A Study of Adverse Drug Reactions in Patients Treated with Penicillins in a Rural Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADR) are rated as the fifth leading cause of death among all diseases. Approximately 5-8% of all hospitalization worldwide is due to ADR. Objectives: The present study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the pattern of Adverse Drug Reactions occurring from penicillins, their manifestations and severity. Methods: A non interventional observational prospective study was conducted over 2 years from Jan 2014 to Dec 2015 in KIMS Narketpally. The red boxes for dropping the filled yellow adverse drug reactions forms were installed in all the wards and outpatient departments. Additional information and missing data was obtained personally by either consulting the physician or through case sheets. Results: The most common penicillin implicated in causation of adverse drug reactions was combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (54%), followed by Piperacillin (21%). Most of the reactions were of moderate severity. The most commonly observed adverse drug reactions were dermatological reactions (37%). Majority of the adverse drug reactions belonged to probable category (71%) according to WHO scale. Conclusion: Dermatological reactions are the most common adverse drug reactions occurring due to penicillin and combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid was the most common causative penicillin. The health care providers should make an attempt for early detections of ADRs and be vigilant about safety profile monitoring of the prescribed medicines. This will not only decrease the morbidity and mortality but also the health care cost.