A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN IN SURGERY DEPARTMENT IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN RAJASTHAN

Background: Antibiotics play a very crucial role in prevention of postoperative complications. Rational drug prescribing should be done to prevent drug – drug interactions. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the pattern of antibiotic usage amongst the patients attending the surgery OPD (Out Patient Department) in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: It is a cross sectional, prospective study in which prescriptions of 100 patients attending the surgery OPD were included. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and values were presented descriptively in percentiles. Results: Out of 100 patients, 69 were male patients and 31were female patients. Most of the patients were in the age group of 31-40 years. Commonest diagnosis was renal stones (36%). Most common antimicrobial administered was Fluoroquinolones (56%). The average number of drugs per prescription in our study was 4.78. Out of 478 drugs prescribed, 56% drugs were prescribed by generic names and drugs prescribed by their brand names were 44%. Drugs on WHO EML were 57% while that of NLEM 2011 were 62%. Dosage forms used as injectable were 49%. Fixed dose combinations were prescribed in 34% prescriptions. Conclusion: We have attempted to highlight the current pattern of prescribing antimicrobials and to promote rational prescribing. Precise knowledge of prescribing the drugs rationally, polypharmacy, essential medicine list and drug-drug