A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON PRESCRIPTION PATTERN UTILIZATION AND AUDIT OF ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS IN GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL HOSPITALS IN RAJAHMUNDRY

Introduction: Antibiotics are currently the most commonly prescribed drugs in hospitals, worldwide. Healthcare is through both public and private sector facilities. About 80% of the healthcare in India is provided by the private sector, and 93% of hospitals are private. Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate prescription pattern, utilization & audit of antibiotic drugs in governmental and nongovernmental hospitals in Rajahmundry, AP. Methodology: The study design is a prospective observational study. A total of 150 cases related to antibiotic treatment were investigated in Governmental and Non-governmental hospitals in Rajahmundry, AP. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria include Patients who were hospitalized due to infections and were on antibiotic treatment were enrolled in the study, Patients in all age groups of both men and women are included, Patients who are unconscious/mentally retarded and who were suffering with psychiatric diseases are excluded from the study, Pregnant and Lactating women are excluded from the study. The data sources include patient case sheets, prescriptions issued and discharge medication sheet, WHO guidance on essential drugs and by interacting with physicians and patients. Results and Conclusions: The antibiotic usage is higher in Non-governmental hospitals in the departments of General Medicine (47.44%), and Pulmonary (33.33%) when compared to the Governmental hospitals, 43% in General Medicine and 20.8% in pulmonary department. In the department of Trauma the antibiotic usage is more in Governmental hospital (12.5%) than in Non-governmental hospital (3.8%). The antibiotic usage is more in the age group 41-60 years in both Governmental (38.8%) and Non-governmental (43.59%) hospital. A total of 26 Antibiotic drugs are prescribed either alone or in combination in both Governmental and Non-governmental hospitals. Out of 44 WHO essential drugs only 13 drugs (29.5%) are in usage in government as well as non- government hospitals. About 18.7% and 40.9% of antibiotics used respectively in Government and Non-government hospitals are other than WHO suggested drugs. Non Steroidal Anti inflammatory drugs, Antacids and Multivitamins are most frequently prescribed along with antibiotics in about 90-100% prescriptions. It is suggested that the WHO prescribed antibiotic drugs are only to be used in the doses prescribed to avoid possible Drug interactions and Adverse Drug Reactions. Key words: Prospective observational study, Prescription patters, Drug utilization, Prescription audit, Antibiotic drugs