Evaluation of antibiotic consumption using WHO -antimicrobial consumption tool and AWaRe classification

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global public health threat.
• Antibiotic misuse and overuse are prevalent, exacerbated by limited access in some regions.
• Data on antibiotic consumption in India is scarce, particularly from the private sector.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate antibiotic consumption patterns in intensive care unit (ICU) patients in India.
• To assess antibiotic usage trends utilizing the World Health Organization (WHO) AWaRE classification.
• To provide data on antimicrobial prescribing practices in a critical care setting.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study was conducted in an ICU over six months.
• Patient records and antibiotic prescriptions were collected from admission to discharge.
• Hospital pharmacy data provided antibiotic consumption figures; descriptive statistics were employed for analysis.

Main Results:

• Female patients (54%) and the 40-49 age group (21.68%) were most frequently treated with antimicrobials.
• Surgical prophylaxis was the primary indication for antimicrobial use (37.34%).
• Ceftriaxone 1 gm (108.5 DDD) was the most prescribed antibiotic, with the access group accounting for 55% of total consumption.

Conclusions:

• Appropriate antibiotic use is crucial for mitigating adverse events and the development of antimicrobial resistance.
• Understanding antibiotic consumption trends, like the high usage of access antibiotics, is vital for stewardship programs.
• This study provides essential data on ICU antibiotic prescribing in India, informing future interventions.