Antimicrobial drug use in primary health care.

A survey was carried out to assess the extent and pattern of use of antimicrobials at two primary health care centres (PHCs) in northern India. At both PHCs 20-40% of all drugs prescribed were antimicrobials. The most prescribed antimicrobials at both PHCs were sulfa drugs (29%), followed by cotrimoxazole (15%) and penicillins (10%). The pattern of infectious diseases was similar at both PHCs; with respiratory tract infections heading the list (12%), followed by skin infections (10%), enteritis (7%), injuries (4%), unknown pyrexias (3%) and worm infestations (2%).