Study of antibiotic usages in patients with acute upper respiratory tract infection and nearby organs in a government hospital

Abstract

Background: Food and Drug Administration adopted Antibiotic Smart Use (ASU) project in order to reduce antibiotic usage in 3 common diseases.
Objectives: To study antibiotic usage and treatment outcome in patients with acute upper respiratory tract infection (URI) and nearby organs in the General Practice Department and the Social Security Department who received or did not receive antibiotics in accordance to the ASU the guidelines.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with acute URI and nearby organs who visited the General Practice Department and the Social Security Department of Nopparatrajthanee Hospital between October 2015 and January 2016. Antibiotics prescribed to patients were collected and compared with the ASU guidelines. Seven days later, patients were followed-up for the treatment outcome. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and chi-square.
Results: The 381 patients were enrolled in the study. Antibiotic was prescribed in 73.4% of patients in the General Practice Department and 78.3% of patients in the Social Security Department. Patients received antibiotics in concordance and non-concordance to the ASU guidelines was found to be 41.5% and 38.3%, respectively. At 7 days after starting the treatment, 94.3% and 97.2% of patients receiving antibiotics in concordance and non-concordance to the ASU guidelines, respectively were cured or became better. No significant difference was found between the two groups (P=0.2030).
Conclusion: Antibiotic usage in acute URI and nearby organs that was in concordance and nonconcordance to the ASU guidelines was in similar and high rate. Therefore, action plan to strict to the ASU guidelines should be adopted.