Antibiotic Prescription Trends Among the Paediatric Population Admitted in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Rawalpindi

Sana Iqbal; Naila Azam; Farooq Ikram; Shizan Hamid Feroz; Abid Khan; Waqas Ranjha

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v73i3.9189

Authors

Sana Iqbal Department of Community Medicine, Armed Forces Post Graduate Medical Institute/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Naila Azam Department of Community, Foundation University Islamabad, Pakistan
Farooq Ikram Department of Paediatric, Combined Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Shizan Hamid Feroz Department of Anaesthesia, Combined Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Abid Khan Department of Anaesthesia, Pak Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Waqas Ranjha Department of Surgery, Armed Forces Institute of Urology/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v73i3.9189

Keywords:

Antimicrobial resistance, Single and combination antibiotic use, Third-generation cephalosporin

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate the antibiotic usage and trends among paediatric patients admitted to the tertiary care hospital of Rawalpindi.

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study.

Place and Duration of Study: Paediatric In-Patient Department of two Tertiary Care Hospitals, in Rawalpindi Pakistan, from May to Dec 2021.

Methodology: After rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria, 395 admitted patients of the paediatric ward were included in the study from two tertiary care hospitals in Rawalpindi through simple random sampling.

Results: A total of 395 patients were included; the mean age was 3.35±4.07 months, ranging from 0 to 45 months. 132(33.4%) patients from Hospital-A and 263(66.6%) from Hospital-B. Out of 395 patients, 35(8.7%) patients were given no Antibiotic, 240(60.8%) were given one antibiotic, 84(21.3%) patients were given two antibiotics, 33(8.3%) patients were given three antibiotics and 3(0.9%) patients were given four antibiotics. Of 360, 340(94.4 %) were given IV antibiotics, and 20(5.6%) were advised oral antibiotics.

Conclusion: The youngest children received the most antibiotic prescriptions, progressively decreasing as they aged. irrational use of antibiotics is a significant risk factor to cause antimicrobial resistance.