ABSTRACT:
Background: Burn injuries are common in India. The medical community should take steps to improve the rational use of drugs in burn population. Objective: To determine the Drug Utilization (DU) 90% pattern in burn population. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in burn ward, tertiary health care centre, Nashik in patients aged between 18-60 years and burn percentage >15%. Prescriptions were copied from the day of admission till discharge, death or non compliance of patients. DU 90%, core indicators and Defined Daily Dosage (DDD) were calculated. Result: Average percentage of burn was 61.96%. 31 patients died (62%) and 19 were survived (38%). Mortality rate was 20% in < 40% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA), 33% in 40-60% TBSA, 95% in TBSA >60%. Drug used in percentage was higher for Ringer Lactate (21.57%), Inj. Gentamicin (8.52%), Inj. Rinitidine (8.38%), Inj. Metronidazole (8.25%), Inj. Cefoperazone + Sulbactum (8.24%) and Inj. Ciprofloxacin (5.58%). The DDD% was found highest for Inj. Dexamethasone (23.3%) and lowest for Inj. Cefoperazone + Sulbactum (0.75%). DU 90% includes Inj. Dexamethasone (23.3%), Inj. Adrenaline (15.85%), Inj. Hydrocortisone (14.35%), Tab. Ranitidine (8.41%), Inj. Diclofenac (3.84%), Tab. Folic Acid (3.76%), Inj. Deriphyllin (3.52%), Tab. Diclofenac (3.5%), Inj. Sulbactum (3.01%), Tab. Ciprofloxacin (3%), Tab. Calcium Citrate (2.44%), Inj. Ciprofloxacin (2.32%), Tab. Ferrous Sulphate (2.2%), Inj. Metronidazole (2.16%), Inj.Gentamicin (1.96%). Conclusion: Based on the observations made in this preliminary study (DU90%), there is need of multicentric (including private hospitals) and long duration evaluation with consideration of age, sex, socioeconomic factors to estimate the rational DU pattern in burn population.