Infection Prevention in Practice (Jun 2021)

Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns at COVID-19 Dedicated Wards in Bangladesh: Findings from a Single Center Study

  • Md. Maruf Ahmed Molla,
  • Mahmuda Yeasmin,
  • Md. Khairul Islam,
  • Md. Mohiuddin Sharif,
  • Md. Robed Amin,
  • Tasnim Nafisa,
  • Asish Kumar Ghosh,
  • Monira Parveen,
  • Md. Masum Hossain Arif,
  • Junaid Abdullah Jamiul Alam,
  • Syed Jafar Raza Rizvi,
  • K.M. Saif-Ur-Rahman,
  • Arifa Akram,
  • A.K.M. Shamsuzzaman

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 2
p. 100134

Abstract

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Summary: Background: As evidence is mounting regarding irrational and often unnecessary use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic a cross-sectional Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) (in accordance with WHO guideline) was conducted across COVID-19 dedicated wards in Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). Methodology: Antibiotic usage data were collected from 193 patients at different COVID-19 dedicated wards at DMCH on 11 June 2020. Comparisons in antibiotic usage were made between different groups using Pearson chi-square and Fisher's exact test. Result: Findings reveal all surveyed patients (100%) were receiving at least one antibiotic with 133 patients (68.91%) receiving multiple antibiotics. Overall, patients presenting with the severe disease received more antibiotics. Third-generation cephalosporins (i.e. ceftriaxone) (53.8%), meropenem (40.9%), moxifloxacin (29.5%), and doxycycline (25.4%) were the four most prescribed antibiotics among surveyed patients. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was independently associated with multiple antibiotic prescribing. Abnormal C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum d-dimer were linked with higher odds of multiple antibiotic prescribing among study patients. Conclusion: Prevalence of multiple antibiotic prescriptions was high among severely ill patients and those with abnormal CRP and d-dimer levels. Data regarding the quality of antibiotic prescribing were lacking.

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