Assessment of prescription pattern and monitoring adverse drug reaction of antibiotics in paediatric inpatients

Background: Antibiotics constitute more than one third of prescriptions in paediatrics. Antibiotic prescribing pattern should be evaluated periodically in order to increase the rationality of use. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics results in increased occurrence of adverse drug reactions, suboptimal therapy, polypharmacy and antibiotic resistance. Hence, the present study is to assess the prescription pattern and the extent of adverse drug reactions due to antibiotic usage. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in Basaveshwara Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India for a period of six months. This study included patients prescribed with antibiotics in paediatric ward. All data including patient’s demographic details, symptoms and treatment pattern were collected and documented in data collection form. Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) were reported by using an ADR reporting form. ADR were assessed using Naranjo’s scale. Results: Among the 160 patients 54% patients were males, 45% patients were under the age group 1-5 years. 50% of the diagnosis was acute gastroenteritis and bronchopneumonia. 80% of total antibiotics prescribed were cephalosporins which include 99% of ceftriaxone. A total of 14 ADRs were observed in the study. The occurrence of probable ADR was 6% and possible ADR was 3%. 79% of ADR caused gastro intestinal disturbances while 14% caused dermatological disorders and 7% caused other disorders. Conclusions: Although some ADR was present in the study, the antibiotic prescription in the patients who acutely needed was prescribed appropriately, where it proved to be beneficial.