A Review of the use of Rational and Quality Antibiotics in a Nigerian Tertiary Institution

Purpose: The study reviewed the use of rational and quality antibiotics at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Three objectives and three research questions were drafted for the study, respectively. Methodology: The study used a retrospective descriptive survey that lasted four months. The study relied on secondary data, which was gathered from the folders of 583 patients. From January 1, 2019 to April 30, 2019, all patients with complete information admitted to medical, surgical, and paediatric wards, as well as obstetrics and gynaecology wards, had their folders reviewed. A self-developed checklist was used to assess critical aspects of antibiotic utilisation and the use of generic names in antibiotic prescribing, a self-developed checklist was used. The data collected were collated, coded and analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, charts, and tables. Findings: The findings showed that out of the total folders (n=583) reviewed, the socio-demographic information showed that majority of the patients (42.2%) who received prescribed antibiotics were adult female. On the age category, out of the total folders (n=583) reviewed, majority of the folders (114) showed that those within the ages of 21-30 years represents over 19.0%. The antibiotics prescribed from the four (4) different departments showed that 26.7% of antibiotics were prescribed and utilized in medical wards. The level of compliance with some standard practices, shows that pneumonia test conducted, was highest in surgery ward, this represents 82.8%, the sensitivity test conducted, was highest in paediatric ward (46.4%). Out of the total antibiotics prescribed (n=1164), generic names were used for 59.6% cases, while 73.2% of the antibiotic prescribed were in the EDL authorised list. The results revealed that cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed class of antibiotics, 384 (34%) followed by the nitroimidazoles 346 (29.7%) and penicillin’s 138 (11.9%). Inappropriate antibiotic prescription was found to be 58.7% among the total prescribed antibiotics (n=1164).  Based on the results and findings in the study, it is safe to conclude that the majority of antibiotics utilised were over prescribed, with high inappropriate use. The lack of generic use in antibiotic prescriptions and the overuse of antibiotics remain a problem in tertiary hospitals across Nigeria. Recommendation: This study recommend that prescriptions should be prescribed with slips duly signed by a doctor and approved by a pharmacist before the administration of such drugs. Also, all public hospitals in Nigeria should develop local treatment guidelines using national and international policy guidelines for local infectious disease.