ANALYSIS OF ANTIMICROBIAL USAGE PATTERN: A RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Objective: Antimicrobials have become one of the most misused therapeutic agents resulting in resistance. Present study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial drug utilization pattern. Method: A retrospective, observational record based study was done in hospitalized patients from medicine and surgery department of tertiary care hospital of central India over a period of one year. Result: Among 385 patients, 53.25% were females and 26.75% were in 41 – 50 years age group. Amongst 775 antimicrobials prescribed, 75% were injectables. Average number of antimicrobials per prescription was 2.01 ± 0.6. Use of antimicrobial monotherapy (39.74%) was common and 25.71% had more than two antimicrobials. About 33.16% drugs were prescribed by generic names and FDCs were prescribed in 37.14%. Culture and sensitivity tests were done in 35.6% cases. Cephalosporins (65.19%) were the most preferred antimicrobials followed by penicillins, aminoglycosides and antiamoebics. Ceftriaxone, amikacin and metronidazole were the most commonly prescribed antimicrobials. Prescribed daily dose (PDD) was greater than defined daily dose (DDD) for ceftriaxone, amikacin, amoxicillin, metronidazole and levofloxacin indicating their wide usage. Conclusion: Antimicrobials’ prescribing in our hospital is empirical; there is a need for strict antibiotic prescription policy. Generic drug prescribing should be encouraged. Such type of studies should be carried out regularly to evaluate the changes in the pattern and its rationality.