Antibiotic Prescribing Practices in a Tertiary Hospital in Burkina Faso: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Introduction: Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing contributes to antibiotic resistance, a global public health concern, particularly in low-resource settings. This study aimed to evaluate antibiotics prescribing practices in the department of medicine and medical specialties at the University Hospital Center Yalgado Ouedraogo (CHU-YO). Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection. It took place from January to March 2021.  Antibiotic use was evaluated based on national and SPILF guidelines. Results: A total of five hundred and six patients were included. The prevalence of antibiotic prescription was 48.2%. Among patients taking antibiotics, 61.1% had received monotherapy. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were beta-lactams (70.1%), particularly Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid (39.1%). The intravenous route was the most commonly used (79.6%). The average duration of administration was 5 days. Lower respiratory infections were the main indications for prescribing antibiotics. Antibiotic therapy was empiric in 96% of cases. It was in compliance with recommendations in 31.2% and justified in 78.1% of cases. Conclusion: Antibiotic prescribing at CHU-YO reveals significant gaps in compliance with established guidelines. Implementing local protocols and stewardship interventions is critical to optimizing antibiotic use and combating resistance.