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

Rejoice Abimiku Helma, Yakubu Boyi Ngwai, Istifanus Haruna Nkene and Sabiu Adamu
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Rejoice Abimiku Helma: Plateau State Human Virology Research Centre (PLASVIREC) Jos, Nigeria
Yakubu Boyi Ngwai: Nasarawa State University, Nigeria
Istifanus Haruna Nkene: Nasarawa State University, Nigeria
Sabiu Adamu: Federal Medical Centre, Nigeria

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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