Factors affecting antibiotic prescribing pattern in pediatric practice

Abstract

To determine the proportion of children receiving antibiotics for common illnesses and to understand the antibiotic prescription ptern and factors influencing it, a cross sectional study was done among the private practitioners in Chennai, India 403 prescriptions by 40 physicians from selected health facilities were analyzed 79.9% of children with ARI (Acute respiratory infection) and ADD (Acute watery diarrhea) were prescribed antibiotics. Penicillins (43.9%) were the commonest antibiotic prescribed. Factors like postgraduate qualification, experience of physician, source and method of updating knowledge, inpatient practice setting and presence of fever influenced the antibiotic prescription.

Antimicrobial prescribing pattern in the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections in children in a tertiary care hospital

“…19 The findings are in contrast with a similar study done in Chennai, India where 79.4% children were prescribed antibiotics. 18 Penicillin group was the commonest antibiotic prescribed in our study for URTI which is similar to the Chennai study.…”

A study on antibiotic prescription among the hospitalized pediatric patients at a referral center in Puducherry, India

“…In a study done by Bharathiraja et al in Chennai nearly 80% of children with acute respiratory infection and acute diarrheal disorders' have received antibiotic therapy. 5 Presence of fever is one of the reasons for starting antibiotic in their study. In our study group those children with clinical diagnosis suggestive of acute bacterial infection are the definite candidates for either oral or pareneral appropriate antibiotic therapy.…”

“…Sample size was calculated to be 900, using the formula 4pd/d 2 , where p is the prevalence of antibiotic use, taken as 66% based on the previous study. 5 q is 100 minus p and d is the relative precision, that was taken as 5%, On an average 5 to 8 children get discharged per day from Pediatric ward. In order to collect the required data fulfilling the sample size, children discharging on alternate days during the study period were included in the study.…”

Irrational Use of Antibiotics, in Different Age Groups of Karachi: A Wakeup Call for Antibiotic Resistance and Future Infections

“…Lower respiratory tract infections are the leading cause of death in children below the age of 5 years [4]. Acute respiratory tract infection (RTI), acute diarrhoea and viral fever are the supreme conjoint illnesses book-keeping for the major proportion of pediatric visits [5]. Several studies come together on antibiotic prescribing insolences in hospitalized children indicate that children admitted to hospitals receive antibiotics and widespread misuse has been reported [6].…”