TO STUDY THE PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF ANTIBIOTICS AMONG PATIENTS, WITH A FOCUS ON EVALUATING THE RATIONAL USE OF ANTIBIOTICS BASED ON THE CLINICAL GUIDELINES

Antibiotics are essential for treating bacterial infections; however, their inappropriate use contributes significantly to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), adverse effects, and increased healthcare costs. Monitoring antibiotic utilization and promoting rational prescribing are therefore essential for effective treatment and patient safety. The present study aimed to evaluate antibiotic prescription patterns, rational use, commonly prescribed antibiotics, frequency of antibiotic use across age groups and gender, and the pattern of monotherapy and combination therapy. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted for 3 months in a tertiary care hospital in Tumkur. Data were collected from 300 patients according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 417 antibiotics were prescribed. The highest proportion of patients belonged to the 18–30 years age group (26%), with males (56.3%) predominating over females (43.7%). Third-generation cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic class. Monotherapy was predominant (87.8%) compared with combination therapy (12.2%). Antibiotics were most frequently prescribed for 3–5 days (84.4%), while intravenous administration (90.9%) was more common than oral administration (9.1%). Regarding patient awareness, 83% reported receiving instructions from doctors or pharmacists, whereas 67.33% had not heard of antibiotic resistance and 74.33% retained leftover antibiotics for future use. The study highlights the need for rational antibiotic prescribing, improved patient education, adherence to WHO and National Treatment Guidelines, and implementation of effective antimicrobial stewardship programs to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use and AMR.