EVALUATION OF ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIBING PATTERNS FOR ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA IN ENT DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL
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Keywords
Acute Otitis Media, Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Amoxicillin, Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics, ENT Department, Paediatric Infections.
Abstract
Background
Particularly in children under five, Acute Otitis Media (AOM) is a common and serious health problem that is a major contributor to the prescription of antibiotics in outpatient settings. Antibiotics are commonly prescribed without adequate diagnostic confirmation, despite the fact that many cases are viral and self-limiting. This contributes to the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Though differences in prescribing practices continue to exist across healthcare settings, clinical guidelines advise a more conservative approach in non-severe cases. To encourage sensible antibiotic use and improve antimicrobial stewardship, it is imperative to assess these trends.
Aim
The aim of this study was to determine possible areas for antimicrobial stewardship improvement by analyzing the antibiotic prescribing patterns for AOM (Acute Otitis Media) in the ENT department of a tertiary care hospital and their compliance with accepted clinical guidelines.
Methodology
300 patient records with an AOM diagnosis were the subject of this retrospective cross-sectional study which was conducted between June 2024 to December 2024. We gathered and examined information on demographics, antibiotic prescriptions, dosage, route, and duration. The American Academy of Paediatrics and World Health Organization's established guidelines were used to evaluate prescribing patterns.
Result
Out of the 300 patients, 40% were children younger than five. The most often prescribed antibiotics were amoxicillin (36.7%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (16.7%). Most patients (60%) received antibiotics for 6–7 days, and 86.7% preferred oral administration. 61.7% of prescriptions were found to be in compliance with treatment guidelines, whereas 38.3% displayed partial or total non-compliance, which included prolonged therapy and excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics
Conclusion
While the majority of antibiotic prescriptions adhered to recommended practices, there are some notable exceptions that could lead to antibiotic resistance. To encourage sensible antibiotic use in AOM management, improved antimicrobial stewardship and clinician education are essential.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Dr. Ramya K.N.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Sri Chamundeshwari Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Channapatna, Karnataka, India.
Dr. Harshitha C.
Assistant Professor, Department of ENT, Sri Chamundeshwari Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Channapatna, Karnataka, India.
Dr. Harshavardhana K.N.
Professor, Department of Dermatology, Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences, Madikeri, Karnataka, India.