ANALYSIS OF THE PRESCRIBING PATTERNS OF ANTIBIOTICS IN RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS AT DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

A respiratory tract infection (RTI) is defined as any infectious disease of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Acute respiratory tract infection accounts for 12-35% of the in patients attendance in general hospital.  A six months hospital based prospective observational study was carried out in the department of medicine at BTGH, Gulbarga. The aim of the study was to analyse the prescribing patterns of antibiotic in respiratory tract infection at medicine department. The study result showed that out of 90 patients, more prevalent LRTI were 86(95.5%), URTI were 4(4.5%) The COPD, pneumonia, asthma were more prominent among LRTIs, whereas pharyngitis and tonsillitis are prominent among URTIs. Results showed that for 90 patients 107 antibiotics were prescribed, most widely used antibiotics were penicillins + betalactams (38.31%).  In our study the prescribers are relying upon higher antibiotics, this practise may lead to the antibioic resistance and other complications of antibiotic resistance. Prescription analysis shows the way towards rational use of drugs. Irrational drug use could also lead to ineffective and unsafe treatment and exacerbation and prolongation of illness, distress and harm to the patients. Hence prescription audit is necessary and the Clinical Pharmacist interventional programs should focus on promoting infectious control with rational antibiotic prescription aimed at minimizing the future emergence of bacterial resistance. To overcome the irrational use of antibiotic, the study suggests the need of antibiotic prescribing guidelines for respiratory tract infections at the study site.