TO DETERMINE DISPENSING PRACTICES OF ANTIBIOTICS WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION AMONG COMMUNITY PHARMACIES IN SOUTH INDIA

TO DETERMINE DISPENSING PRACTICES OF ANTIBIOTICS WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION AMONG COMMUNITY PHARMACIES IN SOUTH INDIA

DR. C.P YOGAVIGNESHWARAN- MDCCC-140

Background: Antibiotic over use is common in outpatient service than in-patient settings but the concern in developing countries like India is dispensing of antibiotics without prescription but this is not studied well therefore This study is aimed to determine the dispensing practices of antibiotics in community pharmacies in South India.

Methods: A Prospective, observational study was conducted in private community pharmacy (n = 60) and corporate (Franchise, n = 40) in ten districts of South India. The study was conducted with the help of audit tool containing details of antibiotic dispensed, name of the pharmacy and duration for which antibiotic is dispensed. The study was conducted during the month of October and November employing trained clinical pharmacist enacting as patients presenting with upper respiratory tract infections, Gastro-intestinal infection, fever, wound were undertaken to establish whether antibiotics can be obtained without a valid prescription in India.

Results: 100 different pharmacies across ten districts were audited during the study period. 86 pharmacies dispensed antibiotics without prescription of which 54 (90%) antibiotics are sold in privately owned pharmacies without a prescription and 32 (80%) antibiotics are sold in corporate pharmacies. Azithromycin and Amoxicillin clavulanic acid were the most common antibiotics dispensed. The audit details were shown in figure-1 below.

Conclusion :

86% pharmacies dispensed antibiotics without prescriptions. Azithromycin was the most dispensed Antibiotic mainly because of its high cost. Such dispensing practice is the main contributing factor for antibiotic resistance and reason for patient acquiring multi drug resistant organism from community. Hence antibiotic stewardship practices should not only target physicians but also should target community pharmacies.