Objective: To analyze the drug utilization pattern in intensive care units of department of pediatrics at a teaching hospital, to identify drug -drug interaction, identify length of stay. Methodology: This is a longitudinal observational investigation. Every one of the patients conceded in the pediatric Intensive care unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit who met incorporation criteria were enlisted for the investigation. The patients or the care givers were informed about the details of the study and their oral consent has been obtained. The information has been gathered from the patient case sheets, treatment outline, by speaking with the physicians and nurses. The patient’s demographics like age, gender, body weight was collected by direct interview from patient/patient care givers. The medication profile of the patient was obtained from the medication chart which includes the data like time and dosing of antibiotics administered, past medical history, purpose behind confirmation, co morbidities, clinical information, for example, different laboratory reports and restorative information including dose, duration, frequency, route, time of organization and associative medication. Result: A total of 120 patients were enrolled in the investigation based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Majority of these patients (90.00%) were admitted to the Pediatric ICU, while 10.00% were admitted to the Neonatal ICU. With near equal number of males and females (50.83% and 49.17% respectively). The minimum LOS was 2 Days, and maximum LOS was 35 days. Out of 120 patients, 13 (10.83%) patients were suspected to have drug-drug interactions and the remaining 107 (89.16%) prescriptions did not have drug-drug interactions. A total of 668 agents were prescribed to the 120 study patients. The most common group of agents prescribed was Gastrointestinal Agents (143, 21.41%), followed by Analgesics & Antipyretics (135, 20.21%) and Antibiotics (119, 17.81%). Electrolyte replenishes were prescribed to 102 (15.27%) patients. Corticosteroids were seen in only 17 (2.54%) prescriptions. Anticonvulsants were seen in 28 (4.19%) prescriptions. A total of 119 antibiotics were prescribed to 76 study patients, out of which 7 antibiotics (5.88%) were given orally and 112(94.12%) were administered through IV route. No antibiotics were prescribed to 44 study patients. Only 76 out of 120 study patients had received an antibiotic. Majority of the patients (47, 61.84%) received only a single antibiotic, while only one patient (1.32%) received 5 antibiotics. Conclusion: From the present study majority of the patients were admitted in Pediatric ICU. The study showed that most of the patients admitted in PICU were suffering from infective diseases. Most of the study patients belonged to the age group of child (3-12 years). The maximum length of hospital stay was 35 days. Majority of the interactions were Pharmacokinetic interactions. The most common group of agents prescribed was Gastrointestinal Agents, followed by Analgesics & Antipyretics and Antibiotics, anticonvulsants were least prescribed drug. The prescribed antibiotics were Third Generation Cephalosporin which were the most commonly prescribed class of antibiotics followed by the combination of Penicillin with β-lactam inhibitors. The most common antibiotic used was Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid and the least common was Trimethoprim-Sulphamethoxazole.
