Abstract

PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF ANTIBIOTICS AND GUIDELINE ADHERENCE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

Dr. Dona Maria Jose*, Dr. Suramya Raju, Dr. Apsara G. Krishnan, Meppil Baby and Dr. Beena P.

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Abstract

Infection was a major cause of morbidity and mortality, prior to the development of Antibiotics. Antibiotics have played a vital role in achieving major advances in medicine and surgery. Infectious diseases pose a major challenge in the elderly for two reasons:1.) On the one hand the susceptibility to infection increases with age and when infections occur they often present atypically. 2.) On the other hand diagnostic uncertainty is much more pronounced in the geriatric population. Antibiotics were one of the most prescribed drugs in the world. The aim of the study was to evaluate prescription pattern of antibiotics and guideline adherence in elderly patients. A total of 140 patients case records satisfying the inclusion criteria were analysed over a period of six months to determine the antibiotic adherence using ICMR guideline. Case records were prospectively reviewed for demographic details, laboratory data, management and outcomes. During the study period 140 prescriptions were screened. Evaluation of antibiotic adherence to guideline shows that, 81.56% of the prescriptions were prescribed according to the guideline. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were Piperacillin & Tazobactam (20.9%), Followed by Faropenam (9.01%), Cefixime (8.19%). The antibiotics which are not prescribed according to the guideline were found to be Meropenem (15.55%), Followed by Faropenem (13.33%), Imipenem (11.11%) and Cefepime (11.11%). Non-adherence to antibiotics has a considerable impact on treatment outcome. It may result in microbial resistance, which reduces the future usefulness of antibiotics and increases health-care burdens, medical expenditures. This study also highlighted the importance of prescription of antibiotics according to the guidelines.

Keywords: Antibiotics, Elderly Patients, ICMR Guideline.