Antibiotics Use among Geriatric Patients Admitted in the Department of Medicine in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Authors

  • Ruchi Shrestha Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal
  • Brijesh Pandey Department of Cardiology, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Sunsari, Nepal
  • Sony Shakya Shrestha Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal
  • Jyoti Tara Manandhar Shrestha Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal
  • Pankaj Poudel Department of Internal Medicine, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.8105

Keywords:

aged; antibiotics; drug utilization.

Abstract

Introduction: Ageing predisposes to increased risk of infections which make these population vulnerable to high risk of various chronic co-morbidities, organ dysfunction and mortality. Increased frequency of infections has led to an increasing proportion of geriatric patient admission to hospitals, and antibiotics therapy has long been recognized as a cornerstone in the treatment of infections. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of antibiotic use among geriatric patients admitted to the Department of Medicine in a tertiary care centre.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among geriatric patients admitted to Department of Medicine in a tertiary care centre from 1 May 2022 to 31 August 2022. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 17/22). Patients with the age of ≥60 years, admitted to the Department of Medicine who stayed for at least 24 hours was included as the study population. Convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.

Results: Among 520 geriatric patients, antibiotics was used in 252 (48.46%) (44.16-52.76, 95% Confidence Interval) patients. Ceftriaxone was the most common antibiotic used in 165 (65.48%) patients, followed by oral azithromycin in 72 (28.57%). The mean antibiotics used per patient was 1.59±0.73.

Conclusions: The prevalence of antibiotic use in the geriatric population was found to be lower than in the other studies done in similar settings.

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Published

2023-06-01

How to Cite

Shrestha, R. ., Pandey, B. ., Shakya Shrestha, S. ., Manandhar Shrestha, J. T. ., & Poudel, P. . (2023). Antibiotics Use among Geriatric Patients Admitted in the Department of Medicine in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study. Journal of Nepal Medical Association, 61(262), 522–525. https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.8105

Issue

Vol. 61 No. 262 (2023): JNMA: Published Monthly

Section

Original Article

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Copyright (c) 2023 Dr. Ruchi Shrestha, Dr. Brijesh Pandey, Dr. Sony Shakya Shrestha, Dr. Jyoti Tara Manandhar Shrestha, Dr. Pankaj Poudel

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