Evaluation of the rational use of antibiotics in an Ecuador hospital

Abstract

Introduction: the inappropriate use of antibiotics is a public health problem at hospital and public level, which has generated unfavorable consequences such as bacterial resistance, unsafe therapeutic efficacy and undesirable adverse effects; negatively affecting the economic aspect of the patient.⁽¹⁾

Objective: to evaluate the rational use of antibiotics in the internal medicine area of a hospital in Riobamba - Ecuador.

Methods: non-experimental, observational, descriptive and retrospective research where 247 clinical histories of hospitalized patients were collected during the period July-December 2021.

Results: during the period July - December 2021, a population of 247 clinical histories was identified, aged between 18 +/- 65 years, of which 43,72 % belonged to the female gender and 56,28 % to the male gender. The most prevalent conditions were respiratory diseases with 26,4 % and diseases of the genitourinary system with 23,85 %. Among the most prescribed antibiotics were ceftriaxone with 20,44 % and Azithromycin with 10,10 %. It is worth mentioning that combined therapy was the therapy of choice with 64.4 %, during the treatments. In addition, it was identified that the most relevant DRP was interactions with 55,36 %. The most frequent interactions between antibiotics were Ampicillin + Sulbactam and clarithromycin (19,32 %; n=17); Azithromycin and Amoxicillin (13,64 %; n=12); Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid and Clarithromycin (11,36 %; n=10), the interactions between antibiotics and other drugs with the highest percentage were clarithromycin and dexamethasone (13,27 %; n=13). It was observed that 22,47 % did not comply with the recommendations of the MSP. However, 65,75 % of the patients did not comply with the recommendations of the MSP.

Conclusion: A rational use of antibiotics is evidenced, due to the high compliance with the therapeutic protocols of the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador.