Antibiotics Use in Hospitalised COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Authors

  • Bibechan Thapa Department of Emergency Medicine, Kirtipur Hospital, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Samyam Bickram Pathak Department of Intensive Care Unit, Nepal Mediciti Hospital, Bhaisepati, Lalitpur, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9085-3135
  • Nisha Jha Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Mahalaxmi, Lalitpur, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1089-6042
  • Milesh Jung Sijapati Department of Internal Medicine, KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Mahalaxmi, Lalitpur, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6797-4764
  • Pathiyil Ravi Shankar IMU Center for Education, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6105-5636

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.7394

Keywords:

antibiotics; bacterial infection; co-infection; COVID-19.

Abstract

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is a global health problem. The widespread and improper antibiotics use is the leading cause of antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 patients is the basis for the use of antibiotics in the management of COVID-19. COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted antibiotic stewardship and increased the global usage of antibiotics, worsening the antimicrobial resistance problem. The use of antibiotics among COVID-19 patients is high but there are limited studies in the context of Nepal. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of antibiotic use among hospitalised COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care centre.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on hospitalised COVID-19 patients from April 2021 to June 2021 in a tertiary care centre. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 2078/79/05). The hospital data were collected in the proforma by reviewing the patient’s medical records during the study period of 2 months. Convenience sampling was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.

Results: Among 106 hospitalised COVID-19 patients, the prevalence of antibiotic use was 104 (98.11%) (95.52-100, 95% Confidence Interval). About 74 (71.15%) of patients received multiple antibiotics. The most common classes of antibiotics used were cephalosporins, seen in 85 (81.73%) and macrolides, seen in 57 (54.81%) patients.

Conclusions: The prevalence of antibiotic use among hospitalised COVID-19 patients was found to be higher when compared to other studies conducted in similar settings.

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Published

2022-07-01

How to Cite

Thapa, B. ., Pathak, S. B., Jha, N., Sijapati, M. J., & Shankar, P. R. . (2022). Antibiotics Use in Hospitalised COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study. Journal of Nepal Medical Association, 60(251), 625–630. https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.7394

Issue

Vol. 60 No. 251 (2022): JNMA: Published Monthly

Section

Original Article

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Bibechan Thapa, Samyam Bickram Pathak, Nisha Jha, Milesh Jung Sijapati, Pathiyil Ravi Shankar

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