Antibiotic Use and MDR-TB Management in Primary Health Centers: A District-Wide Survey from Karnataka, India

Authors

Bilkees Javeed, School of Environmental Science, Public Health and Sanitation Management, Mahatma Gandhi Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University, Gadag, Karnataka, IndiaFollow
Junaid Mushtaq, School of Environmental Science, Public Health and Sanitation Management, Mahatma Gandhi Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University, Gadag, Karnataka, IndiaFollow
S J Nagaveni, School of Environmental Science, Public Health and Sanitation Management, Mahatma Gandhi Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University, Gadag, Karnataka, IndiaFollow
ArunKumar K, School of Environmental Science, Public Health and Sanitation Management, Mahatma Gandhi Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University, Gadag, Karnataka, IndiaFollow

Keywords

Antimicrobial stewardship, Primary health centers, Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, Antibiotic prescribing, Drug dispensing

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical threat to global health, with India experiencing one of the highest burdens of resistant infections. Primary Health Centers (PHCs) serve as frontline facilities where Medical Officers and Pharmacists play crucial roles in antimicrobial stewardship. However, comprehensive data on antibiotic utilization patterns and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) management in Karnataka’s PHCs remain limited. This study aimed to characterize antibiotic prescribing and dispensing practices, assess AMR knowledge, and evaluate MDR-TB management across all PHCs in Gadag District. A cross-sectional survey employing complete enumeration was conducted across all 42 PHCs in Gadag District, Karnataka. All Medical Officers (n = 42) and Pharmacists (n = 42) were surveyed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics v26 with descriptive statistics. Medical Officers prescribed oral antibiotics to 38.9% and parenteral antibiotics to 23.9% of patients over six months. Clinical diagnosis guided 92.9% of antibiotic selections, with urinary tract infections comprising 54.8% of prescription indications. Concerning practices included 69.1% Medical Officers prescribing antibiotics for viral upper respiratory tract infections sometimes or always. Pharmacists dispensed antibiotics without prescription in 71.4% PHCs, primarily when Medical Officers were unavailable. MDR-TB management showed appropriate regimen selection with 63.9% receiving short oral bedaquiline guided by drug susceptibility testing in 69.4% cases. This district-wide study reveals significant antimicrobial stewardship gaps at the frontlines of primary healthcare in Karnataka. These findings underscore the urgent need for focused antimicrobial stewardship training, and improved diagnostic infrastructure to strengthen rational antibiotic use and combat AMR at the primary care level.

Recommended Citation

Javeed, Bilkees; Mushtaq, Junaid; Nagaveni, S J; and K, ArunKumar (2025) "Antibiotic Use and MDR-TB Management in Primary Health Centers: A District-Wide Survey from Karnataka, India," Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU: Vol. 18: Iss. 3, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.71355/2542-6222.1722
Available at: https://kleijhsbr.researchcommons.org/journal/vol18/iss3/2

Pages

240

Last Page

248