Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: August | Volume: 9 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 254-266
Prescription Errors and Prescribing Faults of Antibiotic Prophylaxis and Combination Therapy- A Prospective Observational Study
Kotte Swerika1, Renikindi Anjana Sree1, Pingili Keerthana1, Meka Naresh1, Devender Kodati2
1Pharm. D, 2Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacy Practice, St.Peters Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Vidyanagar,
Warangal, India, 506001.
Corresponding Author: Devender Kodati
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Prescribing fault is a failure in the decision-making process that has the potential to harm the patient. Prescription error is an inability in the process of writing prescription that results in a wrong instruction. Blind prescribing, where antibiotics are prescribed without any culture or sensitivity testing, contributes to antibiotic resistance.
Methods: This is an observational prospective study done for 6 months (November 2018- April 2019) in a tertiary care hospital. Patients’ details were analyzed by the assistance of ICMR Treatment Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use in Common Syndromes 2017 and chi-square tests, percentage analysis, ratio estimates, confidence intervals and probability values were performed.
Results: 303 patients were reviewed and categorized based on gender, age range, errors, faults, drug-drug interactions and types of therapy. In the study, males were predominant with 53%. The ratios of errors such as Poor legibility of hand writing, Abbreviations used and Inaccuracy in writing in pediatrics, adults and geriatrics were 1.13:1.03:1, 1.16:1.19:1 and 1.2:1.4:1 respectively. The 95% Confidence Intervals for Combinational and Prophylactic therapies were 0.142 and 0.937 with the probability value of 1.6054E-40.
Conclusion: Clinical interventions on prescribing faults, prescription errors and drug-drug interactions are frequently required with antibiotic therapy. Structured screening for these events by physicians in close collaborations with clinical pharmacologists should take place during and after the antibiotic treatment.
Scope: Similar studies can be conducted in various categories of drugs to improve quality of treatments and hospital standards. Establishment of Hospital Computerized Physician Order Entry Systems in preventing Medication Errors can be done.
Key words: Prescription Error, Prescribing Fault, Antibiotics, Drug-Drug Interactions, Confidence Interval, Probability Value.