Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns in Surgical Wards at Kano State Specialist Hospital, North West Nigeria

Antibiotic stewardship in surgical wards is a priority for reducing antimicrobial resistance and preventing healthcare-associated infections, yet prescribing practice in Nigerian public hospitals frequently diverges from evidence-based guidelines. This study evaluates antibiotic prescribing patterns in surgical wards at Kano State Specialist Hospital, Kano, over a four-month prospective data collection period. A cross-sectional observational design is applied, documenting all antibiotic prescriptions for 310 consecutively admitted surgical patients. Variables include indication (prophylactic versus therapeutic), antibiotic class, dose, route of administration, duration, compliance with WHO Essential Medicines List categorisation, and culture-sensitivity concordance where microbiological data are available. SPSS is used for descriptive and frequency analysis. Available antibiotic stewardship literature from North West Nigeria identifies prolonged postoperative prophylaxis beyond 24 hours and empirical broad-spectrum prescribing without culture guidance as the most prevalent irrational prescribing patterns. The WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics and the Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines for Surgical Prophylaxis provide the normative reference. Findings will support the hospital pharmacy and therapeutics committee in implementing an antibiotic stewardship intervention and in establishing a surgical site infection surveillance programme. Keywords: antibiotic prescribing, antibiotic stewardship, surgical wards, Kano State, North West Nigeria.