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

ABSTRACT

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