Research Article

Appropriateness of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study

Volume: 6 Number: 4 December 31, 2025
TR EN

Appropriateness of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of antibiotic therapy and discharge prescriptions in patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) using the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) criteria. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2022 and January 2024 at a tertiary training and research hospital. A total of 111 patients diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia, acute/chronic bronchitis, or infectious exacerbations of COPD and asthma were included. Prescriptions were evaluated independently by two physicians based on the ten MAI domains. Results: All prescriptions were fully appropriate regarding indication, effectiveness, dosage, and directions (100%). No clinically significant drug–drug or drug–disease interactions were detected. Unnecessary antibiotic duplication occurred in 4.5% of cases, and cost appropriateness was achieved in 68%. Monotherapy was predominant during hospitalization, while a trend toward narrower-spectrum and more cost-effective regimens was observed at discharge. Conclusion: According to MAI assessment, overall clinical appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing was high. Reducing unnecessary duplication and promoting cost-effective alternatives may further strengthen rational antibiotic use and antimicrobial stewardship practices.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research received no specific grant or financial support from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the relevant local ethics committee, the Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University Faculty of Medicine Local Scientific Medical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 12-2023/06, Date: 19.12.2023).

Thanks

The authors would like to thank the medical and nursing staff of the Pulmonology and Infectious Diseases departments for their valuable contributions to patient care and data collection during the study period. The authors also appreciate the support of the hospital administration for facilitating access to clinical records used in this research

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Chest Diseases

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

December 31, 2025

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

October 28, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 19, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 6 Number: 4

APA
İncekara, Y., & Aslan, S. (2025). Appropriateness of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study. Experimental and Applied Medical Science, 6(4), 338-348. https://doi.org/10.46871/eams.1812615
AMA
1.İncekara Y, Aslan S. Appropriateness of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study. Exp Appl Med Sci. 2025;6(4):338-348. doi:10.46871/eams.1812615
Chicago
İncekara, Yaşar, and Selda Aslan. 2025. “Appropriateness of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Experimental and Applied Medical Science 6 (4): 338-48. https://doi.org/10.46871/eams.1812615.
EndNote
İncekara Y, Aslan S (December 1, 2025) Appropriateness of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study. Experimental and Applied Medical Science 6 4 338–348.
IEEE
[1]Y. İncekara and S. Aslan, “Appropriateness of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study”, Exp Appl Med Sci, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 338–348, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.46871/eams.1812615.
ISNAD
İncekara, Yaşar - Aslan, Selda. “Appropriateness of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Experimental and Applied Medical Science 6/4 (December 1, 2025): 338-348. https://doi.org/10.46871/eams.1812615.
JAMA
1.İncekara Y, Aslan S. Appropriateness of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study. Exp Appl Med Sci. 2025;6:338–348.
MLA
İncekara, Yaşar, and Selda Aslan. “Appropriateness of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Experimental and Applied Medical Science, vol. 6, no. 4, Dec. 2025, pp. 338-4, doi:10.46871/eams.1812615.
Vancouver
1.Yaşar İncekara, Selda Aslan. Appropriateness of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study. Exp Appl Med Sci. 2025 Dec. 1;6(4):338-4. doi:10.46871/eams.1812615

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