Audit of drug usage in a regional neonatal intensive care unit

Drug utilization has been audited prospectively for all infants cared for in a regional neonatal intensive care unit for a 3-month period. Twenty-five infants had a birthweight less than 1500 g and 54 had a birthweight greater than 1500 g. The total number of different drugs used was 76 and the mean number received was 8.6 with a range of 0-30. Infants with birthweights less than 1500 g received a mean of 14.5 drugs and infants with birthweights greater than 1500 g received a mean of 4.8 drugs. Almost two-thirds (63%) of doses were given orally, 20% intravenously and 10% via an umbilical artery catheter. Three drugs, one of which was received by 13% of infants, carried manufacturers' inserts advising against use in premature infants or the newborn.