Evaluation of the use of cephalosporin antibiotics in pediatrics

The purpose of this study is to rationalize the use of cephalosporins in various common bacterial infections like infections of upper and lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, gastro- intestinal tract and of soft tissues in pediatrics (age range: neonate – 10 yrs). A retrospective study was carried out at multiple hospitals in the premises of Karachi. Not less than 150 prescriptions from pediatric ward were collected over a period of a month to evaluate the prescriptions for their rational approach. The prescriptions included in the study were from qualified doctors. Results showed that out of total prescriptions containing antimicrobial therapy collected from pediatric wards, 88.1% prescriptions contained cephalosporins, among which 1st generation cephalosporin 3.93%, 2nd generation cephalosporin 10.23% and 3rd generations cephalosporins 75% were observed. There is an urgent need to develop standards of antimicrobial drug prescriptions to avoid drug resistance.