Cost comparison of single daily i.v. doses of ceftriaxone versus continuous infusion of cefotaxime

The costs of administering ceftriaxone 1 g in a once-daily 30-minute infusion were compared with the costs of administering cefotaxime 2 g/day (with an additional 1 g given on day 1) by continuous intravenous infusion. Time and motion studies were conducted to determine the pharmacy and nursing labor required to prepare and administer the intermittent and continuously infused antimicrobials. Mean times were multiplied by the mean New England hourly wage for pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, and nurses to determine the total labor costs of each regimen. Hospital acquisition costs of items used in preparing antimicrobial doses for administration by each method were also compared. Wholesale acquisition costs of the two drugs were used in the analysis. Labor costs were higher for the continuously infused antimicrobial because of the additional nursing time required for monitoring. Supply costs were greater for continuous infusion. Drug acquisition cost was the major component of the overall cost of therapy and was lower for continuous infusion. A cost analysis showed that continuous i.v. infusion of cefotaxime 2 g/day was less expensive from day 2 onward than intermittent daily i.v. doses of ceftriaxone 1 g.