Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Department of Pharmacy, Mafraq Gynecology and Pediatric Hospital, Ministry of Health, AlMafraq, Jordan.
Int J Clin Pract. 2021 Nov;75(11):e14740. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.14740. Epub 2021 Aug 23.
Antibiotics' rational prescribing is a major goal of the World Health Organization's (WHO) global action plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Evaluation of antibiotic prescribing patterns is necessary to guide simple, globally applicable stewardship interventions. The impact of antimicrobial resistance is devastating, especially in low-income countries. We aimed to introduce ambulatory data on patterns of paediatric antibiotic prescribing in Jordan, which could be used to guide local stewardship interventions.
A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted by selecting a random sample of paediatric patients, who attended ambulatory settings in 2018. Records of outpatients (age ≤18 years) receiving at least one antibiotic were included. The WHO's model of drug utilisation was applied, and all prescribing indicators were included. Multiple linear regression was performed to examine factors influencing the ratio of prescribed antibiotics to overall medications per encounter.
A total of 20 494 prescriptions, containing 45 241 prescribed drugs, were obtained. The average number of prescribed drugs per prescription was (2.21 ± 0.98). Approximately 77.5% of overall ambulatory prescriptions accounted for antimicrobials. Only 0.6% of total prescriptions were for injectables. All antimicrobials (100%) were prescribed by generic names and from the essential drug list. Antibiotics were most commonly prescribed for respiratory tract infections. Age, gender, season and facility type were significant predictors of prescribed antibiotics to overall medications ratio.
This is the first study of antibiotic prescribing patterns among outpatient paediatrics that covers wide regions in Jordan. Results indicate high rates of antibiotics use among outpatient paediatrics. Such findings necessitate more focussed efforts and regulations that support rational utilisation of drugs.
抗生素的合理应用是世界卫生组织（WHO）应对抗微生物药物耐药性全球行动计划的主要目标之一。评估抗生素的应用模式对于指导简单、全球适用的管理干预措施是必要的。抗微生物药物耐药性的影响是毁灭性的，特别是在低收入国家。我们旨在介绍约旦儿科抗生素处方模式的门诊数据，这些数据可用于指导当地的管理干预措施。
通过选择 2018 年在门诊环境中就诊的儿科患者的随机样本进行横断面回顾性研究。记录接受至少一种抗生素的门诊患者（年龄≤18 岁）的病历。应用世卫组织药物利用模式，纳入所有处方指标。采用多元线性回归分析影响每次就诊处方抗生素与总药物比例的因素。
共获得 20494 张处方，包含 45241 种处方药物。每张处方的平均用药数量为（2.21±0.98）。约 77.5%的门诊总处方为抗菌药物。仅 0.6%的总处方为注射剂。所有抗菌药物（100%）均以通用名和基本药物清单开出处方。抗生素最常用于治疗呼吸道感染。年龄、性别、季节和医疗机构类型是影响处方抗生素与总药物比例的重要预测因素。
这是约旦首次对覆盖广泛地区的门诊儿科抗生素处方模式进行的研究。结果表明，门诊儿科抗生素使用率较高。这些发现需要更加集中的努力和法规支持药物的合理应用。
