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Correspondence to Author: Ummara Altaf1 (ID), Sidra Khalid. 

1. Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore. Email: ummara.altaf1994@gmail.com (U.A.)
2. Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore. Email: sidkhalid71@gmail.com (S.K.)

DOI: 10.52338/joid.2025.4452

Abstract:

Background:The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the AWaRe tool to encourage the prudent application of antibiotics. Antibiotics are divided into three categories by this tool: Access, Watch, and Reserve group. Data on antibiotic prescriptions made by healthcare practitioners, categorized according to the AWaRe classification, are often challenging to obtain

Objective:n this research work, we aimed to conduct the drug utilization review of some specific antibiotics from the watch and reserve group and check their compliance with WHO-defined guidelines.
Methods: This Prospective Longitudinal survey on antibiotic consumption was undertaken in Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital. A total of 200 patients were taken by using a convenient sampling technique during the study period (Oct 2022 to November 2022). After passing the inclusion criteria, data were collected from the patient’s medical file. A standardized data collection form was designed to conduct the current study & it includes the patient demographic data, Diagnosis of the patient, main indication of antibiotic use, Antibiotic consumption, total number of Antibiotics prescribed, total number of study drugs, dosage form, frequency, and main indication, date on which antibiotic prescribed & stopped, and compliance to WHO guidelines. SPSS was selected to analyze the data. The findings were displayed in tabular form as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations.
Results: Of the 200 patients that were enrolled in this study, 54 (27%) were women and 146 (73%) were men. Out of 200 patients, majority of the patients were between the ages of 41 and 60 (41.5%), 63 (31.5%) patients had diabetes mellitus, and 103 (51.5%) patients had a previous history of surgery. From the Watch group of Antibiotics, a major number of patients were prescribed Piperacillin+Tazobactam i.e. 45 (22.5%). From the Reserve group of Antibiotics, a major number of patients were prescribed Tab Linezolid i.e. 20 (10%). Most of the antibiotics prescribed were for the infected wounds 69 (34.5%). Among the Watch group of antibiotics, out of 45 patients who were prescribed Piperacillin+Tazobactam, there were 13 prescriptions with rational prescribing while 32 prescriptions had irrational prescribing. Surprisingly Among the Reserve group of antibiotics, all the prescribing was irrational according to the WHO Essential Drug List.
Conclusion: Our findings raise serious concerns and emphasize the necessity of the hospital’s improved antimicrobial stewardship and development of antibiotic guidelines. Antibiotics should be used with caution as they will lessen the burden of multi-drug resistance, allowing for better patient care and lowering the associated morbidity and mortality.

Keywords:Drug Utilization Review, Watch/Reserve Group of Antibiotics, World Health Organization, anti-microbial resistance, Essential Drug List.

Citation:

Dr.Ummara Altaf, Assessing Trends In Use Of Who Watch And Reserve Group Antibiotics: A Longitudinal Drug Utilization Review. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2025.