DOI: 10.2165/0019053-200826120-00008

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of aminoglycoside antibacterials with the goal of minimising toxicity and maximising effectiveness has become routine. Successful management of serious infections requires the ability to achieve therapeutic peak concentrations, while maintaining low trough...

Objective: To estimate the pharmacoeconomic impact for the French Social Security System of preventing recurrent acute rhinopharyngitis (RARP) in at-risk children with OM-85 BV, an immunostimulating agent indicated for the prevention of recurrences. Design: A decision-analysis model. The...

Objective: This study examined the impact of zanamivir treatment on patient morbidity in patients with influenza. Design and setting: This was a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group study conducted in 14 countries in Europe and North America during the winter of 1995/1996....

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)is endemic in parts of Asia and Africa and most patients are not suitable for treatment with a curative approach. Little is known about the cost of palliative care for HCC. Objective: To determine: (i) patient-specific costs of palliative care of HCC; and...

Objectives: To perform an evaluation from the societal perspective of the cost of treatment with enoxaparin sodium versus unfractionated heparin (UFH) in patients with unstable angina and non-Q wave myocardial infarction in France. Design: Four complementary cost-minimisation analyses based on...

Fluconazole (FLU) is an alternative to amphotericin B (AMB) for the treatment of candidemia in non-neutropenic patients. This agent has similar clinical efficacy but significantly reduced adverse effects compared with AMB. Using the database from a Canadian randomised multicentre comparative...

Objective: To compare resource use and costs in renal transplant recipients treated with basiliximab or placebo plus triple immunosuppressive therapy. Design: International randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial; economic evaluation undertaken alongside the efficacy trial. The...

The resources available for healthcare are limited compared with demand, if not need, and all healthcare systems, regardless of their financing and organisation, employ mechanisms to ration or prioritise finite healthcare resources. This paper reviews alternative approaches that can be used to...