Prescribing pattern of antibiotics among paediatric patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital: A prospective study

BACKGROUND: The inappropriate use of antibiotics in children for viral infections or when the infection is not clearly established is a significant global health issue. This practice contributes to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Thus, understanding prescribing pattern of antibiotics is essential. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the antibiotic prescribing pattern in paediatric patients of a tertiary care hospital and to analyse consequences associated with the therapy. METHODOLOGY: This study was a six-month prospective observational study carried out in the paediatric department of a tertiary care hospital (Karnataka Medical College & Research Institute, Hubballi). RESULTS: A total of 251 cases were evaluated, with males comprising the majority (65.33%) and the ‘childhood’ age group population accounting for 73.65% of cases. Respiratory disorders represented the most prevalent diagnosis (35.05%). Overall, 541 antibiotic prescriptions were recorded, with ceftriaxone being the most frequently utilized agent (29.75%). the highest sensitivity was observed for imipenem (14.74%) and meropenem (14.34%), whereas cefuroxime (13.94%) and cefazolin (13.54%) demonstrated the highest resistance rates. CONCLUSION: The report finds that pediatric hospital admissions are driven mainly by respiratory infections and that antibiotics more often broad-spectrum agents are frequently started empirically with limited culture confirmation, leading to delays in targeted therapy and contributing to adverse reactions, longer stays, higher costs, and rising antimicrobial resistance. Keywords: Paediatrics, antibiotics, prescribing pattern, antibiotic resistance, sensitivity and resistance