Year :
2021
| Month :
May
| Volume :
15
| Issue :
5
| Page :
FC01 - FC04
Full Version
Impact of Drug Information Services on Promotion of Rational Use of Antimicrobial Agents: A Descriptive Retrospective Study
Published: May 1, 2021 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2021/49002.14916
Soanker Radhika, MVS Subbalaxmi, Butul Maleha, Pingali Usharani
1. Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
2. Additional Professor, Department of General Medicine, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
3. Ex Resident, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
4. Professor and Head, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Correspondence Address :
Soanker Radhika,
Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Panjagutta, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
E-mail: dr_radhika_s@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
Introduction: Drug Information Services (DIS) is dedicated to provide information about drugs and pharmacotherapy, on request from health care professionals, organisations or patients. World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends DIS to promote rational use of medicines.
Aim: The study was done to understand the impact of DIS on promotion of rational use of antimicrobial agents, at a tertiary care hospital.
Materials and Methods: In this retrospective descriptive study, 126 cases with infection related medication issues requiring opinion related to appropriate antimicrobial therapy from January 2014-June 2018 were included and studied in September 2018. Data related to culture/susceptibility results, treatment offered, reason for referral and suggestions given by the DIS captured in the case details form were analysed. The number of antimicrobials prescribed per case before and after DIS opinion was compared using paired t-test.
Results: Of the 126 cases (mean age: 35±18.2 years), 82 were culture positive, of which 43 samples reported Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) organisms. Of 126 case referrals, 53 (42.1%) were regarding opinion on appropriate antimicrobial therapy, 18 (14.3%) for suspected ADRs and rechallenge opinion, 27 (21.5%) for dosage adjustment of antimicrobials and 12 (9.5%) for suspected drug-drug interactions. Based on DIS recommendations, mean number of antimicrobials prescribed per patient reduced from 3.4±1.85 to 1.62±1.38 (p<0.0001) when tested by paired t-test. Sixteen culture-negative cases were referred for opinion on appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
Conclusion: DIS is a very useful resource, which provides unbiased, factual drug information to clinicians and patients and must be established in all healthcare facilities. DIS strengthen rational use of antimicrobials.
Keywords
Antimicrobial resistance, Antimicrobial surveillance, Drug information centres
10.7860/JCDR/2021/49002.14916
Date of Submission: Feb 13, 2021
Date of Peer Review: Mar 11, 2021
Date of Acceptance: Apr 24, 2021
Date of Publishing: May 01, 2021
AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? NA
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? NA
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA
PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS:
• Plagiarism X-checker: Feb 15, 2021
• Manual Googling: Apr 23, 2021
• iThenticate Software: Apr 26, 2021 (2%)
ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin
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