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Background : Various therapeutic classes of drugs are used in children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and among them antimicrobials are the most frequently prescribed agents. However, not infrequently, antimicrobials are used empirically. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the drug utilization pattern in the PICU of a tertiary care hospital, particularly with regard to the antimicrobial agents. Methods: A prospective, observational study was carried out in the PICU for a period of 3 months. Demographic details, diagnoses and drugs given to all patients were recorded. Evaluation was made keeping in mind the World Health Organization antimicrobials prescription indicators. Results: Among the 2019 prescription items used in 223 children over a 3month period, the most commonly used class of drugs was antimicrobials (34.6%), followed by proton pump inhibitors (11.04%) and sedatives and anticonvulsants (10.94%). An infective diagnosis was made in 60.09% of patients. The average number of antimicrobial prescription per patient was 3.1± 2.9. The average duration of antimicrobial usage was 6.8±7.27 days and most of the time it was used empirically (4.47±2.43 days). Ceftriaxone was the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial agent in patients with both infective and non-infective diagnoses but the average length of antimicrobial treatment and the cost of antimicrobials per patient was significantly different between these two groups (p <0.05). Conclusions: Antimicrobial prescription protocols given by WHO need to be followed for their rational use to bring down the cost of treatment and reduce the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance.

Pattern of drug prescription in the pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital with emphasis on antimicrobial utilization