Evaluation of antibiotic use among inpatients in surgical ward at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, South-Western Uganda

Abstract

Objective: The main aim of this study was to evaluate antibiotic use among inpatients in surgical ward at South-Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, South-Western Uganda. Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out on patients' follow-up forms of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, surgical ward from 15th November to 15th December. Data abstraction tool was employed to extracted data, entered in excel version 2010 then imported into SPSS software version 2010 where different variables were analyzed. Results: A total of 136 patient forms were studied. At least one antibiotic was prescribed in 76 (56 %). Majority (81.58%) of the antibiotics were prescribed for therapeutic purpose while some lacked documented and approved indications. Specific indications were not documented in 15 (19.73%) of the forms. Sepsis without culture and sensitivity was the most frequent indication 14 (18.42%) for antibiotics followed by prophylactic use 12 (15.79%). Ceftriaxone was the most commonly (82.9%) prescribed antibiotic; followed by metronidazole for 31 (40.8%) and Ampicillin/Cloxacillin for 8 (10.5%) of the patients. Out of the 76 patients who used antibiotics, the overall use was found to be appropriate in only 20 (26.3%). Most prescriptions had right doses 57 (75.0%) followed by right frequencies 53 (69.7%); whereas the duration was the least appropriate with only 46 (60.5%) of the 76 patients. Conclusion: More than half of the patients had at least one antibiotic prescribed to them. Ceftriaxone and metronidazole were the most prescribed, the majority of antibiotics were used for treatment and some of the patients were on antibiotics without specific indications. Sepsis was the most common indication for the antibiotics used. Most antibiotics were inappropriately used. Duration of treatment was the most inappropriate parameter and antibiotic use varied greatly with guidelines.