Abstract
Antibiotic prescribing for acute diarrhea was common among prescribers although most for acute
diarrhea conditions were not caused by bacterial infection. The purpose of this study was to investigate
antibiotics prescribing for acute diarrhea in the outpatient department in Pua Crown Prince Hospital,
Nan province. Medical record of the targeted patients during 1 January to 31 December 2009 were evaluated
regarding antibiotic prescribing. Criteria for antibiotic prescribing for acute diarrhea included having
fever (38o C or above) and mucous or bloody stool or stool exam with red blood cell and/or white
blood cell. Result showed that of a total of 613 patients with acute diarrhea, 406 patients (66.23%) were
prescribed antibiotics. For patient who received antibiotics, 90.40% were identified as irrational antibiotics
prescribing. This data showed that clinical practice guideline was important data to make good decision
to start antibiotics in patient with acute diarrhea.
