Evaluation of Inappropriate Antibiotic Use in Pediatric Patients: Point-prevalence Study

Objective: Inappropriate antibiotic use leads to drug side effects, drug resistance and cost problems. This study aimed to analyze the rates and the reasons of antibiotic use and suitability of antibiotics. Material and Methods: On the study day, pediatric patients hospitalized in Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital were evaluated for antibiotic use by using point prevalence study. Results: It was observed that 79% of the 134 pediatric patients hospitalized on the study day received at least one antibiotic. Pulmonary infection was the most common cause of antibiotic use (n=58, 43%). The most commonly used antibiotic was ampicillin-sulbactam (29.9%) and clarithromycin (24.6%). The rate of inappropriate use was 39%. When all inappropriate antibiotic users were evaluated, the most common reason for non-compliance was found as unnecessary multiple antibiotic use (63.25%, n=27), followed by antibiotic use without antibiotic requirement (16%, n=7), use of antibiotics with a spectrum broader than necessary (14%, n=6), use of antibiotics with a spectrum narrower than necessary (4.5%, n=2), and wrong dosage (2%, n=1). All of the patients who received inappropriate antibiotics were treated empirically. Conclusion: It is important to conduct periodic point prevalence studies in order to show possible problems related to antibiotic use.