Abstract:
Background: Development of antibiotic resistance is a global challenge. Some of the factors
contributing to the development of antibiotic resistance are prescribing antibiotics when they
are not indicated (or required) and self-medication with antibiotics. Irrational prescription of
antibiotics for viral infections is not uncommon.
Objective: To assess the type of antibiotics used by the patients who attended to outpatient
department (OPD), Divisional Hospital, Udawalawa with symptoms suggestive of influenza or
common cold for less than three days
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 629 participants. Data were
collected with an interviewer administered questionnaire in a convenient sample. The patients
were categorized in to two groups based on the symptoms (group-1 - runny nose, sneezing,
cough, nasal obstruction, sore throat; group-2 - fever, headache, tiredness, myalgia, bodyaches,
malaise, hoarseness, chillness). Those who have symptoms in group-2 without any symptoms
of group-1 were excluded from the study. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and
Chi-square test using SPSS version 25.
Results: Sample comprised of 42.9% males and 57.1% females. Hospital OPD had prescribed
antibiotics for 528 (83.9%) of them. Amoxicillin (86.17%) is the most frequently prescribed
antibiotic. Cephalexin (13.06%), Erythromycin (0.57%) and Flucloxacillin (0.19%) are the
other commonly prescribed antibiotics. Before coming to the hospital, 13 patients had used
antibiotics without a prescription. Majority of the patients (77.1%) do not have a basic
understanding about used antibiotics.
Conclusions: The study found that over 83.9% patients with symptoms suggestive of
influenza or common cold for less than 3 days received antibiotics. These findings suggest
having strict guidelines on antibiotic use.
