Prescribing pattern of antibacterial drugs in a teaching hospital in Gondar, Ethiopia

The prescribing pattern of antibacterial agents was analyzed by reviewing case notes of 407 patients discharged between October and November 1992 from a teaching hospital in Gondar, North-West Ethiopia. Seventy percent had received one or more antibacterials. Most exposure was in surgical ward (84%) followed by paediatric (82%), orthopaedic (78%), medical (72%), gynaecologic (58%) and obstetric (20%) wards. The antibacterials most frequently prescribed were penicillin G (25%), chloramphenical (24%), and ampicillin (20%). The total list numbered 13 and included no cephalosporines or quinoline derivatives. The preliminary survey indicated an inappropriate use of antibacterials and suggested the need to develop a policy on hospital antibacterial use.