Antibiotic Use Assessment in Paediatric Ward of Jimma University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: The issues of antibiotics availability, selection, and proper use are of critical importance to the global community. Despite their importance, the continued efficacy of antibiotic therapies is threatened by the emergence of resistance. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is one of the major contributing factors for the development of antibiotic resistance. Objective: To assess the pattern of antibiotic use and predictors in the pediatric ward of Jimma University Teaching Hospital, Jimma, south-west Ethiopia, 2014. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was used to assess antibiotic use using Gyssens et al. checklist and SPS manual “antimicrobial use investigation” in the pediatric ward of Jimma University Teaching Hospital. Six hundred fourteen patient files were selected by simple random sampling method. The data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences for windows version 20, and logistic regression method was used and P value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant in the final model. Results: Of the total 471patient files were assessed. Most of the participants were males (58.81%), and rural residents (57.11%). The Percentage of hospitalized patients with one or more antibiotics prescribed was 86.41%. Of the total of 812 antibiotics prescribed; crystalline penicillin G was the most frequently prescribed166 (20.44%). A total of 126(30.96%) patients were deemed to be used antibiotics inappropriately. Inappropriate use of antibiotics was associated with being between age category of 5-14 years (AOR: 2.40 (1.17- 4.91)), >10 days duration of hospital stay (AOR: 3.06 (CI=1.70-5.53)), and using >= 2 antibiotics per encounter (AOR: 3.50 (CI=1.77-6.93)). Conclusion: This study has identified the presence of significant antibiotic use in Pediatric patients admitted to JUTH. Percentage of hospitalizations with one or more antibiotics prescribed and inappropriate use of antibiotics were a considerable number. Being between age category of 5-14 years, >10 days duration of hospital stay, and using >= 2 antibiotics per encounter were the independent predictors of inappropriate antibiotic use. Therefore, measures needs to be taken by the responsible body to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use to the possible level and against the independent predictors