A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF ANTIBIOTICS USING WHO INDICATORS IN PATIENTS WITH URINARY TRACT INFECTION

Abhirami B. Pillai*, Merrin Kurian, Nithin Manohar R., Sarojiniamma C. S., Neethi Shaju and Santhosh M. Mathews

ABSTRACT

UTI is an infection of the urinary tract which is commonly seen in females. Most of the infections are caused by bacteria and antibiotics are the drugs of choice. There are several other study literatures related to urinary tract infection. Most of the studies are mere epidemiological surveys and focus on the distribution pattern of UTI. The role of pharmacist and assessment of antibiotic prescribing pattern is limited. Our study focuses on evaluating the prescribion pattern of antibiotics. A prospective observational study was conducted in the department of General Medicine on 70 UTI patients prescribed with antibiotics. WHO prescribing indicators were used to assess the prescribing pattern of antibiotics. Study concluded that the prescribing pattern of antibiotics and rationality in prescribing is fairly appropriate and still need to be improved. Unnecessary polypharmacy needs to be avoided, prescribing by generic name need to be promoted and number of injections per prescription need to be reduced. It is hoped that the objectives of the study are met and will result in a better usage of antibiotics for UTI with lesser incidence of antibiotic resistanc.

Keywords: UTI, Antibiotics, Prescribing pattern, Rationality in antibiotics, WHO prescribing indicators, Antibiotic resistance.