RESUMO
Objective: The antimicrobial drugs especially Quinolones are the top most therapeutics class of drug prescribed in some country like Pakistan in primary and tertiary care hospitals and clinics. The objective of the study was to assess the irrational prescribing practice of quinolones in tertiary care setups of Karachi. Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted for the period of 04 months from November 2019-February 2020, in Public and Private Sector Tertiary Care setups of Karachi. Data was collected from surgical, medical and emergency wards on the basis of World Health Organization prescribing pattern, to evaluate the prescriptions based on Culture sensitivity tests (CST), empirical, targeted, and/or prophylactic therapies. Results: Out of total 1000 patients 41.6% patients were from Public and 58.4% were from Private Sector Tertiary Care Hospital. 13.7% of the patients from Public and 24.8% from Private Sector Tertiary Hospitals were prescribed Quinolones after performing their Culture Sensitivity Test. However, 79.8% of the patients were prescribed Quinolones without Culture Sensitivity Test. 36.4% patients were prescribed with empirical therapy, 20.2% with De-Escalation therapy, while 43.4% were prescribed with prophylactic therapy of quinolones. Conclusion: Study concluded that some serious efforts are required to avoid the irrational prescribing practice and promote the rational prescribing practice of antibiotics particularly for Quinolones.
RESUMO
The curing of patient is the top most priority of health associated professionals. Complete and proper information of medicine is always the willing of the patients and their close ones. The primary source of information for patients’ regarding the medicine is patients’ information leaflet (PIL). The main aim of the present study is to evaluate the errors and incomplete information in leaf inserts sold with marketed medicines in Pakistan. For the present study, 11 different classes of oral medicines of different multinational and national pharmaceutical industries were purchased from different community and hospitals pharmacies in Karachi. The present study has been revealed incomplete information related to medicines in PILs. 9 out of 11 PILs have 48.84% (n= 63) major while minor errors were 51.16% (n= 66). The major errors were included incomplete information of indications, adverse drug effects, drug mechanism, dosage errors, drug-drug and drug-food interactions, precautions and warning, pharmacokinetic profile and pregnancy and lactation. Whereas, omission of structural formula, molecular formula, molecular weight, chemical names, laboratory tests, clinical trials data, font size, paper quality, and use of national language (Urdu) have been observed as minor errors. It has been concluded that majority of PILs sold with marketed medicines were not up to the mark and met the regulatory requirements. In countries like Pakistan, with high illiteracy rate and low financial status, patients’ were unaware about the importance of PILs. Mainly pharmaceutical industries have not called attention on information of marketed drugs medicines in Pakistan which has been proven a shocking situation regarding the negligence of healthcare matter in Pakistan.