Assessment of Rational Antibiotic Prescribing in Public Hospitals in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Rejoice Abimiku Helma, Yakubu Boyi Ngwai, Istifanus Haruna Nkene and Sabiu Adamu

European Journal of Biology and Biotechnology, 2020, vol. 1, issue 4

Abstract: Antibiotics are the most commonly used medicines in healthcare facilities globally; and they are often misused, especially in developing countries. Periodic assessment of antibiotic prescribing practices is essential to improve prescribing standards and ensure rational use. A cross-sectional, retrospective evaluation of antibiotic prescribing in public secondary and tertiary hospitals in Nasarawa State, Nigeria was carried out. A total of 2800 case sheets of patients who accessed the hospitals under review during the period 2008-2018 were randomly sampled and evaluated. Prescribing indicators of World Health Organization (WHO) and Strengthening Pharmaceutical System/United States Agency for International Development (SPS/USAID) were evaluated and compared with published standards for each of the indicators to identify irrational antibiotic use. Percentage of hospitalization with one or more antimicrobials prescribed was 75.6%. Average number of antimicrobials prescribed per hospitalization in which antibiotics were used was 1.75±0.66. Percentage of antibiotic prescribed consistent with hospital formulary was 100.0%. Average duration of prescribed antimicrobial treatment was 5.57±2.42 days. Percentage of antimicrobials prescribed by generic name was 45.8%. Percentage of injectable antibiotic used was 36.4%. Percentage of antimicrobials prescribed from the national essential medicine list was 85.7%. Average encounter with antibiotic was 0.82±0.2. Many of the prescribing indicators deviated from the WHO or SPS/USAID optimal values; and thus, were predictors of irrational antibiotic prescribing. Continuous education and re-training of prescribers in public hospitals in Nasarawa State to comply with approved standards of prescribing should be emphasized in to ensure rational antibiotic use.

Keywords: Antibiotic; periodic assessment; public hospitals; rational antibiotics. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:epw:ejbio0:v:1:y:2020:i:4:id:17031

DOI: 10.24018/ejbio.2020.1.4.31

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