APPRAISEMENT OF DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN OF ANTIMICROBIALS IN THE GENERAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL – A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL ANALYTICAL STUDY

AIM: To see the appraisement of drug utilization pattern of antimicrobials in the general medicine department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methodology: A prospective observational, analytical study was done on patients admitted in general medicine of Maharaja Institute of Medical Sciences, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India information regarding age, gender, diagnosis, patients present/past medical history, treatment, drug interactions were recorded in a standard questionnaire(case report form). The drug utilization process was evaluated using quality indicators of drug use recommendations by WHO. PDD of drugs and maximally used antimicrobials were analyzed. Results: A total of 250 patients were included after excluding missing data. Out of 250 patients, 123 (49.2%) were male, and 127 (50.8%) were female, 183 (65.12%) was bacterial, 74 (26.33%) were viral, 22 (7.82%) were protozoal, 2 (0.7%) were fungal, and the p-value was 0.0213, cephalosporins were most prescribed antimicrobial (27.72%), and anti-helminthics were least (0.33%), and p-value was found to be 0.0016. Out of 18 UTI cases, 3 were male, and 15 were female, and the p-value was found to be 0.0219, and out of 22 cellulitis cases, 15 were male, and 7 were female, and the calculated p-value was 0.0335. Conclusion: Prescription by generic name, antimicrobials from EDL, rationality, and WHO indicators are encouraging findings. Deviation in the therapy of UTI and Cellulitis, polypharmacy, DI are the areas of concern. There is a need for more such studies, including a larger no. of patients and other departments to encourage patient safety.