• Ruchi Shrestha, Brijesh Pandey, Shakya ShresthaSonySDepartment of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal., Manandhar ShresthaJyoti TaraJTDepartment of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal., and Pankaj Poudel.
• Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal.
• JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2023 Jun 1; 61 (262): 522525522-525.

IntroductionAgeing predisposes to increased risk of infections which make these population vulnerable to high risk of various chronic co-morbidities, organ dysfunction and mortality. Increased frequency of infections has led to an increasing proportion of geriatric patient admission to hospitals, and antibiotics therapy has long been recognized as a cornerstone in the treatment of infections. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of antibiotic use among geriatric patients admitted to the Department of Medicine in a tertiary care centre.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among geriatric patients admitted to Department of Medicine in a tertiary care centre from 1 May 2022 to 31 August 2022. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 17/22). Patients with the age of ≥60 years, admitted to the Department of Medicine who stayed for at least 24 hours was included as the study population. Convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.ResultsAmong 520 geriatric patients, antibiotics was used in 252 (48.46%) (44.16-52.76, 95% Confidence Interval) patients. Ceftriaxone was the most common antibiotic used in 165 (65.48%) patients, followed by oral azithromycin in 72 (28.57%). The mean antibiotics used per patient was 1.59±0.73.ConclusionsThe prevalence of antibiotic use in the geriatric population was found to be lower than in the other studies done in similar settings.Keywordsaged; antibiotics; drug utilization.

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