Assessment of the pattern of antibiotics use in pediatrics ward of Dessie Referral Hospital, North East Ethiopia

The main purpose is to assess the prescribing practice of antibiotic in pediatrics ward of DRH, North East Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based retrospective cross sectional study was used to assess patient cards for the past 1 year (June 2012- May 2013). Results: About 98 % of pediatrics was prescribed with at least one antibiotic. The most common diagnoses were severe pneumonia (19.6%) and Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) with some dehydration (10.3%). The most commonly prescribed single antibiotics was crystalline penicillin (33.3%) and multiple antibiotics were ampicillin and gentamicin (62.9%).Accordingly, parenteral route accounted for 377(76%) and with a practice of parenteral to oral shift upon discharge in only 7.9% of cases. The average number of drugs per patient was 1.70±0.93 and antibiotics per patient were 1.457±0.599. More than 61.51% of the patients were exposed to at least two drugs. Conclusion: There is high percentage of antibiotics use in pediatrics ward of DRH and even some of them administered without proper indication. Proper treatment guidelines and policies should be practiced to promote judicious use of antibiotics.