USE PATTERN OF ANTIBIOTICS IN PEDIATRICS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

Olodiama Providencia Chichi, *Owonaro A. Peter, Eniojukan F. Joshua and Iyele Kamenebali

ABSTRACT

Antibiotics are one of the widely utilized drugs in pediatrics. The evaluation of antibiotic utilization among admitted pediatric patients is an important step required to design policies for stewardship programs regarding rational antibiotic use. The study aimed to evaluate the drug utilization pattern of antibiotics prescribed to pediatric inpatients at a tertiary care hospital. A retrospective analysis of patients admitted into the Paediatric wards over a period of 3 years, who received antibiotics during admission. Medical folders of 300 patients were selected by systematic random sampling and included in this study. A proforma was used for data collection, information retrieved from patients' records included Demographic Data, Culture, and Sensitivity patterns, Clinical Information, Duration of Hospital Stay, Outcome, type, Class, and Route of administration of antibiotics. Field data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 27 and Microsoft Excel (Version 2023). Out of the 300 patients included in this study, information was complete and obtained from 294 medical folders. 101(34.4%) were between 29 days to one year, 169(57.5%) were between 1-12years and 24(8.2%) were between 12-15years. More patients between the ages of 1-12 years were admitted with bacterial infections. Out of the 294 patients studied, 163 (55.4%) were males and 131(44.6%) were females. 73(24.83%) were treated for sepsis, 54(18.37%) bronchopneumonia, 45(15.31%) meningitis. The remaining patients had other conditions such as urinary tract infection, upper respiratory tract infection, and gastroenteritis. Culture and sensitivity test was done in only 17.3% of cases. Most of the antibiotic prescriptions were based on clinical diagnosis, not on culture and sensitivity information. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic class was third-generation cephalosporins 219(33.85%). The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were gentamicin 160(54.42%) and ceftriaxone 120(40.82%). In the present study, 91.75% of antibiotics were administered by the parenteral route and 8.25% by oral route. 70.71% of antibiotics were prescribed by branded names. No adverse reaction was recorded. Following antibiotics use, the shortest duration of hospital stay was observed in 75.15% of patients. The study revealed the use pattern of antibiotics in pediatrics. It was recommended that pediatric antibiotic stewardship programs be implemented to promote the rational use of antibiotics. Regular training and continuing education on antibiotic use and stewardship should be carried out for healthcare professionals.

Keywords:

SAntibiotics Organisms Pediatrics Inpatient.

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