Antibiotic Prescription Pattern in Surgery Department in Baquba Teaching Hospital

Jumaa et al. Antibiotic Prescription Pattern in the Surgery Department of Baquba Teaching Hospital. The New Iraqi Journal of Medicine. 2011;7(2):33-40.

Background and Objectives: Antibiotics are one of the most common drugs prescribed in hospitals. The present study was performed to study the style of prescription of different types of antibiotic regimens in different surgeries in Baquba Teaching Hospital and assess the appropriateness of antibiotic therapy through a comparison with the standard guidelines for antibiotic prescription. Patient and method: A retrospective study was used to evaluate the patients’ undergone surgery through a one month duration beginning from the 1st of April 2009 to the 1st of May 2009. 303 patients were enrolled in our study and questionnaires concerning demographic data, type of surgery, and parameters of antibiotic therapy (selection of antibiotic, dose, route and duration of therapy) were completed. Results: Out of 303 patients, 179 received one antibiotic, and the other 124 received two or more antibiotics (antibiotic combination). Cefotaxime was the common antibiotic prescribed to 169 patients as a single agent or in combination with other antibiotics. Cefotaxime with Metronidazole was the most common antibiotic combination, prescribed for 63 patients. Concerning the duration of therapy, 159 patients continue on antibiotic therapy for 2–3 days, while 71 patients continue for one day. Conclusions: The antibiotic selection in this hospital is optional and not according to any guidelines or recommendations. The utilization of culture and sensitivity studies is absent, and antibiotic prescription is almost totally empirical. Therefore, the antibiotic prescription is inappropriate and doesn’t follow the standard guidelines for antibiotic prescription.

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