Drug Utilization Study of Antibiotics in Respiratoryillnesses Among Geriatric Patients in Atertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTIs) refer to the inflammation of the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and lung tissue. The two most common LRTIs are Bronchitis and Pneumonia. They occur frequently and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Geriatric patients are at an increased risk of developing LRTIs as compared to young adults. The prevalence of LRTIs in the elderly population is not only related to underlying disease and aging itself, but also to variety of clinical issues, such a history of hospitalization, previous antibacterial therapy, mechanical ventilation and antibiotic resistance. Also, as age increases, frequent health related issues also arise and that include frailty, poly pharmacy, under-use of medications, inappropriate prescribing, medication errors, co-morbid conditions and the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes. Antibiotics seem to be the corner stone of LRTI management in the elderly. Drug Utilization Review (DUR) is defined as an authorized, structured and ongoing review of prescribing, dispensing and use of medications. DUR studies has made it possible to study drug prescribing and drug usage in a scientific and formal manner. The DUR studies provide a view about the efficiency of drug use and help in setting up priorities for rational use of antibiotics and also of health care budgets. Very few studies on use of antibiotics in treatment of LRTIs in geriatric patients are available. Hence the present study has been undertaken, with the aimof analyzing the pattern of antibiotic use in geriatric patients suffering from LRTIs, in a tertiary care hospital.
Keywords: Lower respiratory tract infections, Antibiotics, Drug utilization study, Geriatric Patients.