EVALUATION OF CRYSTALLINE PENICILLIN UTILIZATION IN PEDIATRICS WARD OF TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF EASTERN ETHIOPIA: THE CASE OF HIWOT FANA SPECIALIZED UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Background: Crystalline penicillin is one the commonly prescribed antibiotics that has been used for the treatment of certain susceptible bacterial infections over several years in Ethiopia. However, little is known about the appropriateness of clinical indication, dose and frequency of administration, duration and therapeutic outcome of patients in general and pediatrics in particular. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the rational use of crystalline penicillin injection in pediatrics ward of Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital (HFSUH), Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: Retrospective cross sectional study was employed for evaluating medication records of hospitalized pediatric patients who received crystalline penicillin from Dec 1, 2015- Feb 29, 2016 at pediatrics ward of HFSUH. Based on Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHCO) criteria, 114 medical records (20%) were selected by systematic random sampling from the total of 570 records. The study was conducted from Mar 1-Mar 15, 2016. Besides, the data were evaluated against Standard treatment guideline (STG) of Ethiopia for general hospitals and World Health Organization (WHO) drug use evaluation guideline Results: Among the 114 medical records of pediatric patients included in the study, the dose and frequency of administration, contra-indications and drug interactions of crystalline penicillin were according to the STG of Ethiopia for general hospitals, and WHO Guidelines for the management of common illnesses in children in areas with limited resources. All the 114 (100%) cases were consistent with guidelines for contra-indications and drug interaction of crystalline penicillin use. Moreover, 108(94.74%) and 112 (98.24%) of the cases were in accordance with the guidelines for the dose and frequency of administration, respectively. However, 93 (81.58%), 59 (51.75%) and 59 (51.75%) of the patient cases were not according to the guidelines of crystalline penicillin use for indications, duration and outcome of therapy, respectively. Conclusion: Crystalline penicillin utilization pattern in pediatric ward of HFSUH has fully adhered to the STG of Ethiopia for general hospitals and WHO Guideline for the majority of the parameters with regard to dose and frequency of administration, contraindications, and drug interactions as well as met the thresholds set for most of the DUE criteria. However, indication, duration and outcome of therapy were not in accordance with the guideline.Keywords: Drug use evaluation; Pediatrics; medication records; crystalline penicillin; Standard treatment Guidelines; World Health OrganizationÂ

Antibiotics prescribing practice among patients with urinary tract infection at outpatient department, the case of Dilchora referral hospital, Eastern Ethiopia: an institutional retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Inappropriate prescription of antibiotics is a global public health challenge. Widespread use, misuse, or inappropriate prescribing has resulted in unnecessary expenditure on drugs, raised risk of adverse reactions, the development of antimicrobial resistance, and increment in health care costs. There is a limited practice in rational prescribing of antibiotics in the management of Urinary tract infection (UTI) in Ethiopia. Objective To assess antibiotic prescribing practice in the treatment of patients with UTI at outpatient department (OPD), Dilchora referral hospital, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 7 to March 14, 2021. Data were collected from 600 prescription papers using systematic random sampling method. World Health Organization’s standardized core prescribing indicators was used. Results A total of 600 prescriptions containing antibiotics prescribed for patients with UTIs were observed during the study period. Of these, 415 (69.19%) were females and 210 (35%) were in the age group of 31–44 years. The number of generic drugs and antibiotics prescribed per encounter was 1.60 and 1.28, respectively. The percentage of antibiotics per prescription was found to be 27.83%. About 88.40% of antibiotics were prescribed by generic names. Fluoroquinolones were the most frequently prescribed class of drugs for the treatment of patients with UTIs. Conclusion The prescribing practice of antibiotics in patients with UTIs was found to be good as the drugs were prescribed in generic name

Early readmission and its predictors among patients treated for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive respiratory disease in Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study.

BackgroundSignificant numbers of chronic obstructive respiratory disease patients are readmitted for Acute Exacerbation (AE) within 30 days of discharge. And these early readmissions have serious clinical and socioeconomic consequences. The objective of our study was to determine the rate of readmission within 30 days of discharge and it's predictors among patients treated for acute exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsA prospective cohort study involving 130 patients (asthma = 59, COPD = 71) was conducted from April-September, 2019, in Jimma Medical Center (JMC), South-West Ethiopia. Socio-demographic, clinical, laboratory, and drug-related data were recorded at admission and during hospital stay. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for readmissions following an AE of asthma and COPD.ResultsDuring the study period, 130 (male, 78(60%)) patients were admitted with AE of asthma and COPD. The median age was 59(IQR, 50-70) years. Of 130 patients, 21(18.10%) had a new AE of asthma and COPD that required hospitalization in the 30 days after discharge. The overall median survival time to 30-day readmission was 20 days (IQR, 16-29). Multivariate analysis revealed prolonged use of oxygen therapy (AHR = 4.972, 95% CI [1.041-23.736] and frequent hospital admissions (AHR = 11.482 [1.308-100.793]) to be independent risk factors for early readmissions.ConclusionEarly hospital readmission rates for AE of asthma and COPD were alarmingly high. Frequent hospital admission and long-term oxygen therapy during hospital stay were independent predictors of 30-day readmission