Contextualizing the Relevance of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Drug Prescription and Consumption Pattern of a Tertiary Level Hospital

Abstract

Rampant, irrational and unscientific use of antimicrobials by the healthcare practitioners is adding to the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to evolve and implement new policies, recommence research actions and pursue steps to manage the crisis of antimicrobial resistance, which can be accomplished by a well-designed Antimicrobial Stewardship programme. A prospective observational study aiming to investigate the use of antimicrobials in Intensive Care Units by means of an AMS programme was carried out in a 400 bedded tertiary level hospital in New Delhi with 140 ICU beds. This evidence-based study looksinto the prescription and consumption of antimicrobials, specifically in the ICUs, and attempts to corelate it with the resistance pattern of antimicrobials being used. All the patients being treated with antimicrobials, admitted in the ICUs of the hospital were selected for this descriptive research. Information associated with antimicrobials including the susceptibility pattern of isolates and full dosage regime of each patient from the group was obtained by conducting daily audits for a period of five months. Among the usage of different antimicrobial categories (antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral), the resistance percentage correlation was predominantly focused on theantibacterial. However, the study suggests no conclusive direct or indirect correlation between the usage of an antibacterial (in terms of prescription and consumption) and its resistance, which itself could be a cause of concern for medical practitioners.