Abstract

DRUG UTILIZATION STUDY ON PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL, DAVANGERE

Sumanth S.*, Shyno Sunny*, Sheril K. S.* Santosh Uttangi and J. S. Venkatesh

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Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate drug utilization pattern in patients with respiratory tract infections at a tertiary teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out for a period of 6 months among 140 patients in Chigateri District Hospital, Davangere based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and data was collected from patient case sheet, laboratory analysis report and past medical and medication history. Results: A total of 140 patients were enrolled into the study according to the inclusion criteria. Among all RTIs COPD (19.28%) was found to be more prevalent followed by tuberculosis (16.42%). Our study observed that males (71.42%) are more prone to infections than females (28.57%). A total of 906 drugs were found in the prescription of which 198 drugs were antibiotics followed by bronchodilators (8.27%), anti-histamines (4.41%), corticosteroids (7.94%). Among all antibiotics ceftriaxone was found to be 49.49%. Various FDC include piperacillin + tazobactam (31.3%), montelukast + levocetirizine (24.34%), Acebrophylline + acetylcysteine (21.73%). Conclusion: The present study was conducted to analyse rational prescribing of drugs in patients with RTI. Piperacillin + tazobactam was the commonly prescribed combination therapy. As most of the drugs were prescribed by their brand names it is necessary to promote prescribing by generic name. From this study it is concluded that drug utilization studies can provide feedback to physician and promote rational prescribing of drugs enabling better patient care in the management of RTI.

Keywords: Respiratory tract infections, Drug utilization, Antibiotics, Generic drugs, LRTI, URTI, FDC.