Abstract

PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF ANTIBIOTICS AMONG PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Drug utilization in children has not been researched as in adults. Drug utilization studies play a vital role in helping our health care system to understand and improve the prescribing, administration, and rational use of medications. The aim of the study is to the prescribing pattern of antibiotics among paediatric patients in a tertiary care hospital. A prospective observational drug utilization study was conducted in Pediatric IPD & OPD at Karuna Medical College, Vilayodi, Chittur for a period of 6 months. The study is based on data collected from 150 patients visited the pediatric department. In a total of 150 patients males(61%) were higher than females (39%). Most patients belonged to the age group of 1-12 years (53.3%). Among the prescriptions analysed most patients received single antibiotics (monotherapy) (66%).Antibiotic class (222) were most commonly prescribed followed by antipyretics(98), bronchodilators(55).The most common antibiotic prescribed belonged to the class of Cephalosporins(47.2%) followed by beta lactams (26.7%) The most commonly prescribed antibiotic was found to be Amoxicillin-clavulanicacid(24.4%) followed by ceftriaxone(21%).The average number of antibiotics prescribed is 1.46±0.74. Drug utilization studies help to improvise the prescribing pattern of a hospital setup. Appropriate and rational use of antibiotics is necessary as irrationality leads to antibiotic resistance. Our study results shows that cephalosporins are the most commonly prescribed class of antibiotic while amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is most commonly prescribed drug