Intramuscular Drug Administration At A Local Hospital In Kosovo

Abstract

Introduction : Medicines are administered in two ways: locally and systemically. Creams, ointments, various fats that contain active substances are included in the drugs administrated locally, while systematically are drugs that enter the human body via enteral and parenteral routes. The parenteral route is the injection of drugs into different parts of the body by means of syringes. The methods of administration are : subcutaneous (under the skin), intravenous (in the veins) and intramuscular (in the muscles). There is a variety of the drugs which can be administrated in different routes, depending on the form of the drug, however some of the drugs are preferred to be administrated intramuscularly.

Aim: In this article we aim to identify the drugs most used intramuscularly in a local hospital in Kosovo during the period January- December 2021. 

Methods : In this study we have collected data from a family medical center in a city in Kosovo. The data collected were on patients treated intramuscularly only and the therapy used for the period January-December 2021. All patients’ data were obtained from protocol books of the treated patients and all the data were analyzed separately each month. A total of 1908 patients treated were enrolled in the study. As demographic characteristic, the gender of the patients represented by numbers and percentage was included in the study. In every sector we have presented the percentage of the therapy used through intramuscular route of administration.

Results: Based on the review of the relevant literature and the analysis of the protocols at the Center of Family Medicine in a local hospital in Kosovo, this research paper reveals data as follows: In the period January-December 2021, a total of 1908 patients were treated. Of them, 884 were male and 1024 were female. The most frequent therapy was: Ceftriaxone, Dexamethasone, Diclofenac and Diazepam.

Conclusion: Taken together, these data have shown a higher use of mainly four drugs such as Diclofenac, Dexamethasone, Ceftriaxone and Diazepam. And the period which was characterized with a higher number of patients needed to be treated with the above-mentioned therapy was during winter season.