THE MAGNITUDE OF PRESCRIBED ANTIBIOTICS IN PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN BASRA HOSPITAL FOR MATERNITY AND CHILDREN

Abstract

Introduction: Antimicrobial agents are common employ in paediatric patients. Emergency department make good place for known prescribing pattern of antibiotics with frequent use for disease that interfere in treatment between private pharmacy & hospital. The irrational and overuse of antibiotic in last decades did not follow the international guidelines and infectious strategy which if not controlled or minimize will lead to higher rates of mortality in human societies. The aim was to find the magnitude of antibiotics prescribing in children internal emergency department at Basra hospital for Maternity and Children & showing relationship with misuse of it Methods: The study was performed on 560 paediatrics patients aged (1 month -13 years) that seen in the (Basra Hospital for Maternity and Children) emergency department during 4 months from December 2017 to March 2018. These cases were dividing according to containment antibiotic and several parameters such as patient diagnosis and number of antibiotics prescribed. Results: A total of 61% (n=342) patients were males. The average number of antibiotics per patient was 1.45 Prescription did not contain antibiotics 28.57% (n=160) Prescription contain antibiotics 71.42% (n =400) of all patient from total prescribed. Most cases diagnosis for prescribing antibiotics are (24%) Gastroenteritis (16.25%) bronchiolitis and (11.75%) pneumonia. Conclusion: The dispensing of antibiotics is not following constant or international guidelines which will cause problems like resistance and economic side also. Nearly almost the admitted patients received antibiotics regardless the culture results.