Prescribing Patterns of Antibiotics for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adult in King Saud Hospital

Background: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is defined as a presence of symptoms and signs consistent with an acute lower respiratory tract infection associated with new radiographic shadowing for which there is no other explanation (eg, not pulmonary oedema or infarction). CAP was the highest leading cause of hospitalization among Saudi population (18.8%). Antibiotics are key cornerstone of treatment of the bacterial CAP. The inappropriate prescribing pattern of antibiotics leads to drug-resistance and treatment failure.

Objective: The aim of this research study is to determine whether the physicians in King Saud hospital follows the (IDSA/ATS) guidelines or not.

Methods: In this research we employ cross-sectional retrospective survey that has been conducted among patients with community-acquired pneumonia admitted in King Saud hospital in Unayzah city from the period of January 2011 to December 2015.

Results: Total 117 files has been reviewed over the period from January 2011 to December 2015. The majority of the patients were males (57.3%). Community-acquired pneumonia was found to be widely spread among patients aged between 36 and 45-year-old (27.4%), and less common at age between 18 and 25-year-old (12.8%). Patient with diabetes, CVD, and respiratory disorder were treated with dual and triple therapy rather than monotherapy. Fluoroquinolones were the most type of antibiotics used (48.7%) followed by macrolides (40.2%). Only 59 (50.4%) patients having written information at point of discharge, whereas 58 (49.6%) had no written information. Macrolide and amoxicillin / clavulanate were the most prescribed antibiotics at the time of discharge hence the ratio is 26.5% and 11.1% respectively.

Conclusion: The hospital does not follow known guideline such as IDSA for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in adult.