Assessment Of Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns And Antibiotic Resistance In Family Medicine

Abstract

Background: Antibiotics are drugs that have the ability to destroy or inhibit bacterial growth through mechanisms such as selective killing or inhibiting the progression of pathogenic bacteria.  Antibiotics are crucial in combating illness and preserving health, especially in developing nations where infectious diseases remain a significant challenge.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance & prescribing patterns in family medicine

Patients and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. We gathered & analyzed quantitative data. We assessed the prescribing patterns of antibiotics by family physicians. Antibiotic prescribing patterns involved prescriptions containing antibiotics, the quantity of antibiotics per prescription, the name, form, & method of consumption of each antibiotic, as well as cases of mal prescriptions. The data collection methodology employed in this investigation extended from March 2021 to September 2022.

Results: Regarding distribution of antibiotics category, Penicillin was the majority of category prescribed (40%) while Tetracycline[1] was the least category prescribed (5%). Regarding distribution of Common Diagnosis, Gastro-intestinal infection was the majority of Diagnosis (29.7%) associated with antibiotics administration followed by Lower respiratory infection (20%) while sexually transmitted diseases were the least Diagnosis (2.4%) associated with antibiotics administration.

Conclusion: We found that Regarding distribution of most Commonly Prescribed Antibiotics, Amoxicillin was the majority of Antibiotics prescribed followed by Ciprofloxacin while Norfloxacin was the least Prescribed Antibiotics. Regarding distribution of antibiotics category, Penicillin was the majority of category prescribed while Tetracycline was the least category prescribed