ASSESSING ANTIBIOTIC USE AND PRESCRIPTION PATTERNS AMONG PATIENTS IN KARACHI: A STUDY ON COMPLIANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
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Keywords
Antibiotic use, prescription patterns, infection control, Karachi, patient compliance
Abstract
Background: Effective management of infections heavily relies on appropriate antibiotic use and adherence to prescribed treatment regimens. This study aims to evaluate antibiotic use and prescription patterns among patients in Karachi and assess their impact on infection control and patient compliance.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 96 patients with various infections who were recruited from community (retail) pharmacies in Karachi. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, antibiotic prescription patterns, culture sensitivity testing, and patient compliance. Statistical analyses, including chi-squared tests, were used to assess the relationships between different variables and infection control outcomes.
Results: The majority of patients were prescribed monotherapy, with penicillin and macrolides being the most frequently used antibiotics. A significant proportion of patients (75%) did not undergo culture sensitivity testing. The study found that female patients exhibited better infection control compared to males (80.6% vs. 55.4%, p = 0.016). Proper diagnosis on prescriptions was associated with 100% infection control. Factors such as smoking, marital status, and employment status were significantly associated with infection control outcomes.
Conclusion: The study indicates that adherence to infection control practices, including timely culture sensitivity testing and accurate diagnosis, significantly improves infection management. The findings underscore the importance of following recommended guidelines for antibiotic prescriptions and patient compliance to enhance treatment efficacy. Future research should focus on a broader range of healthcare settings to further explore these patterns and their impact on infection control.
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Dr. Shaista Ahmed
Associate professor, Department of Medicine, Karachi Metropolitan University; KMDC, Pakistan
Dr. Hamna Niazi
Postgraduate Resident, Department of Medicine, PAF Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan,
Dr. Erum Amir
Demonstrator Pathology, Karachi Metropolitan University; KMDC, Pakistan,
Dr. Uzma Zareef
Professor Oral Pathology, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Pakistan,
Dr. Rafia Bilquees Siddiqui
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Karachi Metropolitan University; KMDC, Pakistan,
Dr. Syeda Asiya Parveen
Associate Professor, Head of Department Biochemistry, Karachi Metropolitan University; KMDC, Pakistan,