Comparative study of antimicrobial prescribing pattern between Nepal and Pakistan

Objective: The purpose of this cross-sectional study conducted in different private and public sector hospitals of the major cities of Nepal and Pakistan was to compare and evaluate the antibiotic prescribing patterns. Methods: The data was collected based on prescriptions received from different hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan and Kathmandu, Nepal without much interaction with the patients. Results: Out of a total of 272 patients, 111 (40.8%) patients from Nepal and 161 (59.19%) patients from Pakistan were prescribed with 447 antibiotics. In both countries, out of total antibiotics prescribed, 42.30% were 3rd generation cephalosporins. Also, in Pakistan and Nepal, out of all the indications, 49.2% of the antibiotics were given as medical prophylaxis. Conclusion: In Pakistan, the antimicrobial prescription rate is comparatively 7.2% higher than Nepal, and in both countries, there is a need of proper implementation of antibiotic prescribing guidelines for the prescription and the administration of antibiotics as medical prophylaxis. Comparative study of antimicrobial prescribing pattern between Nepal and Pakistan Muhammad Umer Nadeem1, Ram Bahadur Dhami1, Krishna Prasad Dahal1, Devi Ram Pokharel1, Anil Kumar Singh1, Imdad Hushain Khan1, Nibandha Prasad Chaulagai1, Bimal Gharti Magar1, Balika Acharya1, Inaam Ur Rehman1, Zikria Saleem1,2,3 1 University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Pakistan. 2 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia. 3 Department of Pharmacy, University of the Lahore, Pakistan. Contact information: