Comparative Pharmacoeconomic Analysis of Benzathine Penicillin and Procaine Penicillin in the treatment of early syphilis in a University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria
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Date
2008
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Published by Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos
Abstract
Comparative pharmacoeconomic analysis of benzathine and procaine penicillin in the treatment of early syphilis in
Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, northern Nigeria was carried out retrospectively for
prescribed/dispensed antibacterial drugs to outpatients with early syphilis among other infectious diseases, by
examining outpatients case notes between 2005 and 2007. Results show that benzathine penicillin cost N 4.31/unit
of effectiveness while procaine penicillin injection cost N 18.19/unit of effectiveness in the treatment of early
syphilis. Benzathine penicillin injection therefore appears to be more cost effective than procaine penicllin injection.
Subjecting the cost and effectiveness to sensitivity analysis did not change this conclusion. Statistical analysis shows
that there is a statistically significant difference in the effectiveness (outcome) of benzathine penicillin and procaine
penicillin injection, (56.2%) (χ2 = 48.58, P<0.5), Therefore there is association between effectiveness and
therapeutic option chosen with benzathine penicillin being a more cost effective option. The result of this study is
significant because benzathine penicillin is usually traded off for less cost-effective procaine penicillin in many
cases even when there is no contraindication to the use of benzathine penicillin. Benzathine penicillin injection is
more cost effective than procaine penicillin injection at their usual therapeutic dose in the treatment of early syphilis.
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Keywords
Pharmacoeconomics; Cost effectiveness analysis; Benzathine penicillin; Procaine penicillin, Syphilis, Cost effectiveness analysis;, Benzathine penicillin;, Procaine penicillin,, Syphilis
Citation
A. Giwa, G.K Osagbemi, R.F Atata and H.B.F Giwa (2008): Comparative Pharmacoeconomic Analysis of Benzathine Penicillin and Procaine Penicillin in the treatment of early syphilis in a University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. Journal of Pharmacy and Bioresources, 5(2); 41-46, Published by Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos