Profile of antibiotics prescription pattern and their outcome in patients during COVID-19 treatment in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

This study evaluated antibiotic prescription patterns and treatment outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the Centre for Communicable Diseases, Control, and Research, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria, during the first and second waves of the pandemic. A retrospective review of 122 patient records examined demographic data, antibiotic use, dose regimen, hospitalization length, and comorbidities. The study aimed to determine antibiotic prescription patterns and treatment outcomes (primary outcomes) and identify factors predicting patient recovery (secondary outcomes). Chi-square analysis and Fisher's test were utilized to obtain the primary outcomes, and the secondary outcome was derived using regression analysis. A total of 299 antibiotics from ten classes were prescribed, with 98.4% of patients receiving azithromycin and penicillin/macrolides. Among the patients, 40 completed treatments at home, 53 had comorbidities, 19 died, and 100 recovered. Poor treatment outcomes were linked to older age, comorbidities, and multiple antibiotic combinations, while gender, hospitalization length, and antibiotic type did not significantly impact recovery. No significant differences were found in antibiotic prescriptions between patients with and without bacterial co-infections. These findings highlight the role of compromised immunity in poor outcomes and underscore the importance of evidence-based antibiotic use during outbreaks to enhance patient management and curb antimicrobial resistance.