Tracking Antibiotic Administration and Side Antibiotic Effects among Inpatient Medical Jordanian Children Patients

Background: Antibiotics are commonly administered in hospitals. Infections are a major factor of morbidity and mortality in a big percentage of hospital admissions in children. Aim: To assess the antibiotics administration frequency and side antibiotic effects in medical inpatient Jordanian children patients. Methods :This prospective and double blind investigation included 257 medical children inpatients, of both sexes, aged 4 months-11 years, administered antibiotics and admitted to Prince Hashim military hospital, Zarqa, Jordan, during the period Jan 2016-Apr 2018. Period of hospital admission and antibiotics administered in hospital including dosing, indications and side antibiotic effects were recorded. Participants were followed up until discharge, admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit or death. The data were analyzed for numerical parameters, skewed parameters and categorical parameters. Results: The incidence of antibiotic administration was 81.7% (210). Most of the 210 children who were administered antibiotics were males (59.5%) and came from rural and low socioeconomic origin. Mean age was 4 years. Four children died (1.9%), 32 were transferred out (15.2%) and the remaining (174) were discharged (82.9%). Two (38.1%) or one antibiotic (33.3%) was used. Mean number of antibiotics per patient was 2.0 ± 1; most of antibiotics (76.2%) were administered by parenteral route. Prescriptions were commonly ordered in generic name. The mean antibiotic therapy period was 10 days. 75 % of four side antibiotic effects were skin rashes. Conclusions: Antibiotics administered empirically may be satisfactory. Side antibiotic effects are often and commonly mild