Published Paper Details:

Respiratory tract infection is defined as number of infectious diseases which involve Upper and Lower respiratory tract infection. Antimicrobial agents are the therapeutic substance used to treat the infections caused by different types of microbes by killing or preventing the growth of microorganisms. Improper utilization of antibiotics, particularly broad-spectrum ones, for treating respiratory tract infections can lead to antibiotic resistance. OBJECTIVES: To describe the prescribing pattern of antimicrobial agents in respiratory tract infection in the Department of General Medicine, and to describe the rational use of antimicrobial agents among these patients. METHODOLOGY: A record based study was carried out involving in-patients general medicine, for a period of 6 months in MIMS hospital. Ethical clearance was obtained prior to the study. The patient data was collected by using well designed patient data collection form and their prescription were recorded and subjected to analysis. RESULT: A study of 100 patients found that males (54%) had a higher incidence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) than females (46%), with smoking alcoholism being major risk factors. The most commonly prescribed antimicrobials were antibiotics, and antiviral and the major antibiotics are cephalosporins, macrolides, and the antivirals were Tamiflu used. And the average hospital stays of 3-4 days and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) being the most common diagnosis. The combination of 2 drug therapy (40.66%), was commonly used then monotherapy. CONCLUSION: out of 100 patient's male patients were highly predominance male than female; most common age group was 60-70 years with the risk factor like smoking and alcoholic. From this study, it is concluded that cautions and judicious use of antibiotics will reduce the burden of multi-drug resistance and thereby enabling better management.