European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

STUDY OF DRUG PATTERN AND THEIR REGIME COMPOSITION IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Dr. Jigar Katwala, Dr. Aksha Memon, Dr. Manisha Arora*, Dr. Ankesh Barnwal, Dr. Shivani Sharma,
Dr. Akash N. Patel, Dr. Sudeep Kumar

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Neonates are special population. There may be major differences in the responses to drug in neonates, infant and children in comparison with adults. The aim of the present study was to investigate drug usage and their regime in the neonatal intensive care unit. Material and Methods: The present study was carried out in Alka neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Department of pediatrics, Sheth V.S. General Hospital, Ahmadabad, India. The present study was conducted on 217 patients from September 2007 to February 2008. Results: Out of 217 patients, 69% were males and 31% were females. In this study, 43% of patients were preterm, 57% were full term. A total of 183 (84%) patients were admitted in early neonatal period. Out of 183 neonates, 134(73.2%) were admitted within first 24 hours after birth, majority 96(64.4%) were male and 72(76.5%) were preterm babies. The most frequently prescribed anti-infective systemic drugs were combination drug ampicillin and sulbactam(74.5%) followed by amikacin (70%), cefoperazone and sulbactam combination (20%), ciprofloxacin (18.5%), gentamicin (16.5%), levofloxacin (12%),cefoperazone(9.5%) and cefotaxime (7%). Conclusion: This study tells about morbidity pattern and its relation to gender, birth weight, and hospitalization and prescription items in neonatal ward. This study showed that premature birth and low birth weight were the main reasons for drug prescription.

Keywords: Neonates, NICU, Premature Birth.