Abstract

A STUDY ON PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF ANTIBIOTICS FOR SURGICAL PROPHYLAXIS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Sumit Kumar Shah*, Anna Verghese, M. Pruthvidhar Reddy, Binu K. M., Sarfraz MD and H. Doddayya

ABSTRACT

Background: Surgical site infections are the second most common cause of nosocomial infections. SSIs are still a threat to the surgical world. Antibiotic prophylaxis is effective at reducing the risk of postoperative infection for nearly all types of surgery. Objective: The objective of the study was to audit the prescribing pattern of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in departments of general surgery, orthopedics and OBG. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over a 6 months period in a tertiary care teaching hospital. The main outcome measure of the study was the use and administration of prophylactic antibiotics for surgeries. Results: A total of 300 patients (males-48.33%, females-51.67%) were observed during study period. Antibiotic prophylaxis was recommended for 254(84.67%) patients while for 46(15.33 %) patients they were not recommended. Out of the patients for whom prophylaxis was recommended and was given, cephalosporins (44.34%) were prescribed the most. The most common surgery carried out was appendectomy (20%), followed by orthopedics procedures (19.33%), hysterectomy (13%), dermatological procedures (13%) and genitourinary procedures (13%). Cefotaxim (23.33%) was the most commonly used drug and cefoperazone and sulbactam (39.61%) combination was the most commonly used regimen in study hospital. Conclusion: Thus surgical antibiotic prophylaxis was appropriate in 63.4% of the cases in accordance with ASHP guidelines. The study highlighted the need for a local protocol of antibiotic prophylaxis in study hospital. The study also found that continuing education for health care professional is essential.

Keywords: Antibiotics, Prophylaxis, Surgery, Surgical site infections.