Pharma Ethics, My Foot!

For over 30 years, I have worked with pharma companies on promoting their developing and launched antibiotics. Since 1977, I have heard the same mantra from hospital pharmacists, " We can't use expensive new drugs ! We will blow apart our budgets!" A recent article in the Wall Street Journal discussed, hospital acquired infection rates and the inherent costs associated with patients who are admitted into a hospital for a procedure and then if they catch an infection emanating from the hospital (from central lines, ventilators, post op surgery, etc) the cost of therapy goes from an average of $31,389 to an astounding $185,260 ! It is the opinion today with proper education and techniques, these infection rates can be cut down in frequency...None of these costs have anything to do with the type and cost of antibiotics initially. Epidemiology associated with these infections and surveillance of these rates will help to cut down on the huge expense of treating these patients.