JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Article

Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

Year: 2026, Volume: 16, Issue: 1, Pages: 46-53

Original Article

Antibiotic Prescription Trends and Associated Clinical Profiles in Tertiary Care: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation

Received Date:12 July 2025, Accepted Date:20 January 2026, Published Date:20 April 2026

Abstract

Background: Antibiotic resistance remains a pressing global health concern, necessitating the rational use of antimicrobials. Hospitalized patients often receive empirical antibiotic therapy influenced by comorbid conditions, clinical presentations, and laboratory parameters. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the utilization patterns of antibiotics and their association with demographic, clinical, and diagnostic characteristics in a tertiary care setting. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 256 inpatients at a tertiary care hospital. Data on patient demographics, vaccination status, comorbidities, and diagnostic parameters were collected. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory prescriptions were analyzed. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and 95% confidence intervals to assess associations and significance. Results: Males (55.07%) were more frequently admitted than females. The majority of patients were aged 60–70 years (27.34%) and weighed between 50–70 kg. Semi-urban residents accounted for 53.12% of admissions. Hypertension (49.62%) and diabetes (38.51%) were the most prevalent comorbidities. COVID-19 vaccination coverage was high (85.61%), but uptake of other vaccines remained low. Cephalosporins (45.53%) and penicillins (16.12%) were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics. Hydrocortisone and paracetamol were the leading anti-inflammatory drugs. Most patients had normal values for WBCs, platelets, liver, and renal markers, while elevated RBC counts (42.96%) and blood glucose levels (21.09%) were common. Statistically significant patterns were observed across age, weight, comorbidities, vaccination, and diagnostic categories (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The study reveals high antibiotic use, particularly cephalosporins, among patients with significant comorbidities. Enhanced stewardship and targeted diagnostics are crucial for optimizing antibiotic use and minimizing the risk of resistance.

Keywords: Antibiotic Utilisation, Intensive Care Unit, Cross-Sectional Study, Tertiary Care Hospital

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Copyright

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Published By Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education, Kolar, Karnataka

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