Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF ANTIBIOTIC IN PAEDIATRICS

Christy T. Chacko*, Niha Fatima and Nisha Jenevia Mathias

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Abstract

Antibiotics are the most regularly prescribed medication in the Paediatric department and are crucial for the treatment of infections. Due to their increased susceptibility to serious bacterial infection children are at higher risk of infection and are frequently administered with antibiotics. The main objective of our study is to assess the prescribing pattern of antibiotics in paediatrics with infections. A prospective observational study which was carried for a period of 6 months among in-patients in the Paediatric department of a tertiary care hospital. Patients of both the sex, under the age of 12 years and atleast taking one antibiotic were included. Demographic details, drugs prescribed, Laboratory investigations were reported. A total of 120 patients were included in the study, out of which 79 were male and 41 were female. 57 % of the patients belonged to the age group of 1 Month – 2 Years. Most of them were diagnosed with Respiratory tract infections. 73% of the prescribed antibiotics were Amoxicillin from the class of Penicillin. 78% of paediatric patients received the combination of Amoxicillin+ Clavulanic acid. For the proper management and effective treatment of the paediatric patient, a culture sensitivity test must be performed. Thus regular studies are needed to determine prescribing pattern of medications in order to enhance the adherence, prevent the risk of resistance, reduce repeated hospital admissions and improve the quality of life.

Keywords: Antibiotics, Culture sensitivity, Resistance, Prescribing pattern.