European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ASSESSMENT OF DOSING AND ANTIBIOTIC USE PATTERN IN PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN SOUTH INDIA; A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Jayalakshmi P. J.*, Gopika V. Nair, N. K. Muhammad Rashad, A. Raza Basheer and Anilasree B. P.

ABSTRACT

Objective: The overprescription, misuse and irrational use of antibiotics is a worldwide problem causing antibiotic resistance, significant mortality, morbidity and increased healthcare cost. Hence this study has been carried out inorder to assess the antibiotic use pattern and it‟s dosing in pediatric population to reduce irrational usage of antibiotics in pediatrics. Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out assessing 200 patients/ prescriptions; including inpatients, outpatients and community pharmacy prescriptions. Results: A total of 273 antibiotics was found to be prescribed. And 54 patients (27%) required replacement from firstly prescribed antibiotic to produce the intended therapeutic effect; 18 different antibiotics was prescribed and most common individual antibiotic was amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid and cephalosporin were the most commonly used drug category. Clinical conditions encountered was 31, RTI (41.87%) being the most common. Generic name was prescribed for 13.92% of the drugs. The prevalence of antibiotic sensitivity test was 8.51% with 97.06 % total dose appropriateness. Conclusion: Out of total antibiotic prescription, 61% of cases followed standard guidelines. No unwanted effects was noticed or reported in the study population during the study period. These findings may help the healthcare workers to be aware of the trends followed and to promote necessary changes in the algorithms.

Keywords: antibiotics; dosing; pediatrics; prescription; sensitivity.