OPTIMIZING ANTIBIOTIC USE IN PAKISTAN: A PHARMACOLOGICAL APPROACH TO COMBATING ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Main Article Content
Keywords
Antibiotic resistance, prescribing practices, antibiotic stewardship, Pakistan, low- and middle-income countries, empirical prescribing, educational intervention.
Abstract
Background: Particularly in low- and middle-income nations (LMICs) like Pakistan, where improper antibiotic usage is prevalent, antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a developing global health problem. The purpose of this study is to evaluate antibiotic prescribing policies and pinpoint ways to maximize antibiotic use at Peshawar, Pakistan's Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC).
Methods: From January 2024 until July 2024, a cross-sectional observational research was undertaken. Using a methodical random sample, 210 patients in all who had antibiotic prescriptions were incorporated. Medical data and provider interviews yielded information on prescribing habits. National and international recommendations guided the assessment of the appropriateness of antibiotic use; logistic regression was then applied to find elements linked to incorrect prescription writing.
Results: The study found that 63% of antibiotic prescriptions were empirical, and 68% were broad-spectrum antibiotics. Only 40% of prescriptions were appropriate according to guidelines. Factors associated with inappropriate prescribing included outpatient department status, prescriptions by junior doctors, and lack of diagnostic tools. An educational intervention implemented during the study improved the rate of appropriate prescribing from 34% to 46%.
Conclusion: At HMC, inappropriate antibiotic use is rather common, which reflects more general LMIC trends. To maximize antibiotic use and fight antibiotic resistance in Pakistan, strengthened antibiotic stewardship programs, better access to diagnostic tools, and focused educational campaigns are desperately needed.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Abida Yasmin
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Khyber Girls Medical College Peshawar (KGMC), Peshawar Pakistan
Ambreen Anjum
Psychology Dapartment, Virtual University of Pakistan
Saima Bashir
Department of Pathology, Gomal Medical College, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan.
Eisha Akram
Senior lecturer, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Watim Medical and Dental College, Rawalpindi Pakistan
Abdul Azeem
MBBS, MPhil Pharmacology, CHPE. Assistant Professor, Watim Medical & Dental College, Rawat, Rawalpindi Pakistan
Marifat Shah
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Jinnah Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Peshawar Pakistan
Inam-u-llah
The Department of Food Science and Technology, The University of Haripur.