Initial Antibiotic Prescribing Pattern Amongst Physicians, for Patients of Pneumonia, at Medical Wards and Intensive Care Units - An Observational Study from India

Divya M Radhakrishnan

Volume : VII, Issue : III, March - 2018

Initial Antibiotic Prescribing Pattern Amongst Physicians, for Patients of Pneumonia, at Medical Wards and Intensive Care Units - An Observational Study from India

Divya M Radhakrishnan

Abstract :

Introduction: The growing body of evidence shows a strong linkage between inappropriate antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance.

Objective: To analyze the initial antibiotic prescribing pattern among physicians for pneumonia (community and hospital acquired) at medical wards and ICU of a tertiary care institute in northern India.

Methods: The initial antibiotic regimen is defined as the antibiotics prescribed during the first day of therapy. The prescription was considered appropriate if antibiotics were prescribed in correct dose and duration, considering the patient types, local microbiology data, and sensitivity profile or if it was showing adherence to the Institute’s antibiotic protocol. One hundred and twelve prescription were analyzed, one from each patients with pneumonia over a period of 12 months.

Results: Majority of prescriptions (87.5%) contained combination antibiotics. Cefaperazone–Sulbactum was the commonest combination antibiotic prescribed, in 33.93% prescriptions either alone or with other group of drugs. The next most commonly prescribed antibiotics were Azithromycin (33.04%), followed by levofloxacin and Amoxicillin–Clavalunic acid (32.14%). Fifty–three (47.32%) initial prescriptions were found appropriate as per definition used in this study.

Conclusion: Present study concludes that irrational antibiotic prescribing patterns is still prevalent in developing countries like India and needs to be addressed.