Alireza Fahimzad1, Zahra Eydian2, Abdollah Karimi1, Farideh Shiva1, Shirin Sayyahfar3, Manijeh Kahbazi4, Aliakbar Rahbarimanesh5, Iraj Sedighi6, Reza Arjmand7, Gholamreza Soleimani8, Anahita Sanaei Dashti9, Babak Abdinia10, Nasser Mostafavi11, Roya Nikfar12, Masomeh Abedini13, Mohammad Sadegh Rezaei14, Ali Mohammadpour15, Houman Hashemian16, Hossein Hidari17, Keyghobad Ghadiri18, Reza Entezari Heravi19. 1. Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran. Zahra.eydian@yahoo.com. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Aliasghar Children Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4. Tuberculosis and Pediatrics Infectious Disease Research Center, Arak University of Medical Science, Arak, Iran. 5. Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Bahrami Children Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 6. Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. 7. Department of Pediatrics, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran. 8. Children and Adolescent Health Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. 9. Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 10. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. 11. Department of Pediatrics Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 12. Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Abuzar Children Medical Center Hospital, Ahvaz Jondishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 13. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Sanandaj University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. 14. Antimicrobial Resistant Nosocomial Infection Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. 15. Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. 16. Department of Pediatrics, Gilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. 17. Pediatric Medicine Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. 18. Nosocomial Infection Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. 19. Faculty of Pharmacy, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in pediatrics. Due to lack of uniformity in pediatric antimicrobial prescribing and the emergence of antibiotic resistance, appropriate drug utilization studies have been found to be crucial to evaluate whether these drugs are properly used. METHODS: Data were collected between January 2014 and February 2014 in 16 Iranian pediatric hospitals using a standardized method. The point prevalence survey included all inpatient beds. RESULTS: Of 858 children, 571 (66.6%) received one or more antimicrobials. The indications were therapeutic in 60.6%. The parenteral route was used in 92.5% of therapeutic indications. Ceftriaxone was the most prescribed antimicrobials for therapeutic indications (32.4%) and combination-therapy was the most type of therapy in pediatric intelligent care unit (PICU). CONCLUSION: According to results of this study, antibiotics' prescribing in pediatrics wards of Iranian hospitals is empirical. Therefore, for quality improvement of antimicrobial use in children continuous audit process and antibiotic prescriptions require further investigation.
BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in pediatrics. Due to lack of uniformity in pediatric antimicrobial prescribing and the emergence of antibiotic resistance, appropriate drug utilization studies have been found to be crucial to evaluate whether these drugs are properly used. METHODS: Data were collected between January 2014 and February 2014 in 16 Iranian pediatric hospitals using a standardized method. The point prevalence survey included all inpatient beds. RESULTS: Of 858 children, 571 (66.6%) received one or more antimicrobials. The indications were therapeutic in 60.6%. The parenteral route was used in 92.5% of therapeutic indications. Ceftriaxone was the most prescribed antimicrobials for therapeutic indications (32.4%) and combination-therapy was the most type of therapy in pediatric intelligent care unit (PICU). CONCLUSION: According to results of this study, antibiotics' prescribing in pediatrics wards of Iranian hospitals is empirical. Therefore, for quality improvement of antimicrobial use in children continuous audit process and antibiotic prescriptions require further investigation.