Drug costs and bacterial susceptibility after implementing a single-fluoroquinolone use policy at a university hospital

The University of Kentucky Hospital investigated the feasibility of choosing a sole fluoroquinolone for its formulary in an effort to reduce costs without affecting clinical outcomes. A three-step process was used to plan, implement, and monitor the selection program. Based on the range of clinical indications, safety profile, local susceptibility, cost, and dosing convenience, levofloxacin was chosen over ciprofloxacin and gatifloxacin as the sole fluoroquinolone. Since the implementation of the program in May 2001, susceptibility to levofloxacin has been maintained or increased for the most common pathogens. In addition, University Hospital has saved nearly $100,000 in antibiotic acquisition costs during the first 12 months after the switch. This assessment did not take into account effects in clinical outcomes, such as clinical failures (such as readmission rates), mortality, and adverse events, or measure changes in overall medical expenditures beyond drug acquisition costs. In the future, monitoring of overall patient care and medical care costs, in addition to susceptibility patterns and drug costs, will allow for a better understanding of the long-term benefits of this switch.