TRENDS OF ANTIMICROBIAL PRESCRIPTION IN DEPARTMENT OF OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY IN A TERITIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL
Abstract
Background: The principal aim of drug utilization studies is to facilitate the rational use of drugs in populations. The drug utilization studies also relate to the effects of drug use, beneficial or adverse. Inappropriate drug use may also lead to increased effects and patient mortality. The ENT diseases resistant to current antibiotics include chronic middle ear infections, chronic sinus diseases, and recurrent pharyngotonsillitis.
Aim: To assess the drug prescription pattern and utilization trends of antimicrobials in the department of ENT in a tertiary care hospital.
Materials and methods: An observational study was conducted between Jan 2014 –April 2014 at the ENT outpatient department in Vinayaka Missions Medical College Hospital, Salem. All the OPD patients during that period who are treated for Ear, Nose, and Throat infections in the age group 5 – 65 years were included in the study. Totally 265 patients were enrolled in the study group.
Results: Male-female ratio was 162:103. The majority of the study population were in the age group of between 21 – 40 years and the mean age was 32.3 years. Among all the cases ear cases were more common (46%) compared to the nose (27%) and throat (27%) cases. Among the ear diseases, the commonest was CSOM (50.4%) and among the nose diseases, it was sinusitis (63.4%). Tonsillitis (53.9%) and pharyngitis (33.3%) were the commonest throat diseases. For all the ENT infections the commonest antibiotic prescribed was beta-lactams followed by aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. Macrolide antibiotics were used sparingly for treating ENT infections. All the antimicrobials used were given orally and all were treated as monotherapy rather than the combination of drugs.
Conclusion: An antibiotic policy has to be developed for the doctors in treating the infections so that rationality in using the antimicrobials will be developed and the occurrence of antibiotic resistance can be reduced.
Downloads
References
2. Lunde PK, Baksaas I. Epidemiology of drug utilization basic concepts and methodology. Acta. Med. Scand. Suppl. 1988 721: 7-11.
3. Einarson T. Pharmacoepidemiology. In: Parthasarathi G, Hansen KN, Nahata MC, editors. A Textbook of Clinical Pharmacy Practice essential concepts and skills. 1st ed., Hyderabad: Universities Press (India) Limited; 2008 pp. 405-423.
4. Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media: Burden of illness and management options. World Health Organization. Geneva, Switzerland. Monograph. 2004 PP 13 – 22.
5. Laporte JR, Porta M, Capella D. Drug utilization studies: A tool for determining the effectiveness of drug use. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 1983 16: 301-304.
6. Grace NN, Bussmann RW. Traditional management of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) diseases in Central Kenya. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. 2006 2: 54.
7. Anon JB. Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in pediatric medicine: current issues in diagnosis and management.Pediatr Drugs. 2003;5:25–33.
8. Jain N, Lodha R, Kabra SK . Upper respiratory tract infections.Indian J. Pediatr. 2001. 68: 1135-1138.
9. Erwin WG. The Definition of Drug Utilization Review: Statement of Issues. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1991;50(5 Pt 2):596-9.
10. Truter I. A review of drug utilization studies and methodologies. Jordan J Pharmaceutical Sci 2008;1:91-104.
11. Yadav P, Kanase V, Lacchiramka P, Jain S. Drug utilization trends in ENT outpatient department in a teaching hospital. Int J Pharma Bio Sci 2010;1:153-
12. Khan FA. Patterns of prescription of antimicrobial agents in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology in a tertiary care teaching hospital. African J Pharmacy Pharmacol 2011;5:1732-8.
13. Mungrue K, Brown T, Hayes I, Ramroop S, Thurston P, Pinto Pereira L. Drugs in upper respiratory tract infections in paediatric patients in North Trinidad. Pharmacy Practice 2009;7(1):29-33.
14. S. A. Sridevi1, T. Janagan, P. Rathnasamy, R. Rajarajeswari. Drug utilization study in the otorhinolaryngology department in a tertiary care hospital. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology.2013 Vol 2(3) pp 306-310.
15. K.Ramachandra, Narendranath Sanji, H.S. Somashekar, Abhishek Acharya, Keerthi Sagar J, Susheela Somappa Halemani. Trends in prescribing antimicrobials in an ENT outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital for upper respiratory tract infections. International Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical Sciences. 2012 Vol 1 (1) . pp 16-19
