Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIBING IN RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Dr. Y. Sravani*, M. Vara Laxmi, V. Pravitha and Y. Bhavani

Abstract

Background: Inappropriate use of antibiotics specifically, the broad spectrum antibiotics in respiratory tract infections results in resistance to antibiotics. The common use of antibiotics is the prime reason for the spread of drug resistant bacterial strains which not only results in costly treatment, but also high rate of morbidity and mortality. Hence, the present study was aimed at evaluating the prescribing pattern of antibiotics, disease conditions for which they were prescribed in the departments of General medicine. Aims and Objectives: The aim of present study is to describe different types of Respiratory tract infections and antibiotics used to treat such infections, to quantify the changes or adjustments made to the initial therapy and to determine appropriateness of antibiotic use, using standardized quality indicators.  To identify commonly used antibiotics prescribed for the treatment of respiratory tract infections and to improve the appropriateness of antibiotic therapy.  To recognize appropriate use of blood cultures, sputum cultures, chest x-ray and other investigations used in respiratory tract infections .  To identify the drug resistance in hospitalized patients. Methodology: A prospective observational study was carried out involving in-patients of respiratory medicine, general medicine, 750 bedded tertiary teaching hospital for six months. The data of two hundered patients were collected for the study in predefined forms from the medical case records and drug charts. The enrolled patients were observed from admission till discharge. Results and Conclusions: The most commonly diagnosed disease among respiratory tract infection in the in-patient department of Respiratory medicine, general medicine was found to be LRTI. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics for LRTI respiratory tract infections were cephalosporin, macrolides, penicillin's. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics for URTI respiratory tract infections were cephalosporins. From this study, it is concluded that cautious and judicious use of antibiotics enables better patient management limiting the resultant morbidity and mortality arising from respiratory tract infections.

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