Surgical site infections are confined to the incisions and wounds that were exposed during operation. Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis is the use of antibiotics to prevent infections at the surgical site. Prescription pattern analysis issued to determine the prescribing frequency of commonly used antibiotics. Rational drug prescribing is defined as the use of the least number of drugs to obtain the best possible effect in the shortest period and at a reasonable cost. The objective of this study is to assess the prescribing pattern and rationality of antibiotics in the post operative patients. A prospective observational review of the antibiotic prescription was carried out in the post-operative department of a tertiary care teaching hospital, Davangere.150 case records of the patients were identified, assessed, evaluated and analyzed for the rational use of antibiotics for a period of 6 months. Among 150 prescriptions,64% surgery were done in general surgery department,26% were done in OBG department,10.67% were done in orthopeadics department. In 150 prescriptions, more no. of patients had received 2 antibiotics, followed by 3 antibiotics and most of them were given for five days of duration of treatment. Among 312 antibiotics, Cephalosporins 122(39.1%) class of antibiotics were frequently prescribed followed by metronidazole 76(24.35%). Most of the antibiotics were prescribed parenterally (96.47%). Our study provides insights into the patterns of antibiotic use, appropriateness of prescriptions and rationality of antibiotics in post operative patients based on ASHP guidelines and major, minor and moderate drug interactions, medication errors were found.
