A study on household medicine wastage and disposal practices with screening of water samples for antibiotic presence in a South Indian district

Background: Pharmaceuticals in the environment is known since last two decades. As hospitals and pharma industries, household medicines also need proper disposal otherwise they will gradually find their way into environment. So, we did a survey of residents in major metro city to understand their medicine wastage as well as disposal practices. Methods: Pharmaceuticals in the environment is known since last two decades. As hospitals and pharma industries, household medicines also need proper disposal otherwise they will gradually find their way into environment. So, we did a survey of residents in major metro city to understand their medicine wastage as well as disposal practices. Results: The water samples screened for antibiotic presence were all negative from 10 locations. A total population of 749 people, from 165 houses were included in the study. Leftover medicines were found in 75.8% houses, of which 5.36% houses had leftover antibiotics. Garbage disposal (58.2%) was the most commonly observed method of medicine disposal. Good attitude towards proper antibiotic disposal was independently significant with higher education (OR=2.5, 95% CI= 1.05-6.17), employment (OR=2.1, 95% CI= 1.05-4.3), and upper middle-class families (OR=2.4, 95% CI= 1.08-5.21). Conclusions: Lack of proper guidelines for household medicine disposal across the country is reflected in our community too. Although this study could not detect antibiotics in the canal water, the emerging resistance pattern across the state reflects it could be there. Therefore, immediate action on medicine waste collections needs to be implemented.