Drug utilization pattern of antibacterials used in ear, nose and throat outpatient and inpatient departments of a university hospital at New Delhi, India

OBJECTIVE: We explored the antibacterial prescribing patterns of physicians in ear, nose and throat (ENT) outpatient and inpatient departments (OPD, IPD) of a University Hospital, New Delhi, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted, with a sample size of 276 patients, who visited the ENT OPD and IPD over a period of 4 months. RESULTS: It was found that 62.68% were males, 26% patients were in the age group 26-35 years, followed by 22.8% belonging to the age group 26–35 years. Maximum number of patients were diagnosed with ear (37.3%) and throat (36.2%) infections. The most frequently prescribed antibacterials were β-lactams (45.52%) followed by quinolones (26.31%). The most commonly used agent in penicillins was amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (21.74%), in cepahalosporins was cefpodoxime proxetil (5.49%) and in quinolones was gemifloxacin (14.41%). Further, 66.67% of the patients received single antibacterial drug and the average number of antibacterial agents prescribed per patient per course was found to be 1.58. It was also observed that 70.71% of the antibacterials were prescribed by oral route. The most concomitant conditions were found to be diabetes (10.5%), hypertension (6.16%) and coronary heart disease (5.07%). All the drugs were prescribed by their brand names and 48.91% patients showed good adherence with the prescribed therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The present work is the maiden drug utilization study conducted in ENT department at our university hospital. It highlighted some rational prescription patterns including less utilization of antibiotics in ENT infections, good adherence by patients and prescription by brand names. The data presented here will be useful in future, long-term and more extensive drug utilization studies in the hospital and in promotion of rational prescribing and drug use in hospitals.