Evaluation of antibiotic prescription patterns using WHO AWaRe classification

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global public health concern.
• Pakistan faces high rates of antibiotic resistance, particularly in neonatal care.
• The Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) department's antibiotic prescribing patterns are crucial for AMR stewardship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze antibiotic prescription patterns in the ENT department of Shalamar Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
• To evaluate these patterns against the World Health Organization's (WHO) AWaRe 2021 antibiotic classification.

Main Methods:

• Prescription data from the ENT outpatient department (October-December 2021) were collected.
• Quantitative analysis compared antibiotic use with the WHO AWaRe classification.
• Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, with results discussed for improvement.

Main Results:

• Out of 7126 entries, 862 (12.1%) were assessed for antibiotic prescriptions.
• Approximately 54.9% of prescribed antibiotics were from the 'Access' category.
• The WHO target is at least 60% consumption of 'Access' group antibiotics.

Conclusions:

• The ENT department did not prescribe 'Reserve' or 'Not Recommended' antibiotics.
• Prescription rates for 'Watch' category antibiotics exceeded WHO AWaRe recommendations.
• Increased use of 'Access' antibiotics is needed to meet the WHO's 60% target.