International Journal of Tropical Medicine
Antibiotic Prescription Pattern and Cost at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria
Authors : T.M. Akande , M. Ologe and G.F. Medubi
Abstract: Appropriate antibiotic prescription is the first step for
optimum antibiotic use and has the potential impact of reducing resistant micro-organisms
generated by excessive use and to also save cost in health care. This study
examines the antibiotic prescription pattern and the related cost in a tertiary
hospital in Nigeria, a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Data were collected
from prescription sheets of patients that reported to the Pharmacy Department
of the Teaching Hospital. Six hundred and thirty prescription sheets were selected
by systematic random sampling. Data was analyzed with EPI-info software. Only
14.1% had >4 drugs prescribed, 83.5% of the prescriptions had at least one
antibiotics prescribed and more than a third (35.9%) of antibiotics prescribed
were in the penicillins group. Mean number of drugs prescribed is 2.987±1.470
compared with the mean number of antibiotics of 1.015±0.670 and the mean
duration of prescribed antibiotics is 10.59±13.15 days. Mean cost of
drugs on a prescription sheet is 
1108.69±976.73 (US$9.25), while the mean cost of antibiotics is 802.83±734.81
(US$6.72). Averagely Antibiotics make up 72.7% of total cost of drug in a prescription
sheet. Significantly higher mean cost of drugs prescribed for out-patients than
in-patients (p<0.001) but not significantly different for antibiotics. Antibiotics
prescription is high in developing countries and calls for concern. A lot of
money can be saved if policies are formulated and promoted on rational antibiotics
prescription in developing countries like Nigeria.
How to cite this article:
T.M. Akande , M. Ologe and G.F. Medubi , 2009. Antibiotic Prescription Pattern and Cost at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. International Journal of Tropical Medicine, 4: 50-54.