Antimicrobial prescribing pattern in acute tonsillitis: a hospital based study in Ajman, United Arab Emirtaes

The objective of the present study was to determine the antimicrobial prescription pattern in patients with acute tonsillitis. A cross sectional study was carried out among all the patients attending the ENT outpatient department with acute tonsillitis from January 2011 to December 2011. The data were retrieved from the medical records using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS. 19. A total of 238 patients were included in the study [Males 138; females 100]. The majority of the patients were Indians [49 [20.6%]], Emiratis [35 [14.7%]], and Pakistanis [31 [13%]]. The common types of tonsillitis noted were acute parenchymatous tonsillitis, acute follicular tonsillitis and acute pharyngotonsillitis. Of the total, seven [2.9%] patients had self medicated themselves prior to the hospital visit. About 96% of the total drugs were prescribed by brand name. The median number of drugs prescribed was four [range 1-7]. Eighty eight percent of the prescriptions contained antimicrobial agents, which was the most commonly prescribed group of drugs, followed by analgesics and antipyretics. Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid [24.8%] and Ceftriaxone [12.2%] were the most commonly prescribed antimicrobials. About 23.7% of the patients on Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid had received the drug as intravenous injection. Culture and sensitivity tests were carried out in 106 [44.5%] of the cases. Antimicrobials were changed/ added on after the culture and sensitivity test in 25 patients. No pattern was noticed with regard to the change in AMA; however Cefuroxime was the most frequently added AMA based on the sensitivity report. Therapeutic guidelines based on the current sensitivity pattern can be developed to optimize the use of antimicrobial agents and provide cost effective treatment

Acute tonsillitis in adults: the bacteriological profile and antibiotic sensitivity pattern in Ajman, UAE

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, pattern and antibiotic sensitivity of acute tonsillitis. A descriptive study was carried out from January 2011 to December 2011 among all adult patients attending the ENT outpatient department with acute tonsillitis. The data were retrieved from the medical records using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS. 19 version. A total of 175 patients were included. The age ranged from 18 to 70 years. The majority of the patients were Indian 49[20.6%], Emirati 35[14.7%], and Pakistani 31 [13%]. The common clinical types of tonsillitis noted were acute parenchymatous / follicular/ exudative tonsillitis and acute pharyngotonsillitis. The highest frequency of acute tonsillitis was observed in 20- 29 year age group with the commonest symptoms at presentation being sore throat and fever. The tonsils on examination were enlarged in more than half the patients and follicles seen on the congested surface of both or one tonsil in a majority of the patients included in the study. The relative frequency of presentation was high in the summer months from March to September. About one fourth of the study group reported to have had an episode of similar clinical presentation during the previous year. Among the study participants whose throat swab cultures were done, Streptococcus was the commonest species identified, a majority being alpha haemolytic streptococci, followed by streptococcus pyogenes and streptococcus pneumoniae. Most of these organisms were sensitive to third or fourth generation. Cephalosporins and Co-Amoxyclavulanic acid. The majority of patients responded to treatment with oral or parenteral antibiotics of the above group. Some organisms were multi-drug resistant, being sensitive only to piperacillin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime and meropenem. Therapeutic guidelines for optimum clinical response to acute tonsillitis among adult patients can be developed based on the common organisms grown on throat swab and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern to reduce patient morbidity and provide cost effective treatment

Antimicrobial prescribing pattern in acute tonsillitis: a hospital based study in Ajman, UAE

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to determine the antimicrobial prescription pattern in patients with acute tonsillitis

Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among all the patients attending the ENT outpatient department with acute tonsillitis from January 2011 to December 2011. The data were retrieved from the medical records using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS. 19

Results: A total of 238 patients were included in the study [Males 138; females 100]. The majority of the patients were Indians [49 [20.6%]], Emiratis [35 [14.7%]], and Pakistanis [31 [13%]]

The common types of tonsillitis noted were acute parenchymatous tonsillitis, acute follicular tonsillitis and acute pharyngotonsillitis. Of the total, seven [2.9%] patients had self medicated themselves prior to the hospital visit. About 96% of the total drugs were prescribed by brand name. The median number of drugs prescribed was four [range 1-7]. Eighty eight percent of the prescriptions contained antimicrobial agents, which was the most commonly prescribed group of drugs, followed by analgesics and antipyretics. Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid [24.8%] and Ceftriaxone [12.2%] were the most commonly prescribed antimicrobials. About 23.7% of the patients on Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid had received the drug as intravenous injection

Culture and sensitivity tests were carried out in 106 [44.5%] of the cases. Antimicrobials were changed/ added on after the culture and sensitivity test in 25 patients. No pattern was noticed with regard to the change in AMA; however Cefuroxime was the most frequently added AMA based on the sensitivity report

Conclusion: Therapeutic guidelines based on the current sensitivity pattern can be developed to optimize the use of antimicrobial agents and provide cost effective treatment