Outpatient prescription of oral antibiotics in a training hospital in Turkey: trends in the last decade

Abstract

Aim: The aim was to evaluate the changing trends in outpatient prescription of oral antibiotic forms at a Training Hospital in the last decade.

Material and method: All the outpatient prescriptions during April and May 2004 were evaluated. The diagnosis, the department of the prescriber, the count and generic name of each prescribed antibiotic were all noted.

Results: Of the 33,491 outpatient prescripitions, 14.9% included antibiotic (n=5004). The pediatric clinics (26.4%), Ear, Nose and Throat department (13.7%), and the department of Gyneacology and Obstetrics (10.8%) were the leading departments in antibiotic prescriptions. Upper respiratory tract infections (45.4%), urinary tract infection (11.4%) and lower respiratory tract infections (4.2%) shared the first lines of diagnosis stated. Of the antibiotic prescriptions, 96.3% included oral forms. Co-amoxiclav (26.4%), quinolones (11.7%) and cephalosporins (16.5%) were the most frequently prescribed antibiotics. Percent of antibiotic prescriptions based on microbial sensitivity test results was 7.1%.

Conclusion: Compared with the results of the study carried out 11 years ago; though co-amoxiclav is still the most frequently prescribed antibiotic, many other changes have been observed in antibiotic prescription attitudes.