Antibiotics prescribing pattern for respiratory tract infections: findings from a secondary healthcare facility in Abuja

Abstract

Rational use of medicines is a concept developed to facilitate the provision of safe medicines and quality healthcare. Key elements include rational prescribing, dispensing and use of medicines. Understanding prescribing patterns is therefore critical in preventing irrational practices. This is particularly important in commonly encountered conditions, such as respiratory tract infections (RTIs), especially with antibiotics, a class of medicines with significant potential for inappropriate use. This study aimed at understanding how antibiotics are prescribed for RTIs and how they compare with international guidelines such as WHO indicators, CDC guidelines and the Essential Medicines List (EML).