Assessment Of Hospital Adherence To Antibiotic Policy And Its Impact On Rational Antibiotic Use And Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

Introduction: Antibiotics are essential in the management of infectious diseases caused by a wide range of microorganisms, which continue to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. To ensure their optimal and sustained effectiveness, national treatment guidelines have been developed to promote the rational use of antibiotics, including standardized approaches to common infections. These guidelines are periodically updated in response to emerging antimicrobial resistance patterns. Hospitals are expected to implement antibiotic policies based on these national standards to encourage appropriate prescribing practices. However, irrational and inappropriate antibiotic use persists as a major contributor to the development of antimicrobial resistance, posing a serious public health challenge. In this context, evaluating adherence to hospital antibiotic policies and their alignment with national guidelines is crucial. The present study aims to analyze the rational and judicious use of antibiotics within a hospital setting, assess the degree of adherence to the hospital's antibiotic policy, and explore its impact on the prevention of antimicrobial resistance. The study also seeks to compare the effectiveness of antibiotic monotherapy and combination therapy, and to evaluate the overall appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions.

Methodology: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted involving 686 subjects of both genders who were prescribed antibiotics. Neonates, pediatric patients, pregnant women, and tuberculosis cases were excluded. Data were collected using a structured form and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. The Chi-square test was employed to evaluate statistical significance.

Results: Among the 686 prescriptions analyzed, 82% of antibiotics were prescribed appropriately according to National Treatment Guidelines. However, only 44.8% adhered to the hospital’s antibiotic policy, while 54.9% of cases revealed a lack of relevant treatment guidelines within the hospital policy. A statistically significant therapeutic outcome was observed when prescriptions followed the National or hospital guidelines.

Conclusion: The study highlights a critical gap in hospital antibiotic policy—specifically, the absence of guidelines for several infectious conditions. This inadequacy can lead to inappropriate antibiotic use and increased antimicrobial resistance. It is imperative that hospital antibiotic policies be regularly reviewed and aligned with national treatment guidelines to promote rational antibiotic use and curb the emergence of resistance.