A Prospective Study On Antibiotics-Associated Spontaneous Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring and Reporting in A Tertiary Care Hospital
A Prospective Study On Antibiotics-Associated Spontaneous Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring and Reporting in A Tertiary Care Hospital
A Prospective Study On Antibiotics-Associated Spontaneous Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring and Reporting in A Tertiary Care Hospital
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Abstract
Background: The aim of the present prospective study was to determine the causality, preventability, and
severity of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurring in various departments of the tertiary care hospital.
Materials and Methods: This prospective, interventional study was undertaken in general medicine, surgery,
respiratory medicine, intensive care unit care unit, and nephrology units in a tertiary care hospital, Coimbatore,
and to assess preventability, severity, and causality assessment in antibiotics which caused ADRs, and to determine
most commonly affected organ system. Results: A total of 143 ADRs were identified in 1138 patients, out of which
74 (51.75%) male patients were identified with ADRs, whereas 69 (48.25%) were female. The age wise distribution
revealed that middle-aged patients showed more incidence of ADR 60 (41.96%), followed by geriatrics 41 (28.67%),
adult 35 (24.47%), and pediatrics 7 (4.89%). Gastrointestinal tract 66 (46.15%) was the most affected organ system
by ADR followed by others 21 (14.7%) skin and appendages disorder 15 (10.48%), central and peripheral system
disorder 13 (9.09%), respiratory system disorder 13(9.09%), hematopoietic disorder 4 (2.8%), urinary system
disorder 3 (2.09), and CVS 2 (14.7%). Maximum ADRs were reported with beta-lactams class 103 (72.04%)
followed by miscellaneous 12 (8.4%), macrolides 10 (6.99%), quinolones 6 (4.99%), and aminoglycosides 5
(4.20%). Conclusion: Antibiotics comprise the major volume of the drug family and in prescriptions of hospitalized
patients. Implementation of antibiotic guideline policy in hospitals and strict adherence to it should be ensured for
safe and rational use of antibiotics. Furthermore, health system should promote spontaneous reporting of ADRs to
regional pharmacovigilance centers which is detected in clinical practice.
INTRODUCTION Adverse reaction can take place with any class of drugs. The
most troublesome classes of drugs contributing to ADRs
A
dverse drug monitoring and spontaneous were antibiotics followed by antitumor agents.[3]
reporting are important in recognizing
adverse reactions in local population. Antibiotics remain the most consistently prescribed group of
Adverse reactions are recognized hazards of drugs by all clinical specialties because of high predominance
drug therapy. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of infectious disease, specifically in developing countries.
are main causes for mortality and morbidity in However, this group is also most extensively exploited in
both hospitalized and ambulatory patients. The
current epidemiological studies have revealed that
the ADRs are the fourth to sixth leading cause of Address for correspondence
death.[1] Sometimes, ADR-related costs, such as Dr. G. Andhuvan,
hospitalization, surgery, and lost productivity, PSGCollege of Pharmacy,
exceed the cost of the medications.[2] However, Peelamedu, Coimbatore - 641 004, Tamil Nadu, India.
detection of ADRs has become increasingly Phone: +91-9894583465.
meaningful because of the introduction of large E-mail: [email protected]
number of potent noxious chemicals as drugs in
last two or three decades. Thus, it is very critical Received: 28-10-2017
to oversee both the known and unknown adverse Revised: 06-12-2017
effects of medicines. Accepted: 13-12-2017
many forms such as self-medication, over-the-counter use, developing country, most hospitals in India do not have an
and irrationally prescribed many a times. The rational use of ADR reporting and monitoring programmers. Judgment of
antibiotics is a greater health need.[4-6] Consequently, leading the impact and possible for prevention of ADRs were narrow
to increase in the prevalence of resistant pathogen, which because various studies did not determine seriousness and
has significant impact on the mortality and morbidity due to preventability.
infectious diseases and can add unnecessary financial burden
to the patient and community at large. The aim of the present prospective study was to determine
the causality, preventability, and severity of ADRs occurring
A systemic meta-analysis using Medline and Embase as in various departments of the tertiary care hospital.
databases for literature published between 1980 and June 2002
on the occurrence of ADEs and their preventability in hospital
background showed that up to 56.6%; these events were judged MATERIALS AND METHODS
to be preventable. An ADR was classified as preventable if
the drugs involved were not relevant for the patient’s clinical This prospective, interventional study was conducted in
condition; the dose, route, or frequency of administration was General medicine, Surgery, ICU, Respiratory Medicine, and
not appropriate for the patient’s age, weight, or disease; the Nephrology Departments in PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore, Tamil
patient requires therapeutic drug monitoring or other essential Nadu. ADRs with antibiotics were reported from February 6,
laboratory tests that were not completed or not completed 2017, to July 30, 2017, and analyzed using Microsoft Excel.
repeatedly enough; the patient had a history of allergy or All patients of either sex and of any age who developed an
previous reaction to the drug; a known drug interaction was ADR were included in the study. Pregnant patients and
the suspected cause of the reaction; a serum drug concentration nursing mothers were excluded from the study. Patients case
above the therapeutic range was documented; non-compliance
notes/files and CDSCO (suspect ADR) forms were used as
was associated with the reaction; or a medication error was
main sources of data collection. The protocol of the study was
associated with the reaction.[7]
approved by Institution Human Ethics Committee (IHEC,
PSG IMS&R) of the hospital. All statistical analysis was
Antibiotics reside to distinct classes such as penicillins,
performed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
cephalosporins, sulfonamides, and aminoglycosides and they
version 16 statistical program. Categorical variables were
differ in respect of their mechanism of actions and adverse
described as percentages and continuous variables as mean
effects. Antibiotics are worn prevalently in familiar practice for
and standard deviation. Association between demographic
treatment and prophylaxis of many disease conditions.[8] Over
variables and score was performed using Chi-square test.
half of all hospitalized patients are treated with antimicrobial
agents and their use account for 20–50% of drug utilization in
hospitals. More than 70% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients
accept antibiotics for therapy or prophylaxis, with much of RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
this use being empiric and over half of the recipients accepting
multiple agents. The total costs correlated with antibiotics are A total number of patients treated with antibiotics were 1138, in
not only related to antibiotic use itself but also to comedication which the predominance of male patients was high compared
and adverse drug events.[9,10] to females. Age wise distribution of the total study population
(n = 1138) showed that middle-aged patients were high
The prevalence and severity of ADRs can be altered by patient- following geriatrics, adult, and pediatrics population. A number
related factors such as age, sex, comorbid diseases, and genetic of hospitalized patients treated with antibiotic were 1138, in
factors, and drug-related factors such as type of drug, route which patients treated with one antibiotic were 742 (45.02%),
of administration, duration of therapy, and dosage. The other patients treated with two antibiotics were 576 (34.95%), patients
essential liable risk factors combined with ADRs are gender, treated with three antibiotics were 276 (16.64%), and patients
increased number of drug exposures, advanced age, length of treated with four antibiotics were 64 (3.86%).
hospital stay, and function of excreting organs.[11] Healthcare
professionals - doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and nurses are Number of ADRs
the most favored source of data collection associated to ADRs.
The number of antibiotics given in the total study population
Prevention of ADRs is desirable by appropriate monitoring,
patients was 1658, out of which 143 ADRs were identified
which reinforced the national directive to institutionalize
[Figure 1].
a pharmacovigilance center in every medical college in
the country.[11] It is excessively necessary that institutions
and hospitals have an antibiotic policy and assure that Gender classification of ADR
perfect choices are made by respective prescribers.[3] Thus,
affording such studies shall absolutely prove useful in During the study period, a total of 143 antibiotics-related
reconstructing hospital and national antibiotic policy in ADRs were identified and reported among 1138 patients.
the concern of patient care and safety. Although India is a Over the study period, it was found that ADRs were more
predominant in male patients over females. The similar study parameters in various age groups and the presence of
which was conducted shows the same predominance of ADRs comorbid illnesses and multiple drugs along with infectious
in the study population. The predominance of male sex in diseases[14] depicted in [Table 2].
occurrence of ADRs with antibiotics was more which may be
due to larger number of male population enrolled into the study
when compared to females.[9,12,13] It is depicted in Figure 2. Organ system affected due to ADR
Different types of ADRs observed during the study period Table 4: Therapeutic class of antibiotics implicated
which is depicted in [Table 5]. to cause ADRs (n=143)
Beta‑lactams Number of
ADRs (%)
Causality assessment of the ADRs identified
Ceftriaxone 24 (16.78)
Causality of each ADR was assessed using Naranjo scale. Cefazolin 4 (2.80)
Assessment showed that out of 143 ADRs, possible ADRs Cefuroxime 1 (0.70)
were high, followed by probable ADRs, were as definite and
Cefpodoxime 2 (1.40)
doubtful was 0% which is described in [Table 6].
Cefixime 1 (0.70)
Piperacillin 20 (13.99)
Preventability assessment
Amoxicillin 9 (6.29)
All the identified ADRs were analyzed for its preventability Cefoperazone 24 (16.78)
using Schumock and Thornton scale, which showed that not Cefuroxime 2 (1.40)
preventable ADRs were more and probably preventable was Carbaperam ‑imepenem+cilastation 3 (2.10)
only 1%, while remaining 1% was definitely preventable Carbaperam – meropenam 6 (4.20)
[Table 7].
Carbaperam – ertapenam 1 (0.70)
Vancomycin 3 (2.10)
Severity assessment
Quinolones – ofloxacin 2 (1.40)
Severity assessment was carried out using Hartwig and Colistin 3 (2.10)
Siegel scale and found that out of 143 ADRs mild were high Tazobactam 5 (3.50)
followed by moderate and severe. Another similar study Quinolones – levofloxacin 2 (1.40)
conducted showed same prevalence of severity assessment in Quinolones – oflamax 3 (2.10)
their study population[19] which is depicted in Table 8.
Macrolites – azithromycin 8 (5.59)
Macrolites – clarithromycin 2 (1.40)
Seriousness assessment
Aminoglycoside – amikacin 6 (4.20)
Seriousness criteria assessment out of 143 ADRs, the ADRs Miscellaneous ‑ linezolid 3 (2.10)
coming under “others” category are upraised, followed Miscellaneous ‑ clindamycin 4 (2.80)
by ADRs which prolonged the hospitalization of patients, Miscellaneous ‑ metronidazole 3 (2.10)
subsequently required intervention to prevent permanent Fungal antibiotic ‑ voriconazole 2 (1.40)
impairment or damage and next ADRs which were life-
ADRs: Adverse drug reactions
threatening which is depicted in Table 9.
Association between gender and ADR P < 0.05. There is significant association between age and
ADR [Table 13].
Total number of patients treated with antibiotics during their
in-hospital stay was 1138. Out of which, 735 were male, 403 Association between antibiotic class and ADR
were female. Association between gender and ADRs was
analyzed using Chi-Square statistic. P-value was found to A total of 900 beta-lactams were prescribed for 1138 patients,
be 0.000597 implicsating a significant association between of which 80 patients developed ADR, and 748 non-beta-
gender and ADR [Table 12]. lactams were prescribed, of which 32 patients developed
ADR. The association between the antibiotic class (beta-
lactams and non-beta-lactams) was the presence of ADR was
Association between age and ADR
analyzed using Chi-square test. The Chi-square statistic was
utilized to check for the association (P = 0.000213). This
Association between age and ADRs was analyzed using Chi- result is significant at P < 0.05. Hence, beta-lactam inhibitors
square statistics (P = 0.902167). This result is significant at are more prone to cause ADRs than non-beta-lactams
[Table 14].
Table 10: Outcomes of the reaction (n=143)
Outcomes Number of ADRs (%)
CONCLUSION
Recovering 132 (92.30)
Recovered 11 (7.70) ADRs are one of the drug-related problems in the hospital
ADRs: Adverse drug reactions setting and are a challenge for ensuring drug safety. The
result provides an insight into the healthcare providers on the
Table 11: Actions taken to resolve ADR (n=143) importance of monitoring and reporting of ADRs.
Actions taken Number of ADRs (%)
Although the use of non-prescription drugs, self-medication
Drug withdraw 24 (16.79)
and drug abuse remains significant cause problem for the
Drug not changed 110 (76.92) occurrence of ADRs. The ADRs encountered in this study
Unknown 9 (6.29) were non-serious and not preventable, and severity assessment
ADRs: Adverse drug reactions showed mild and moderate ADRs and causality assessment
using Naranjo scale showed only possible and probable
ADRs. Moreover, there is a significant association between
Table 12: Association between gender and gender and ADR, age and ADR, and antibiotic class and ADR.
ADR (n = 1658)
Gender ADR Total Healthcare professionals have an important responsibility in
Yes No monitoring the ongoing safety of medicines. Polypharmacy
Male 74 661 735
needs to be discouraged for a good number of ADRs results
from drug-drug interaction. Pharmacovigilance needs to be
Female 69 334 403
enforced in our country for better and safe use of drugs. Our
ADRs: Adverse drug reactions ability to anticipate and present ADRs can be facilitated by the
establishment of standardized approaches. Although it would
Table 13: Association between age and ADR be prudent to initially focus on the more serious ADRs, it is
Age ADR Total important to consider even so-called non-serious ADRs as they
Yes No can have a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life.
<45 42 406 448
>45 101 589 690
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