PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF ANTIMICROBIALS IN CHRONIC SUPPURATIVE OTITIS MEDIA AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: CSOM, as defined by WHO is a chronic infection of middle ear cleft, with non-intact tympanic membrane and otorrhoea for at least two weeks. Injudicious use of antibiotics, in developing countries increases the disease burden and complications associated with the disease. Hence this study was conducted to evaluate the Prescription pattern of Antimicrobials using WHO Prescribing Indicators in patients diagnosed of CSOM in a tertiary care hospital.

Method: A prospective observational study was conducted for a period of four months. A total of 115 prescriptions of patients aged between 12-70 yrs are collected. All data regarding patient’s details, demographics and details of medicines were recorded in a predesigned study proforma. The collected data was analysed and the conclusions were drawn using descriptive analysis.

Results: Of the 115 patients, majority belonged to 12-20 yrs. Left sided unilateral CSOM was more common. Penicillins (59.55%) were commonest class of antibiotics prescribed followed by fluroquinolones (27.36%). 82.35% of antibiotics were prescribed by oral route and only 17.64% by topical route. 98.5% of medicines were prescribed by generic names and other concomitant drugs like, antihistamines, decongestants, analgesics were prescribed.

Conclusion: This study is a sincere attempt to study prescription pattern of antimicrobials in CSOM patients which showed that oral antibiotics were more preferred in our set up. Timely prescription patterns analysis can enable appropriate modifications in prescribing patterns, facilitate rational utilisation of drugs and limit unnecessary use of antibiotics