Publication: Antibiotics Use in Hospitalised COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nepal Medical Association
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is a global health problem. The widespread and improper antibiotics use is the leading cause of antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 patients is the basis for the use of antibiotics in the management of COVID-19. COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted antibiotic stewardship and increased the global usage of antibiotics, worsening the antimicrobial resistance problem. The use of antibiotics among COVID-19 patients is high but there are limited studies in the context of Nepal. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of antibiotic use among hospitalised COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care centre.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on hospitalised COVID-19 patients from April 2021 to June 2021 in a tertiary care centre. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 2078/79/05). The hospital data were collected in the proforma by reviewing the patient’s medical records during the study period of 2 months. Convenience sampling was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.
Results: Among 106 hospitalised COVID-19 patients, the prevalence of antibiotic use was 104 (98.11%) (95.52-100, 95% Confidence Interval). About 74 (71.15%) of patients received multiple antibiotics. The most common classes of antibiotics used were cephalosporins, seen in 85 (81.73%) and macrolides, seen in 57 (54.81%) patients.
Conclusions: The prevalence of antibiotic use among hospitalised COVID-19 patients was found to be higher when compared to other studies conducted in similar settings.
Description
Bibechan Thapa
Department of Emergency Medicine, Kirtipur Hospital, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Samyam Bickram Pathak
Department of Intensive Care Unit, Nepal Mediciti Hospital, Bhaisepati, Lalitpur, Nepal
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9085-3135
Nisha Jha
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Mahalaxmi, Lalitpur, Nepal
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1089-6042
Milesh Jung Sijapati
Department of Internal Medicine, KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Mahalaxmi, Lalitpur, Nepal
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6797-4764
Pathiyil Ravi Shankar
IMU Center for Education, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6105-5636
Keywords
Antibiotics, Bacterial infection, Co-infection, COVID-19