European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

STUDY ON THE PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF BETA-LACTAM ANTIBIOTICS AND DRUG RELATED PROBLEMS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Manvi Gulati*, Arpita Dey, Subin Kumar S., Madisa Pale, Nayana P. Kunderi, Dr. E. Satheesh Kumar, Dr. Narayana Swamy V. B. and Dr. Smita

ABSTRACT

Background: To conduct a study on the prescribing pattern of beta-lactam antibiotics and drug related problems in
a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: After obtaining approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee, a crosssectional
study was carried out in 300 patients in a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore. The data was collected from
the patient case profile and prescriptions and noted. The statistical analysis of the collected data was performed
using SPSS software and Excel. Result: In study of 300 patients majority of patients belonged to the age group
between 49-60. In the study population 191 were male patients (63.7%) while females were 109 (36.3 %). The
number of drugs per prescription was found to be 9 in majority (50). The total number of drugs prescribed for 300
patients was 2654. Out of which 457 were beta lactam antibiotics prescribed to the patients with a percentage of
17.2%. The average antibiotic per prescription was found to be 1.52. The beta- lactam antibiotics were prescribed
as monotherapy, two-drug therapy, three- drug therapy and four- drug therapy. The most frequently prescribed
beta-lactum antibiotics in the study was ceftriaxone followed by piperacillin, tazobactam and cefixime.
Conclusion: In the study population of 300 patients reveals that 41.3% of the sample, belonged to the 49-60 age
group. Ceftriaxone is the most prescribed antibiotic. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized care
and vigilant prescription practices, assessing the prescribing pattern in accordance with the WHO essential list of
medicines particularly in the 49-60 age group, and underscore the need for continuous pharmacovigilance for
patient safety and treatment efficacy.

Keywords: Beta-lactam antibiotics, prescribing pattern, WHO essential drug list, Drug- related problems.