers Island Health Services is a component of the Correctional Health Services of the New York City Department of Health and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.
This work was presented in part at the 36th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 15–18, 1996.
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