Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns among Patients Suffering from COVID-19 at a Tertiary Teaching and Referral Facility in Kenya: Findings and Implications

Bryan A Kibet; David G Nyamu

Bryan A Kibet Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya
David G Nyamu Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya

Keywords: COVID-19, severity, comorbidities, antibiotics prescribing patterns

Abstract

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may fuel antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to determine the antibiotic prescribing patterns among COVID-19 patients in a tertiary healthcare facility in Kenya. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with data extracted from 138 patient medical records. Data was collected on severity of COVID-19 disease, laboratory tests, comorbidities, antibiotic use, and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 at p≤0.05. Antibiotic prescribing was at 67.4% with azithromycin (52.9%) and amoxicillin-clavulanate (47.1%) being the most common. Most patients (48.6%) received two antibiotics concomitantly, principally with azithromycin and co-amoxiclav (31.2%). Severity of COVID-19 (p<0.0001), presence of diabetes mellitus (p=0.018) and elevated procalcitonin (p=0.008) were significantly associated with antibiotic use. Clinicians used antibiotics based on the severity of COVID-19 and presence of comorbidity, which should be discouraged. Further research is needed to establish the long-term effects of antibiotic use in COVID-19 patients.