Appraisal of Antibiotic prescribing profile of patients sent for laboratory investigations in a tertiary hospital, Jos-Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The danger associated with unguided and unmonitored prescribing of antibiotics in health institutions calls for antibiotic policies in order to avoid deviation from the standard recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Institutions that uphold compliance should be highly commended. This study was aimed to evaluate the prescribing pattern of antibiotics in Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH), Jos Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Trend and adherence-check on antibiotics prescriptions in compliance with the WHO and the institutions essential drug lists (IEDL), identification of prevalent infections especially from clients sent to the laboratory for various investigations before prescriptions were reviewed from 620 Hospital cards of the General Out-Patients Department (GOPD). Results: Gender distribution was females 343(55.3%) than males 277 (44.7%), with the majority age range of 25-34 years 227 (36.6%). From a total of 820 (single and multiple requests), stool specimen 257 (31%) was the highest, followed by urine, blood and sputum. Though, the females had higher percentage of request from the GOPD of BHUTH, but with no significant difference between the number of laboratory investigations in relation to gender at p<0.05 (p=0.7022). In addition, the most frequently prescribed class of antibiotics was Quinolones (51.8%). This was followed by Penicillins (21.6%), Sulfonamides (13.5%), Tetracyclins (12.2%) and Cephalosphorins (0.9%) respectively from monotherapy (90.5%) and multiple therapies (9.5%). Also, there is no significant difference between the category of antibiotics prescribed and gender at p<0.05 (p=0.6788) in, BHUTH. The most common indication for antibiotics prescribing was respiratory tract infections (26.3%). Present study indicated significant relationship between gender and common diagnoses to antibiotics prescribing at p<0.05 (p=3.88) in BHUTH. All (100%) prescribed antibiotics were found in both WHO and BHUTH Essential Drug Lists. Conclusion: This study points out good compliance antibiotic prescribing practice with WHO and institutional recommended standards. It further showed that females are prescribed with antibiotics more than their male counterparts. KEY WORD: Antibiotics, prescribing pattern; prevalent infection; Laboratory investigation; EDL adherence;