Abstract

PRESCRIPTION GUIDELINES OF ANTIBIOTICS IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Tambe Daniel Atem*, Ashish Lamsal and Mahadevamma M. L.

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Abstract

Introduction: Geriatric patients are patients with impaired overall functions. There is not set age, but usually more than 60yrs old with chronic illness, physical impairment or cognitive impairment. Evidence shows high prevalence of in appropriate usage of antibiotics in the special population such as geriatrics, which could lead to increased risk of adverse drug reactions, mortality, morbidity and increase cost of treatment and increase antibiotic resistance. Objectives: To assess the prescription guidelines of antibiotic in geriatric patients in a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: This was a Prospective and Observational study carried out for a period of 06 months at Apollo Multi-Speciality Hospital, Bengaluru. Patients of either sex and above 60years of age admitted into general medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, urology and nephrology departments were included. Selection of patients was based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Out of 290 patients enrolled for the study, 220 (75.9%) are inpatients and 70 (24.1%) are out- patients. 59 (21.3%) patients had polypharmacy in their prescription and 231(79.7%) patients had just one antibiotics. The most prescribed polypharmacy antibiotics were cefotaxime, azithromycin occurred in 28(9.73%) patients. Maximum numbers of patients, 70 patients were diagnosed with asthma and acute febrile illness. Most common ADRs includes; nausea and diarrhoea for cefotaxime, thrombocytosis. Conclusion: Antibiotics usages vary with individuals according to their disease conditions. Health care professionals must understand the usage of antibiotics for specific conditions in elderly patients to minimize the adverse drug reactions, side effects, cost of treatment and other medication errors.

Keywords: Prescription, Prescription Guidelines, Antibiotics, Geriatric Patients.