Research

Survey of stress ulcer prophylaxis

Brian L Erstad¹, Jeffrey F Barletta², Judith Jacobi³, Aaron D Killian⁴, Katherine M Kramer⁵ and Steven J Martin⁶

¹Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy,University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

²Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA

³Methodist Hospital, Clarian Health Partners, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

⁴Department of Pharmacy Practice, Texas Tech University HealthSciences Center, School of Pharmacy, Amarillo, Texas, USA

⁵Critical Care, University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy,Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

⁶The University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy, Toledo, Ohio, USA

Critical Care 1999, 3:145-149doi:10.1186/cc368

Published:	20 October 1999

Abstract

Background

No surveys of stress ulcer prophylaxis prescribing in the USA havebeen conducted since 1995. Since that time, the most comprehensive meta-analysisand largest randomized study to date concerning stress ulcer prophylaxis havebeen published.

Results

Three hundred sixty-eight surveys were sent to all members of theSection of Pharmacy and Pharmacology of the Society of Critical Care Medicine.One hundred fifty-three (42%) surveys were returned. Representatives from 86%of institutions stated that medications for stress ulcer prophylaxis are usedin a majority (>90%) of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).Twenty-two per cent of institutions have recommendations for both ICU andnon-ICU settings. Fifty-eight per cent of institutions stated that there wasone preferred medication for stress ulcer prophylaxis, and in 77% of thesehistamine-2-antagonists were the most popular.

Conclusions

There are wide variations in prescribing practices for stressulcer prophylaxis. Institutions should consult published literature and usepre-existing guidelines as templates for developing their own guidelines.