Yasin I Tayem
Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain
Title: Rate of interaction between antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in a district hospital in Palestine
Biography
Biography: Yasin I Tayem
Abstract
Objectives: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics (ATBs) are commonly prescribed together. We aimed to describe the rate of interaction between these two drug groups in ambulatory prescriptions made at a district hospital in Palestine.
Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, we analyzed a random sample of outpatient prescriptions ordered over one year by the outpatient clinics and emergency room in Beit Jala Hospiatal, Bethlehem, Palestine. The orders which contained a combination of NSAIDs and ATBs were analyzed for the rate and significance of drug interactions between these two drug groups.
Results: Out of 2208 prescriptions screened, 91 orders contained a combination of NSAIDs and ATBs (4.1%) and were included in the study. Within the included prescriptions, 45 orders harbored potential drug interactions between the two drug groups (49.5%). Regarding the significance of these interactions, none of them was serious. However, 21 orders were rated to have significant interactions (46.7%) while 24 prescriptions had non-significant interactions (53.3%). The most common ATB which was found to cause significant interaction was ciprofloxacin (100%). On the other hand, aspirin was the most important NSAID to cause significant interaction (42.8 %) followed by diclofenac (38.1%).
Conclusions: Our data revealed a remarkably high rate of drug interactions between ATBs and NSAIDs. To minimize the potential harm as a result of this interaction, prescribers’ awareness of the importance of careful drug selection needs to be reinforced. This should ideally include providing training for physicians on the use of free online drug interaction checkers.