BACKGROUND:No surveys of stress ulcer prophylaxis prescribing in the USA havebeen conducted since 1995. Since that time, the most comprehensive meta-analysisand largest randomized study to date concerning stress ulcer prophylaxis havebeen published.RESULTS:Three hundred sixty-eight surveys were sent to all members of theSection of Pharmacy and Pharmacology of the Society of Critical Care Medicine.One hundred fifty-three (42%) surveys were returned. Representatives from 86%of institutions stated that medications for stress ulcer prophylaxis are usedin a majority (>90%) of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).Twenty-two per cent of institutions have recommendations for both ICU andnon-ICU settings. Fifty-eight per cent of institutions stated that there wasone preferred medication for stress ulcer prophylaxis, and in 77% of thesehistamine-2-antagonists were the most popular.CONCLUSIONS:There are wide variations in prescribing practices for stressulcer prophylaxis. Institutions should consult published literature and usepre-existing guidelines as templates for developing their own guidelines.