DRUG UTILIZATION EVALUATION OF ANTIBIOTICS IN GENERAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: Conventional need of broad spectrum antibiotics for multiple organ infections in hospital, ensue the problem of resistance. Most of the antibiotic utilization is empirical leading to their irrational prescriptions. Our present study aims in accessing the drug utilization evaluation of antibiotic usage in a tertiary care hospital which helps in accessing rationality that aid in monitoring the drug efficacy, cost constraints and other factors related to patient safety.Methods: A prospective study was conducted for a period of four months from September 2015 to December 2015 in the Medicine department of Viswabarathi Hospital, Kurnool and AP.Results: A total of 210 prescriptions were analyzed. Among the wide range of antibiotics, i.e., 479 antibiotics prescribed, beta-lactams were found in the maximum cases which accounts for more than half of the cases. Little more than half of the prescriptions i.e.51.90% was with two antibiotics, followed by three antibiotic prescriptions. 9.05% prescriptions were with 4-5 antibiotics.Conclusion: Judgmental use of antibiotics will reduce the burden of multi-drug resistance and thereby enabling better patient management and limiting the resultant morbidity and mortality.Keywords: Infections, Prescriptions, Rationality, Antibiotic

RISK ELEMENTS AND DRUG UTILIZATION IN STROKE PATIENTS

Objective: Cerebrovascular accident (CVA), formally called as stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Recent studies in different parts of India also documented that the prevalence of stroke varies from 40 to 270 per 100,000 populations. Identifying the risk factors of the disease helps to improve the effectiveness of the therapy. Our present study aims in accessing the risk aspects and utilization of drugs in CVA patients.Methods: A prospective Interventional study was carried out on stroke patients in Medicine Department, Viswabarathi Hospital, Kurnool, AP from January to September 2015. Required demographic and laboratory data, along with general neurological evaluation and brain CT was analyzed.Results: A total of 100 patients was analyzed. Among them, the incidence of ischemic stroke (96%) was greater compared to hemorrhagic stroke (4%). Prevalence of disease was higher in males (69%) than females (31%) with notable occurrence in the age group of 61-70 (26%). Higher percentage of patients were found to have>3 risk factors (34%), including hypertension (68%), age (58%), diabetes (39%), smoking (22%), alcoholism (21%), CAD (10%) and percentage with no risk element accounts7%. The prescribing pattern includes antihypertensives (16.25%), Gastrointestinal agents (12.2%), anti-platelets (9.16%), hyperlipidemic (8.4%), Nootropics (7.97%) followed by other classes and nitrates (0.62%) occupies the last place in prescribing.Conclusion: The present study emphasizes on the need to identify risk factors and providing awareness among the patients by a pharmacist in minimizing the disease burden. It also points the rationality in prescribing of drugs based on therapeutic guidelines

Impact of Internet on Society

N

Experimental investigation on elevated water tanks with base isolation – response spectrum approach

Elevated water tanks in an empty condition, though not important in structural design, becomes an important problem in seismic design. The objective of the present research is to investigate the elevated water tanks in empty and in filled conditions and to emphasize the importance of seismic response. Four elevated tanks with various parameters are selected for seismic analysis with the base isolation technique. It is found out that empty tanks are highly vulnerable to earthquake effects, whereas filled tanks can be mitigated by providing base isolation. A simple experimental investigation has also been carried out to validate the analytical results