Prescribing pattern of antimicrobial agents in pediatrics department of a teaching hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20150385Keywords:
Antibiotics, Pediatrics, Rational use of drugsAbstract
Background: Antibiotics are commonly used in pediatric illness and irrational use of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance. Appropriate studies should be done to frame proper guidelines for the use of antibiotics in pediatric population. The objective of the study was to determine the prescribing pattern of antibiotics and to analyze the rational use of antibiotics in pediatric department.
Methods: An observational prospective study was carried out for a period of 3 months in the Department of Pediatrics. The data were recorded in the specific format, and the result was analyzed by descriptive statistics.
Results: In this study, 347 prescriptions containing antibiotics were analyzed, out of which 54.6% were of male child and 45.4% were of female child. About 40.6% of the patients were in the age group of 1-5 years. A single antibiotic was prescribed in 78% of patients. Respiratory tract infections were the most common disease (68.2%), followed by skin infections (12.3%), gastrointestinal diseases (9.5%), and fever without focus (6.5%). Cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic group (35%).
Conclusion: Irrational use of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance and can worsen the existing disease conditions. So, antibiotics should be prescribed according to the WHO guidelines or other rational strategy, especially in the pediatric age group.
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