Pattern of Ciprofloxacin Prescribing at Outpatient Setting in Al-Kharj

Abstract

Aim: The study was conducted to demonstrate the pattern of ciprofloxacin prescribing at outpatient Setting in Al-kharj. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted to demonstrate the pattern of ciprofloxacin prescribing. The Information was collected from electronic prescriptions in a public hospital in Al-Kharj city. The data was processed using Microsoft Excel and the descriptive data was represented as frequencies and percentages. Results: There were 611 ciprofloxacin prescriptions in 2018. Ciprofloxacin is the 5th most commonly prescribing antibiotics in the outpatient setting in 2018. The majority of the patients were in the age level between 20-39 (53.51%). Out of 773 prescriptions, 162 were excluded (eye or ear drops). There were 608 tablets (99.51%). Conclusion: Ciprofloxacin is one of the common prescribed antibiotics in the outpatient settings. If it is prescribed inappropriately it will lead to increase bacterial resistance rate, increase adverse effects and increase the cost of the treatment. It should be prescribed appropriately and the patients should be monitored frequently during its use.