Fixed dose combination antimicrobials practices in Nepal - review of literature

Antibacterial drugs are one used commonly as fixed dose combination. The use of fixed dose combination antimicrobials is more common in developing countries. There are several studies which suggest extensive use of fixed dose combination antimicrobials drugs in Nepal. Although thousands of fixed dose combination are available in world market, WHO has approved only 25 fixed dose combination in 15th edition of WHO essential drug list. Even if some of the fixed dose antimicrobial offer some benefit in treatment of disease like Tuberculosis, Leprosy etc., majority of irrational fixed dose antimicrobials has major contribution in resistance development, decrease the flexibility of prescriber and increase the misuse by selfmedication. To minimize the extensive use of fixed dose combination of antimicrobials certain measure like developing guideline for preparing of combination product, evaluation of product before registration, banning of irrational IFDC antimicrobials, strict monitoring, strict antibiotic policy, hospital antibiotic policy etc., will be helpful. In the developing world where resistance to antimicrobials is increasing, minimizing the use of irrational fixed dose combination antimicrobials can be better tool to combat with the resistance.