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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
11:17

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses

Published on: August 30, 2018

Factors affecting antibiotic prescribing pattern in pediatric practice

R Bharathiraja1, Sivakumar Sridharan, Luke Ravi Chelliah

  • 1Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Madras Medical College, Chennai, India.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|November 8, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Most children with acute respiratory infections and acute watery diarrhea in Chennai received antibiotics, often penicillins. Physician factors and patient fever influenced these antibiotic prescriptions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Antimicrobial stewardship
  • Public health

Background:

  • Antibiotic overuse in children is a significant global health concern.
  • Understanding prescription patterns is crucial for antimicrobial stewardship.
  • Common childhood illnesses like Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) and Acute Watery Diarrhea (ADD) are frequently treated with antibiotics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the proportion of children prescribed antibiotics for common illnesses in Chennai, India.
  • To analyze antibiotic prescription patterns among private practitioners.
  • To identify factors influencing antibiotic prescribing for pediatric ARI and ADD.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study analyzing 403 prescriptions from 40 private physicians in Chennai.
  • Data collected from selected health facilities.
  • Prescriptions for children with Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) and Acute Watery Diarrhea (ADD) were evaluated.

Main Results:

  • 79.9% of children with ARI and ADD received antibiotics.
  • Penicillins were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic class (43.9%).
  • Physician postgraduate qualification, experience, knowledge updates, inpatient setting, and fever presence significantly influenced prescription patterns.

Conclusions:

  • High rates of antibiotic prescribing for common childhood illnesses in Chennai.
  • Prescription patterns are influenced by physician characteristics and clinical factors.
  • Interventions targeting physician education and practice settings may improve antibiotic use.

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