Abstract:
Background and objectives: Antibiotic resistance is currently a serious public health problem. It is largely
contributed by irrational use of antibiotics. This study was carried out to know the frequency and pattern of
antibiotics prescription in common acute infections.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out for evaluating prescriptions given to the patients visiting a health
centerin Dharwad district for the need of antibiotics vis-à-vis the diagnoses. Only prescriptions of the patients with fever,
diarrhea, upper respiratory infections, cough, nose and throat infections of <7days duration were included.
Results: Three fourths of trivial infections were given antibiotics. The dose was incorrect in 20% of these. Almost every diarrhea
case received
antibiotics. Nearly half of the prescriptions
were
incomplete.
Conclusion: Unnecessary antibiotics prescription is prevalent despite the evidence of harmful effects of such prescriptions.
