Prescribing patterns of echinocandins in adult patients in a private hospital in Gauteng, South Africa

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, the leading cause of invasive candidiasis and the fourth leading cause of hospital-acquired infections are the Candida species (spp.) group. One of the most important tools in fighting such drug-resistant fungi is the appropriate use of antifungal agents. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to determine echinocandins’ general prescribing patterns and how they are associated with the treatment period. METHOD: A quantitative, observational, and descriptive was used, and included patients receiving antifungal treatment in a private hospital in Gauteng, South Africa between 01 January 2015 to 31 December 2015. RESULTS: Of the 146 patient files included, 102 patients (69.9%) received caspofungin and 44 patients (30.1%) were treated with anidulafungin. For the former, 99 (97.1%) patients received a loading dose (LD) of 70 mg, while 200 mg anidulafungin was only prescribed to 30 patients (68.2%). In line with maintenance dose guidelines, the majority (98.1%) of caspofungin-treated patients received 50 mg IV daily, whereas 4 (3.9%) patients were treated at higher doses (70 mg daily). Anidulafungin was administered at various maintenance doses, including 400 mg (2.3% of patients), 200 mg (52.3%), 100 mg (43.2%) and 50 mg (2.3%) IV daily. CONCLUSION: Our results can be utilised to produce a hospital-specific algorithm in terms of Candida-infected patients. CONTRIBUTION: These findings contribute to our understanding of prescribing patterns of antifungal agents and the impact thereof on treating Candida spp. Infections.