Objective:
No studies were carried out in Palestine to investigate the prescribed
antimicrobial agents in hospitalized pediatric patients. The objective
of this study was to evaluate and therapeutically analyze the pattern of
parenteral antimicrobial prescriptions among pediatric patients in
Al-Watani Government Hospital in Palestine. Such audit will be of great
value to clinicians and health policy makers.
Material and Methods: Data
on antimicrobial prescribing were collected for 30 consecutive days for
all pediatric patients admitted to Al-Watani government hospital. Data
on antimicrobial prescribing were entered and analyzed using Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program. Analysis was done for age,
sex, diagnosis, site of infection, number of antimicrobial agents given,
how many times the drug regimen has been changed and the frequency of
individual drug use.
Results: Three hundred and forty pediatric patients
were admitted to Al-Watani government hospital during the study period.
Gastroenteritis was the most common cause of hospitalization, while
upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) was the most common cause of
parenteral antimicrobial agent administration. Two hundred and ten
(61.8%) patients received parenteral antimicrobial agents while 16
(4.7%) received both parenteral and oral antimicrobial agents. Single
antimicrobial agent was prescribed for (50.6%) patients. Cefuroxime was
the main single antimicrobial agent used; it was administered to 70/226
(31%) patients. Conclusion: Treatment patterns used for most patients
were nearly according to current empiric therapeutic recommendations.
However, improving the availability of rapid diagnostic methods to
differentiate between viral and bacterial infections is suggested to
reduce empiric therapy numbers by antimicrobial agents so as to decrease
chance for drug resistance.
Objectives: The objectives of this study were 1) to obtain
information regarding the prescribing pattern of nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the primary care setting at a
Malaysian university, 2) to determine the prevalence and types of
potential NSAID prescriptionrelated problems (PRPs), and 3) to identify
patient characteristics associated with exposure to these potential
PRPs.
Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 1 academic
year using the electronic medical records of patients in the University
Sains Malaysia (USM) primary care system. The defined daily dose (DDD)
methodology and the anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) drug
classification system were used in the analysis and comparison of the
data. Statements representing potential NSAID PRPs were developed from
authoritative drug information sources. Then, algorithms were developed
to screen the databases for these potential PRPs. Descriptive and
comparative statistics were used to characterize DRPs. Results:
During the study period, 12,470 NSAID prescriptions were prescribed for
6,509 patients (mean ± SD = 1.92 ± 1.83). This represented a prevalence
of 35,944 per 100,000 patients, or 36%. Based on their DDDs, mefenamic
acid and diclofenac were the most prescribed NSAIDs. 573 potential
NSAID-related PRPs were observed in a cohort of 432 patients,
representing a prevalence of 6,640 per 100,000 NSAIDs users, or 6.6% of
all NSAID users. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that
patients with a Malay ethnic background (p < 0.001), members of the
staff (p < 0.001), having 4 or more prescribers (p < 0.001) or
having 2 – 3 prescribers (p = 0.02), and representing 4 or more
long-term therapeutic groups (LTTGs) (p < 0.001) or 2 – 3 LTTGs (p
< 0.001) were significantly associated with an increased chance of
exposure to potential NSAIDrelated PRPs.
Conclusions: This is the
first study in Malaysia that presents data on the prescribing pattern
of NSAIDs and the characteristics of potential NSAID-related PRPs. The
prevalence of potential NSAID-related PRPs is frequent in the primary
care setting. Exposure to these PRPs is associated with specific
sociodemographic and health status factors. These results should help to
raise the awareness of clinicians and patients about serious NSAID
PRPs
No studies were carried out in Palestine to investigate the prescribed antimicrobial agents in hospitalized pediatric patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate and therapeutically analyze the pattern of parenteral antimicrobial prescriptions among pediatric patients in Al-Watani Government Hospital in Palestine. Such audit will be of great value to clinicians and health policy makers.
Material and Methods: Data on antimicrobial prescribing were collected for 30 consecutive days for all pediatric patients admitted to Al-Watani government hospital. Data on antimicrobial prescribing were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program. Analysis was done for age, sex, diagnosis, site of infection, number of antimicrobial agents given, how many times the drug regimen has been changed and the frequency of individual drug use.
Results: Three hundred and forty pediatric patients were admitted to Al-Watani government hospital during the study period. Gastroenteritis was the most common cause of hospitalization, while upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) was the most common cause of parenteral antimicrobial agent administration. Two hundred and ten (61.8%) patients received parenteral antimicrobial agents while 16 (4.7%) received both parenteral and oral antimicrobial agents. Single antimicrobial agent was prescribed for (50.6%) patients. Cefuroxime was the main single antimicrobial agent used; it was administered to 70/226 (31%) patients.
Conclusion: Treatment patterns used for most patients were nearly according to current empiric therapeutic recommendations. However, improving the availability of rapid diagnostic methods to differentiate between viral and bacterial infections is suggested to reduce empiric therapy numbers by antimicrobial agents so as to decrease chance for drug resistance.