OBJECTIVES: The aim of the research was to assess the drug-related problems (DRPs) associated with antibiotic use and to evaluate their clinical significance so as to thrust upon the need of initiating and adhering to Antibiotic Stewardship Program in the Department of General Surgery unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital in India.

METHODS : This prospective interventional study was conducted over a period of 9 months in the General Surgery units of a tertiary care teaching hospital. All the patients were followed on a daily basis and the medical records were reviewed for DRPs by the clinical pharmacist. The identified DRPs were categorized as per the Hepler and Strand classification. Drug related problems apart from those proposed by Hepler and Strand were grouped separately based on evidence from the medical literature and clinical practice. When a DRP was identified, it was notified and discussed directly with the surgeon along with appropriate recommendations for further necessary action. The predictors of drug related problems associated with antibiotic use was assessed using bivariate logistic regression analysis by using SPSS version 21.0.

RESULTS : Of the 614 patients, 74.49% were males. A total of 421 DRPs identified wherein improper duration of drug use (22.86%) was the most common DRP identified. The clinical significance of pharmacist intervention in the study was found to be ‘major’ in 51% of cases. There was a strong association between the occurrence of DRPs and age, comorbid conditions, number of antibiotics prescribed and length of stay (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS : The incidence of DRPs associated with antibiotic use was found to be 67.42%. Strategies like Antibiotic Stewardship Program need to be initiated as a Healthcare Professional team effort and can be of a great success which would help in rational use of antibiotics.