Antibiotic prescribing pattern in elderly acute diarrhoeal patients

Abstract

Objective: The study was aimed to analyze the Antibiotic prescribing pattern in elderly acute diarrhoeal patients. Material & Methods: The study was conducted in outpatients of various public facilities (S.N. Medical College, Agra, CHC and PHC) and private facilities (private hospital/clinics) within 5 Km range from S.N. Medical College, Agra, from March' 2011 to Aug' 2011. A total of 182 prescriptions of outpatients >60years presenting with acute diarrhoea were reviewed. A specially designed data entry form was used to collect data. Antibiotic use was measured in the terms of Percent of patients receiving antibiotics and Prescribing patterns of various antibiotics were analyzed. Results: Total 182 Number (97 from Public facilities + 85 from Private facilities) of Prescriptions collected from both type of facilities out of which 127 Number (53 from Public facilities + 74 from Private facilities) Of Prescriptions received at least one antibiotic. Overall from both public and private facilities 69.78% (127 out of total 182) of the patients with acute diarrhoea were prescribed at least one antibiotic. 54.63% (53 out of 97) of the patients at public facilities and 87.05% (74 out of 85) at private facilities were prescribed at least one antibiotic. In public sector facilities, Fluroquinolones 23(23.71%) were the most prescribed antibiotic class, followed by the FDCs 21 (21.64%), Macrolides 08(8.24%), Tetracyclines 01(1.03%), while in private facilities FDCs 59(69.41%) were the most prescribed antibiotic class, followed by the Fluroquinolones 06(7.05%), Macrolides 04(4.7%), Cephalosporins 03(3.52%), Tetracyclines 01(1.05%) and Penicillin’s 01(1.05%). Conclusion: From our study it was observed that antibiotics are being extensively prescribed for elderly acute diarrhoeal patients. There was high use of newer Antibiotics. Further studies are needed to rationalize such high uses of antibiotics in elderly acute diarrhoeal patients.