Publication:

Prescription pattern of antibiotics in paediatric inpatients at a tertiary care hospital in North East India

Background Paediatric antibiotic prescription is a major concern in terms of public health since infections are the most frequent cause of childhood disease. The aim of this hospital-based cross sectional study was to assess the pattern of antibiotic use in the paediatric ward of RIMS hospital, Manipur, India.

Methods A retrospective study of six months duration was carried out for the month of October 2016 to March 2017. A total number of 200 patients case sheets were utilized for our study from paediatric in-patients department of RIMS hospital, Manipur. The data collected was then analysed for various prescribing indicators as laid down by world health organisation (WHO) for analysis of drug use parameters.

Results The mean age of paediatric patient was 2.1 years. The average number of drugs per encounter was 5.14. The average number of antibiotic per patient was 2.11. In present study antibiotic were 41% of total drugs prescribed. Most common prevalence of disease among study patients sample was acute gastroenteritis. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic was Ceftriaxone followed by Amikacin. In present study 8.2% of antibiotics were prescribed in generic name. Polypharmacy was evident from the study.

Conclusions Antibiotic prescribing in children is relatively high in RIMS, Imphal, Manipur. Prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics though has increased demonstrably which   h may result in development of bacterial resistance; however, development of guidelines for antibiotic prescription and use of appropriate drugs for the disease can result in minimizing the unfavourable use of antibiotics in children.