ANTIBIOTICS PRESCRIPTION PATTERN AMONG PEDIATRICS AT THE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTRE, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY
OBINNA FELIX DIM1,*, AZUBUIKE AMOS EKWUOFU1, OGOCHUKWU MAXWEL ADIBE1
1. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 15(3): 24-31 ; 2023
ABSTRACT
Pediatrics are more vulnerable to irrational antibiotic prescribing and misuse. Inappropriate use of antibiotics, can increase morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs, and largely antimicrobial resistance. The study aimed to determine antibiotics prescription pattern among pediatrics. Retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out from July-August 2022, using folders and prescriptions of pediatrics (age 1 month to 156 months) diagnosed between January 2020 and May 2022 at the University of Nigeria Medical Centre. About 282 medical folders and prescriptions were analyzed. Majority of patients were males (57.4%) and about 65.6% belongs to age group 1 month to 60 months with mean age of 60.62± 39.06 months. More than half of patients were treated empirically (64.2%). Malaria and URTI were the most common reasons for hospitalization among children which accounted for 27.92% and 12.65% respectively. The most commonly used antibiotic was Amoxycillin-Clavulanic acid 69(25.84%) followed by Azithromycin 38(14.23%). Oral medication was the most commonly prescribed 221(82.77%). Most commonly encountered class of antibiotics was penicillin 96 (35.96%). Majority of the antibiotics administered were broad spectrum antibiotics 186 (77%) without following the guideline for antibiotic use and average cost of drug per prescription was 2896.32±1267.756 Naira. The findings indicate that antibiotics were prescribed irrationally in the study facility. There was an overuse of penicillin and cephalosporins, mostly among younger pediatrics, without lab tests, which could lead to resistance.
Keywords: Antibiotics, Pediatrics, Antibiotic misuse, Prescription pattern
Email of correspondence: obinna.dim@unn.edu.ng;