Study of drug utilization within an anti-fungal therapy for HIV/AIDS patients presenting oral candidiasis at UPIPI RSUD, Dr. Soetomo Hospital, Surabaya

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) constitutes a group of symptoms of disease caused by damage to, or degradation of, the immune system as a result of infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The most common pathogen during the course of HIV-related disease progression is that of an Oral Fungal Infection (OFI), such as Oral Candidiasis (OC). AIDS may place an infected individual at risk from a variety of opportunistic infections caused by the high prevalence of drug use that increases the risk of Drug-Related Problems (DRPs). To investigate aspects of drug utilization, including: type of antifungal, dosage regimens, methods of administration and potential DRPs among HIV/AIDS patients suffering from OC in the Unit Perawatan Intermediet Penyakit Infeksi (UPIPI) RSUD, Dr. Soetomo Hospital, Surabaya. Observational descriptive research featuring a combination of cross-sectional and total sampling methods. The samples consisted of 88 HIV/AIDS patients treated at UPIPI Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya from July to August, 2014. The diagnosis of OC was based on clinical appearance, mycology examination and the history of antifungal therapy contained in patients' medical records. Of 68 cases of OC only 28 patients (41,18%) had undergone treatment. The majority (92.86%) were administered Nystatin, a topical antifungal drug, while only 18 cases (69.23%) received an appropriate dose (4 dd gtt V) in accordance with hospital guidelines. The most potent side-effect of the antifungal drug was that of nausea (53.57%). Certain DRPs, such as inappropriate dosages and indication, were identified in this study. Nausea represented the most probable side-effect of antifungal therapy.