Antibiotic and Symptomatic Drug Use Patterns in URI Patients at Pratama Soedirman Clinic

Abstract

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs) are among the most common diseases encountered in primary healthcare facilities and are a major cause of patient visits. The high incidence of URTIs may increase the use of medications, particularly antibiotics and symptomatic drugs, which can lead to irrational use and antibiotic resistance if not properly managed. This study aimed to analyze the pattern of antibiotic and symptomatic drug use among URTI patients at Soedirman Primary Clinic from July 2024 to June 2025. This study was a descriptive observational study with a retrospective design. Data were collected from the medical records of URTI patients at Soedirman Primary Clinic. Total sampling was applied based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, yielding 2.863 cases. Data were analyzed descriptively to describe patient characteristics, URTI diagnosis distribution, and patterns of antibiotic and symptomatic drug use. The results show that most URTI patients are female (65.4%) and aged 12–25 years (85%). The most common diagnosis is unspecified URTI (J06), accounting for 51,8% of cases. Antibiotics are prescribed in 57,5% of cases, with cephalosporins (60%) being the most frequently used antibiotic class. Corticosteroids are the most commonly prescribed symptomatic drugs. However, when active ingredients in combination products are considered, antihistamines are the most frequently used symptomatic drug class. This study indicates that antibiotic use among URTI patients at Soedirman Primary Clinic remains relatively high, highlighting the need to strengthen the implementation of rational drug use in accordance with URTI treatment guidelines in primary healthcare settings.