O-46 Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns in Two Major Healthcare Centres Among Adult Patients in Guyana
Author(s):
N Ramdeholl, C Lam, S Milton, M Sobers, S Lakhram
Year of Presentation:
2023
Objective: The prescribing pattern of antibiotics at two primary health care centres among adult patients in Guyana
between 1st January 2020 - 30th April 2022, was investigated.
Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at the Kitty and Campbellville Health Centres of relevant prescription data for adult patients during the specified period. The data issue registration book (DIRB), medical charts and prescriptions were reviewed, and thedata analyzed using SPSS version 26. The data obtained was compared to the British National Formulary and a rationality score, and ratio were calculated to determine prescribing patterns. Descriptive analyses were calculated for quantitative data while dichotomous data were presented using proportions and percentages.
Results: From 1152 patient prescriptions, an overall rational to irrational ratio of 0.8 was obtained, which suggested that drugs were more often irrationally prescribed amongst the 27 categories of diagnoses examined. The most identified diagnosis was abscess (15.2%), but no rationality score could be determined due to the ambiguity of the diagnosis. Lower respiratory tract infections (8.7%) were the only diagnosis with a ratio of more than 1 suggesting appropriate treatment. Twenty percent of the data fell into the categories of “illegible and missing,” and could not be evaluated.
Conclusion: The irrational prescribing pattern aligned with similar studies, but this is worrisome since the misuse of antibiotics has severe repercussions such as antimicrobial resistance, patient harm and increased healthcare costs. We recommend devising an antimicrobial stewardship programme, locally.