ANALYSIS OF THE PATTERN OF ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTION IN A PRIVATE SECONDARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Antibiotic misuse and overuse are major contributors to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), treatment failure, adverse drug reactions, increased healthcare costs, and prolonged hospital stay. Monitoring antibiotic prescribing patterns is essential to promote rational antibiotic use and support antimicrobial stewardship. Aim: To evaluate antibiotic prescribing patterns and assess the rationality of antibiotic use in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A prospective study was conducted from June 2026 to September 2026 using prescription-based data collected through a structured proforma. A total of 200 outpatient prescriptions were evaluated. Patient demographics, diagnosis, prescribed antibiotics, and other prescribing information were recorded and analysed using Microsoft Excel 365. Results: Among 200 prescriptions, 102 (51%) were from females and 98 (49%) were from males. A total of 266 antibiotics were prescribed. Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic (35.71%), followed by cefixime (25.56%) and azithromycin (18.05%). Single-antibiotic prescriptions accounted for 70.5%, while two-antibiotic prescriptions accounted for 26.5%. Respiratory infections were the most common clinical context for antibiotic prescribing. The mean number of drugs per encounter was 4.28. Generic prescribing was 96.62%, while 79.2% of drugs were prescribed from the essential drug list. Conclusion: The study demonstrated substantial antibiotic use and polypharmacy in outpatient prescriptions. Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship, adherence to standard treatment guidelines, and rational antibiotic selection may help improve prescribing practices and reduce inappropriate antibiotic use.