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- Title
Point-prevalence survey of outpatient antibiotic prescription at a tertiary medical center in Sri Lanka: opportunities to improve prescribing practices for respiratory illnesses.
- Authors
Zhang, Helen L.; Bodinayake, Champica; Wijayaratne, Gaya B.; Jayatissa, Pasangi; Piyasiri, D. L. Bhagya; Kurukulasooriya, Ruvini; Sheng, Tianchen; Nagahawatte, Ajith; Woods, Christopher; Tillekeratne, L. Gayani
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>Inappropriate antibiotic use is linked to the spread of antimicrobial resistance worldwide, but there are limited systemic data on antibiotic utilization in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and patterns of antibiotic prescription in an ambulatory care setting in Sri Lanka.<bold>Methods: </bold>This cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Outpatient Department of a public tertiary medical center in Southern Province, Sri Lanka from February to April 2019. Among consecutive outpatients presenting for care, questionnaires were verbally administered to a systematic random sample to capture information about patient demographics, illness characteristics, and visit outcomes. Prescription data were obtained from the outpatient pharmacy's electronic prescribing system.<bold>Results: </bold>Of 409 surveyed patients, 146 (35.7%) were prescribed an antibiotic. The most frequently prescribed agents were amoxicillin (41 patients, 28.1% of antibiotic recipients) and first-generation cephalosporins (38, 26.0%). Respiratory indications were the most common reason for antibiotic use, comprising 69 (47.3%) of all antibiotic prescriptions. Antibiotics were prescribed for 66.1% of patients presenting with cough and 78.8% of those presenting with rhinorrhea or nasal congestion. Among all antibiotic recipients, 6 (4.1%) underwent diagnostic studies.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>A high prevalence of antibiotic prescription was observed, in particular for treatment of respiratory conditions. These data support the need for improved antimicrobial stewardship in the Sri Lankan outpatient setting.
- Subjects
SRI Lanka; MEDICAL prescriptions; INAPPROPRIATE prescribing (Medicine); ANTIBIOTICS; MEDICAL centers; MIDDLE-income countries
- Publication
BMC Infectious Diseases, 2021, Vol 21, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1471-2334
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1186/s12879-021-05804-6