An Evaluation of Acyclovir Prescribing Patterns in a Public Hospital in AlKharj
Nehad Ahmed
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
Ziyad S. Almalki *
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed Alhajri
Department of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrahman Alharbi
Pharmacy Department, AlKharj Maternity and Children Hospital, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to analyze acyclovir prescription patterns in a public hospital in AlKharj.
Methodology: Cross-sectional study, via hospital pharmacy services that included collecting data on acyclovir utilization from de-identified pharmacy records in maternity and children hospital in Alkharj from 1 Jan 2018 until 31 Aug 2020.
Results: A total of 1059 prescriptions contained acyclovir were dispensed between 1 Jan 2018 till 31 Aug 2020. In the present study, acyclovir was prescribed mainly as an intravenous (45.89%) or oral (34.09%) treatment. It is prescribed mainly as a vial (45.89%) followed by suspension (31.63%). Inpatient Ward prescribed 52.60% of the prescriptions and emergency department prescribed 25.87% of the prescriptions.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that acyclovir was prescribed commonly in the hospital and that it’s using should be monitored to ensure that it is prescribed and dispensed appropriately.
Keywords: Acyclovir, antimicrobial, antiviral, prescription patterns.