DRUG PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF VARIOUS ANTIFUNGAL DRUGS FOR DERMATOPHYTOSIS IN A TERTIARY HEALTHCARE AND TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the pattern of drug prescription and the rationality of pharmacotherapy used in dermatophytosis. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from January 2021 to June 2022 in the Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases. Prescriptions included all newly diagnosed patients with cutaneous fungal infections of both genders who attended Dermatology OPD. Factors considered were sociodemographic parameters, clinical manifestations, combination and monotherapy along with prescribed topical and systemic agents, and details of prescribing indicators. Results: A total of 362 dermatophytosis cases were observed, which included 230 males and 132 females. Patients in the age group of 13-40 y (65.47%) have shown the dominance of dermatophytosis infection with a high prevalence among the student category, which accounts for 177. Tinea corporis (40.85%) was the prominent clinical manifestation of dermatophytosis infection. Among single topical agents, the most commonly prescribed drug is Clotrimazole (15.19%), and among topical combinations, sertaconazole and ketoconazole (29.28%). Itraconazole (48.75%) is the most commonly used oral formulation, followed by the itraconazole and terbinafine combination (22.56%). While imidazoles were the maximally prescribed topical antifungals according to the therapeutic class. Conclusion: Tinea corporis is the prominent clinical manifestation and the majority of prescriptions were for a combination of three agents mainly oral itraconazole with topical sertaconazole, and ketoconazole.