Abstract:
Community acquired pneumonia is a leading cause of death in the world and it is the ninth
in Sri Lanka. In the management of pneumonia, prompt initiation of empirical antibiotic
therapy is critical. Compliance with an appropriate guideline is important in empirical
antibiotic therapy in order to optimize the tentative coverage of po'ssible pathogens and
to prevent emergence of drug resistance. There are different guidelines published locally
(Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition- Sri Lanka) and internationally (British Thoracic
Society, Infectious Disease Society of America) to guide the empirical antibiotic therapy.
General objective
To determine compliance of empirical antibiotic therapy in the treatment of patients with
community acquired pneumonia, of with all three above mentioned guidelines for the
hospitalised patients in general medical wards in Sri Lankan setting.
Method
Setting: Colombo North Teaching Hospital Ragama and Chest hospital Welisara
Study period- October 2003 -August 2004
Study population: Hundred and eight patients with community acquired pneumonia
(diagnosed clinically and radiologically) were studied with regard to received empirical
antibiotic therapy.
Results
Of the 108 patients, only 57 .4%, 41.6%, 62.2% were managed in accordance with national
guidelines of Sri Lanka, guidelines published by Infectious Disease Society of America and
British T horacic Society respectively. In the study population, 37.8% of patients were not
managed according to any of the above guidelines.
Conclusion
In a large proportion of cases of community acquired pneumonia admitted to Colombo
North Teaching Hospital, Ragama and Chest hospital, Welisara, empirical antibiotic therapy
did not comply with currently available guidelines.