Abstract

DOSE RELATED PROBLEMS IN PRESCRIBING ANTIBIOTICS IN KHARTOUM PEDIATRIC HOSPITALS

Mawahib A. El Mustafa, Nuha M. Agbna and Sania A. Shaddad*

Abstract

Antibiotics are one of the most commonly used groups of drugs in pediatric patients. Prescribing correct doses for children is a problem worldwide. This work investigates prescribing in two public health pediatric hospitals. 385 medical records were reviewed, it was found that the majority of patients prescription contained an antibiotic (92%); higher than any rate in the region. When doses were calculated according to the body surface area 39% of the prescriptions were found with wrong doses, of these (57%) contained higher doses and (42%) were lesser than recommended. Most of antibiotics were administered intravenous either bolus or infusion. Third generation cephalosporins and benzyl penicillin were the commonly prescribed antibiotics. Moreover, gentamycin was prescribed in high dosing frequency.

Keywords: incorrect doses, children, antibiotics.