ABSTRACT
Background: Drug utilization provides prescribing behaviors of prescriber. Rational prescribing of antimicrobial drugs plays a crucial role in reducing the antibiotic resistance. The study aim was to analyze the patterns of antimicrobial prescribed ophthalmology outpatient department (OPD) patients. Methods: The study was an observational study completed over a period of 6 months, from July 2014 to December 2014. The study was conducted in Department of Ophthalmology, MGM Medical College, and Hospital Navi Mumbai. A questionnaire was specifi cally designed factoring patients’ demographical profi le, diagnosis of disease, drug regimen. Results: A total 125 prescriptions of patients were analyzed who visited ophthalmology OPD department. Maximum patients belonged to the age group of 41-50 years (27.2%), followed by age group of 31-40 years (25.6%). The proportion of male (59%) patients was more as compared to female patients (41%). Total drug prescribed was 296. Average drug per prescription was 2.36. Among 296 drugs, 144 were antibiotic prescribed. Average antibiotic per prescription was 1.15. Most commonly antibiotic prescribed was moxifloxacin. Most common fixed dose combination (FDC) of antibiotic prescribed was tobramycin plus loteprednol. Among total 125 patients, maximum patients were diagnosed with cataract (25%), followed by meibomitis (12%), conjunctivitis (24%), blephritis (9%), foreign body in eye (12%), psedophakia (10%) and other disease (8%). 96% of antimicrobial were prescribed from essential drug list. The FDC of antimicrobial (40%), fl uroquinolone (19%), aminoglycoside (13%), broad spectrum (12%), macrolide (9%), anti-viral (7%) was prescribed. Maximum number of drugs was found in the form eye drops (72%). Conclusion: The present study found that FDC of antibiotic was prescribed maximum. Most common dosage form of prescribed drug was eye drop. Prescription of drugs by brand name was a matter of concern