An In-depth Analysis of Antibiotic Prescription Patterns and Resistance Dynamics in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Research Article

Abstract

Antimicrobials, including antibiotics, antifungals, antiprotozoals, and anti-virals, are pharmaceuticals used to treat microbial infections. The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance is a serious public health threat that affects patients, reduces treatment efficacy, and increases healthcare costs. Antimicrobial stewardship programs aim to optimize therapeutic outcomes while minimizing unintended consequences like toxicity, resistance development, and misuse or overuse of antibiotics. They do this by selecting appropriate antimicrobial agents, ensuring prompt and effective treatment of severe infections, and restricting excessive, inappropriate, or improper use. This study evaluated antibiotic prescribing practices over six months at a tertiary hospital, with the goals of preserving antibiotic efficacy for future use, preventing antibiotic resistance, and developing prescribing guidelines aligned with established standards. The study included patients of all genders and age groups. It found that 51% of antibiotic prescriptions were for female patients, with higher prevalence in those aged 31-40 years. The general medicine and ENT departments prescribed the most antibiotics, and overdosing or under dosing were common issues. The study also found that antimicrobial susceptibility testing was only required for 3.333% of cases and antibiotic switches due to resistance occurred in 3.66% of cases. Most cases (161) involved prescribing two antibiotics, highlighting the need for rational use and clinical pharmacists' role in optimizing patient outcomes through antimicrobial stewardship. Rational and judicious antimicrobial use, unintended consequences of misuse, and the value of stewardship programs were some of the themes explored