Abstract

DRUG UTILIZATION EVALUATION OF ANTIBIOTICS USED IN INPATIENTS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN TELANGANA STATE

Dr. Chavva Bala Sneha (PharmD)*

Abstract

Introduction: Antibiotics are a boon to mankind, which saves a person from dreadful infections. They are the most frequently used drugs with the highest probability of developing resistance. The prevalence of antibiotic use is very high in India and ranges from 24 to 67%. Being the country with highest burden of infectious diseases, India has highest rate of antibiotic prescriptions which leads to their irrational and indiscriminate use, resulting in rapid increase of antibiotic resistance. Hence, it is very important to follow the optimal usage and to perform Drug Utilization Reviews to prevent resistance and cost burden of antibiotics. Methodology: This is a prospective study with 514 samples, carried out for 6 months. The data was collected in a specially designed form which contains details like indication for treatment, dose, duration of therapy, dose interval etc., and is entered in MS Excel sheets, followed by the analysis. Results: Males were predominant in the study with 65.36% and male to female ratio is 2.3: 1.7. 21-60 years of age group were the population that were mostly prescribed antibiotics. Ceftriaxone, a third-generation cephalosporin was the commonest antibiotic prescribed. The average number of drugs per prescription was 3.59%. Conclusion: The prescribing patterns of antibiotics by physicians with standard regimens can decrease the drug resistance and financial burden on the patients. Clinical Pharmacists who serve as bridge between physicians and nurses can strive for the betterment of rational prescription of antibiotics.

Keywords: DUE, Antibiotics, Clinical Pharmacist, Cephalosporins and Penicillins.