Analysis of Antibiotic Prescription Patterns at Community Pharmacy Outlets; A Multi-Centered Study

Authors

P. M. Bandara
O. Malhamiarachchige
P. Mendis
Y. D. Weerakondaarachchi
P. M.
Weligalle Weligalle
H. H. V. K. N. De Silva

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the types of prescribed antibiotics, frequency of usage, and age-based prescription patterns in a selected population. This study was granted ethical clearance and data were collected from Kottawa, Kalubowila, and Mawanella. Prescriptions were collected from patients after obtaining informed consent. Results showed that 41% antibiotic prescriptions prescribed with penicillin, 23% with macrolides, 20% with cephalosporin, 9% with quinolones, 4% with nitroimidazoles, and 3% with tetracycline. Clavamox, clarithromycin, and cefuroxime were the most prescribed drugs in the penicillin, macrolide, and cephalosporin categories respectively. We further found that the 21-40 age group was the highest receivers of antibiotics (46%). Considering the dosage frequency of penicillin category drug amoxicillin in different brand names including Clavamox, ranoxly, and novaclav was prescribed three times per day. Macrolide category drugs including clarithromycin and cephalosporin category drug including cefuroxime were prescribed two times per day. Results revealed that penicillin category drugs were the most prescribed antibiotics at a young age (21- 40) and brand clavamox (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid) was the highly used antibiotic with a dosage frequency of three times per day.

Recommended Citation

Bandara, P. M.; Malhamiarachchige, O.; Mendis, P.; Weerakondaarachchi, Y. D.; M., P.; Weligalle, Weligalle; and De Silva, H. H. V. K. N. (2022) "Analysis of Antibiotic Prescription Patterns at Community Pharmacy Outlets; A Multi-Centered Study," Journal of Innovation in Science, Engineering and Technology: Vol. 6: Iss. 2, Article 13.
DOI: 10.4038/caj.v5i2.102
Available at: https://jiset.cinec.edu/journal/vol6/iss2/13

Pages

1-5