Antibiotic therapy is one of the key methods of treating bacterial infections, including intracellular pathogens and tuberculosis. The choice of effective antibacterial drugs largely depends on their ability to penetrate cells and destroy pathogens that persist in macrophages and body tissues. Objective — to conduct ABC (Always Better Control) and VED (Vital, Essential, Desirable) analysis of antibiotics active against intracellular microorganisms and tuberculosis; to characterise the clinical and pharmacological groups of macrolides, fluoroquinolones and rifampicins, to determine their role in the pharmacotherapy of tuberculosis and other intracellular infections; to assess the feasibility of using these antibiotics, considering their effectiveness, safety, pharmacokinetic properties and compliance with modern clinical guidelines. Materials and methods. For the study, data on annual consumption and costs of antibiotics active against intracellular microorganisms and tuberculosis were collected in the period 2020—2024. The obtained data were systematised and entered into an MS spreadsheet. Statistical analysis was carried out using the built-in statistical functions of MS Excel. ABC analysis. Annual costs for individual drugs were arranged in descending order. The total cost of all drugs was calculated, as well as their percentage contribution to total costs. The resulting list was divided into three categories: category A — antibiotics which account for approximately 70 % of the total cost of consumption; category B — drugs accounting for about 20 % of costs; category C — antibiotics with the lowest level of costs (about 10 %). VED analysis. The assessment of the criticality of antibiotics was carried out by classifying drugs into three groups: vital (V), essential (E) and desirable (D). To determine the criticality of medicines, the following were conducted: a survey of doctors involved in pharmacotherapy of patients with intracellular infections and tuberculosis; a survey of pharmacists regarding the availability of medicines on the Ukrainian pharmaceutical; regulatory analysis. Group V includes medicines that are critically important for the survival of patients and must be available at any time. Group E includes medicines whose short-term absence will not lead to serious complications. Group D includes antibiotics with the least criticality, the absence of which will not have a significant impact on the treatment process. The final distribution of antibiotics by VED categories was discussed by an expert group consisting of physicians, surgeons, pulmonologists, phthisiologists and clinical pharmacists. Results and discussion. In the process of conducting ABC and VED analysis, a group of antibiotics active against intracellular microorganisms and tuberculosis was considered. This group includes drugs from different pharmacological classes, in particular: macrolides (erythromycin, spiramycin, clarithromycin); fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, moxifloxacin); rifampicins (rifampicin combinations). The selection of medicines for the treatment of tuberculosis and intracellular infections was carried out by a multidisciplinary commission consisting of doctors and pharmacists. When selecting drugs, the commission considered the following key criteria: the presence of state registration in Ukraine; form of release; concentration of the active substance; pharmacological features. 42 antibiotics were selected. For each medicine, its trade name, dosage form, composition of the active substance, manufacturer and registration certificate in Ukraine are indicated. All drugs have valid licenses and registrations, which confirms their availability for medical use. Conclusions. Analysis of the distribution of antibiotics by categories A, B, C and VED allows us to assess the effectiveness of their use and the costs of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of intracellular infections and tuberculosis. The highest costs are for category A drugs, which confirms their importance in the treatment of these diseases. Category B drugs occupy the middle position in terms of costs, and category C account for the smallest share. The analysis also showed that most antibiotics are essential, which highlights their critical role in medical treatment. This allows for cost optimisation and improved pharmacotherapy in medical institutions.
Nevzghoda et al. (Tue,) studied this question.