Pattern of adverse drug reactions to antibiotics commonly prescribed in department of medicine and pediatrics in a tertiary care teaching hospital, Ghaziabad

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are an important cause of mortality and morbidity and constitute an enormous burden on the society. Many studies have implicated that the antibiotics are among the major group of drugs, which cause adverse drug reactions (ADRs). This Retrospective, non- interventional study was undertaken in Medicine and Pediatrics unit from November 2013 to April 2014 to monitor the adverse drug reactions of antibiotics prescribed by physicians and pediatricians in a tertiary care hospital, Ghaziabad, to establish ten most common antibiotics which caused ADRs, to determine most commonly affected organ system and assess their causality. A total of 126 ADRs were identified in 80 patients, out of which 42(52.5%) occurred in male patients and 38(47.5%) in female patients. The age wise distribution revealed that adult patients showed more incidence of ADRs 46(57.5%), followed by children 26(32.5%) and Geriatrics 8(10%). GIT 28(22.2%) was the most affected organ system by Adverse Drug Reactions due to antibiotics followed by the Respiratory system 26 (20.63%), Skin 23(18.25%), CVS 17 (13.5%), CNS 12(9.52%), Musculo-skeletal system 10(7.93%), Urinary System 8 (6.35%) and Haemopoietic Disorders 2 (1.58%). Maximum ADRs were reported with Beta-Lactams class 51 (40.4%) followed by Aminoglycosides 29(23.01%), Quinolones 20(15.8%), Others 16 (12.69%) and Macrolides 10(7.93%), . Antibiotics comprise the major volume of the drug family and inpatient prescriptions and thus are the most irrationally prescribed. So implementation of antibiotic guideline policy for the hospitals and strict adherence to it should be ensured to promote their rational and safe use. Also health system needs to promote spontaneous reporting of ADRs detected in clinical practice to Regional Pharmacovigilance centers.