A study of antibiotics used in adult respiratory disorders in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.

Respiratory tract infections (RTI) are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality, in Nepal, because of the climate, living conditions and economic status of the people. This study was done to find out the pattern of respiratory tract infections in adults and pattern of antibiotics (AB) prescribed in them and to explore the most economical treatment of patients without compromising the quality of it. Three hospitals of Kathmandu valley and two hospitals of Bhaktapur were selected. Out of 118 patients of RTI in which AB were prescribed, 110 patients were randomly selected in this study. Among them 53.6% were male and 46.4% were female, 43.7% patients were smokers and 56.3% were non-smokers. The average costs of treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) were lower then lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). The cost of treatment of chronic respiratory cases was highest.