Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescription in Medical Emergencies of the University Hospital Centre of Cocody-Abidjan

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prescription of antibiotics in patients admitted, in December 2017, to the medical emergencies of the University Hospital Center (UHC) of Cocody. Methodology: A retrospective descriptive and analytical study of 187 patient files registered from December 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 at the Cocody UHC’s medical emergencies. All patients aged 16 and over, regardless of sex, nationality and place of residence, having consulted at the Cocody UHC Medical Emergencies and having received antibiotics locally or generally during the study period were included. Patients on antibiotics before admission to medical emergencies or admitted to medical emergencies but not treated with antibiotics or died in medical emergencies before receiving antibiotic therapy were not included in our study. Results: In one month, 265 antibiotic prescription lines were recorded in 187 patients divided into 113 men (60.42%) and 74 women (39.57%) with a sex ratio of 1.52 and an average age of 47.5 years. 58.62% (187/319) of patients had received antibiotic therapy for lung (32.23%), neurological (21.49%) and parasitological (13.22%) affections. Beta-alactamines were the most prescribed molecules (70.57%), mainly in monotherapy and intravenously. Antibiotic therapy was unjustified (66.41%) with a non-compliant dosage (29.43%). The evolution of patients on antibiotics was favourable (50.80%) with however a death in 15.51% of cases. Conclusion: Antibiotic therapy in medical emergency at Cocody University Hospital was based on probabilistic reasoning. This implies that the emergency physician must have a good knowledge of the rules of antibiotics use and that he applies them.