Antibiotic Therapy in Pediatric Patients

Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in pediatrics. Because of an overall rise in health care costs, lack of uniformity in drug prescribing and the emergence of antibiotic resistance, monitoring and control of antibiotic use is of growing concern and strict antibiotic policies are warranted. Study focuses with the objective of determining the proportion of pediatric patients receiving antibiotics and to assess the use of antibiotics in pediatric patients (prescription pattern). This was a prospective study for a period of six months (Jan, 2009 to June, 2009). Data were collected by reviewing medical charts of all patients hospitalized for >48 hours. All the patients receiving antibiotics were identified and included in the study. A total of 364 hospitalized children were evaluated; their median age was 42.3 months, and 58.52% were males. Antibiotics were prescribed to 267 of the 364 patients (73.35%). The prevalence was lowest (81.25%) in medical wards, higher (87.5%) in intensive care units and highest (88.83%) in surgical wards. Of the patients treated with antibiotics in surgical wards, 46.67% received the treatment as prophylaxis. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid and the Gentamicin. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are predominantly prescribed.