Pattern of antibiotic usage in hospitals in Malaysia

• Published in: Singapore medical journal Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 525 - 528
• Main Authors: LIM, V. K. E, CHEONG, Y. M, SULEIMAN, A. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Singapore Medical Association 01.12.1993
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - classification; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Bacterial Infections - prevention & control; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Prescriptions - statistics & numerical data; Drug Utilization - statistics & numerical data; Hospital Departments - organization & administration; Hospitals, General - organization & administration; Humans; Malaysia - epidemiology; Medical sciences; Medical Staff, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital - organization & administration; Pediatrics - organization & administration; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prospective Studies; Surgery Department, Hospital - organization & administration; Asia; Malaysia; Human; Prescription; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Hospital; Antibacterial agent; Public health
• ISSN: 0037-5675

A prospective survey of antibiotic prescribing patterns in six Ministry of Health general hospitals in Malaysia was undertaken. Information on antibiotic prescriptions including the types of antibiotics used and the purposes for prescription was obtained through the use of questionnaires. A total of 1,918 antibiotic prescriptions were available for analysis. About two-thirds of prescriptions were for therapeutic purposes. The most common infections treated were lower respiratory infection (31%), followed by skin and soft tissue infection (17%), and urinary tract infection (8%). Only 20% of the therapeutic prescriptions were based on microbiological test results. Prophylactic prescriptions were issued for a variety of indications, the most common being toilet and suture of wounds. Only 5% of prophylactic prescriptions were of less than 3 days duration. There was great diversity in antibiotics and antibiotic regimens employed. It was evident that there was a lack of compliance with guidelines on antibiotic use issued by the Ministry of Health.