Prevalence of ‘unused’ antibiotics at homes in a central Indian district

Abstract

Introduction: Irrational use including non-compliance with prescribed antibiotics is most crucial determinants for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of ‘unused’ antibiotics among households. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2400 households of District Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the study results. Results: The prevalence of unused antibiotics among surveyed households was 17.9%. Most common age group for which unused antibiotics were initially prescribed was 0-5 year of age. The major source of unused antibiotics was a public hospital (59.9%), followed by self-medication (29.6%). A total of 1,470 tablets/capsules of antibiotics were found lying unused in the surveyed homes. Conclusion: Non-compliance with prescribed medicines and self-medication of antibiotics is a troublesome problem. More sophisticated research is needed to evaluate factors involved in the irrational use of antibiotics. Keyword: Antibiotics, Homes, India, Unused.