Assessment of Antibiotics Utilization Pattern in Surgery Department in Rural Tertiary Care South Indian Hospital: A Prospective Study

Antibiotics are most widely prescribed drugs in today's scenario due to the increasing rate of infections. Irrational antibiotic prescriptions often lead to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Hence the present study was carried out in the rural hospital surgery department with the objective to know the drug utilization pattern & its cost in surgery department. A prospective and observational study was carried out in 207 patients from October 2014 to March 2015. Relevant information was obtained from the interview as well the treatment chart of patients, by using a case report form. The present study showed that most of the patients were females (72.94%).Annong these patients most were belonging 59-68 years (23.1%), in which majority was farmers (59.4%).The diagnosis of patients showed Hernia (21.7%), Appendicitis (14.5%) in which surgery was done for 70.7%. 96.1% of treated patients outcome showed improvement and 26% patients had drug-drug interactions, in which 20.7% observed was Id. Only 3.8% of underwent with culture sensitivity test with blood and peritoneal fluid. Cephalosporin's (63, and Nitro imidazole (53.1%) were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics. The antibiotic consumptions were calculated using DDD(defined daily dose), Metronidazole was the most utilized antibiotic followed by Ceftriaxone. Cost of pre-operative antibiotic was found to be Rs 133.6 193.20, in which most of the cost were due to ceftriaxoneRs4795/-followed by MetronidazoleRs1735/-. The post-operative antibiotic cost was found to be Rs 763.94 +/- 763.59 in which most of the cost were due to ceftriaxone + sulbactum Rs122597/- followed by metronidazole Rs.13252/-. This study clearly showed that prescribing pattern of drugs antibiotics needs to be continuously evaluated in the surgery department in order to promote more rational prescribing and to decrease morbidity cost of therapy to the patient.