NEED OF A STANDARD METRIC FOR QUANTIFYING ANTIBIOTIC USE IN HOSPITALS; A CLINICAL PHARMACIST’S VIEW
N. K. Athira*, Dr. Linu Mohan P. and Khadeejathul Nadisha T.
ABSTRACT
The burden of bacterial infections is huge and grossly under-represented in the current health-care system. Antibiotics are widely used in clinical practice globally and their irrational use could lead to antimicrobial resistance which further can result in increased morbidity, mortality and economic burden. As there is a growing need for quantitative insight into antibiotic consumption in order to improve the rationality of antibiotic use, Drug utilisation studies can act as a powerful tool for the study of prescribing of drugs, as well as to measure the consumption of drugs. The WHO has determined that Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification and Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) system is an international drug classification method, serves as a tool for drug utilization monitoring and research in order to improve the quality of drug use. This review summarizes about the link between antibiotic resistance and antibiotic consumption, thereby the importance of antibiotic consumption data in hospitals and also gives a concise overview of ATC/DDD system and its significance as a standard metric for quantifying antibiotic use in hospitals.
Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, Antibiotic consumption, Drug utilization studies, Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification (ATC), Defined Daily Dose (DDD).
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