Drug Utilization Evaluation of Cephalosporins in the General Medicine and General Surgery Departments in Atertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Aim was to conduct a prospective observational study on Drug Utilization Evaluation of cephalosporins, to determine the frequency of usage of Cephalosporin and to study the indications for which cephalosporins were prescribed. A total of 250 patients were enrolled in the study, 200 from general medicine (n1) and 50 from general surgery (n2) department. Data were collected, by scrutinizing the inpatient case sheet from both departments, for a period of 6 months. Out of 250 patients’, majority of patients’ 58 (23.2%) belonged to age group of 31- 40 years. The average age of male and female patients’ were (41.37±16.13) and (44.69±16.14), (41.87±15.96) and (31.06±18.63) in general medicine and general surgery respectively. This study observed that cephalosporins were prescribed to 58 (29%) of patients with Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI). Out of 250 patients enrolled in the study from both the departments, 182 (72.8%) patients received only third generation cephalosporins, while the remaining received a combination of cephalosporin with a β-lactam inhibitor. The most prescribed drug in the general medicine department was ceftriaxone121 (60.1%).The average duration of use of Cephalosporin was 5 and 8.5 days in general medicine and general surgery departments respectively. Prescriber should follow the standard treatment guidelines for improving the Rational Use of Drugs and to prevent the development of resistance. The duration of use of cephalosporins is in partial compliance with the guidelines.