Patterns of antimicrobial prescribing, utilization, and cost of in patients attending a tertiary care hospital's general medicine ward

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic overuse is of great public health concern.Multiple studies performed globally have demonstrated a strong association between antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance (AMR), at both individual and community levels and they also shown that Antimicrobials are most commonly prescribed medications in acute care settings with 80% of its usedeemed inappropriate. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study was to determine the possible impact of appropriate prescribing of antibiotics in General medicine ward of tertiary health centre on treatment outcomes and costs related to treatment. METHODOLOGY: This retrospective study looked at antimicrobial prescribing data in patients admitted to general medicine.Patients data was retrieved from Medical record section and the records of discharged patients were reviewed. The demographic data, disease related data and utilization of antibiotics were noted in specially designed proforma and analyzed. The documented data evaluated for use, safety outcomes and cost for the treatment associated with the use of antibiotics. RESULTS: Female patients 60.2 %(n=759)aremore hospitalized when compared to males, Average length of stay in hospital was 8 days. Majority of hospitalized patients had HTN & DM as primary comorbidities. The widely prescribed antibiotics among all classes as prophylaxis were third generationcephalosporins in parenteral form.