J C Llop1. 1. Unidad de Farmacia, Región Sanitaria Tarragona.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Due to the high morbidity of bacterial illnesses, there have been a lot of studies to assess the use of antibacterials. These studies usually focus on a small sample, whereas in the present study both the development of the use of antimicrobials in non-hospital care throughout Catalonia, and the extent to which new medicines are used, are examined. DESIGN: A retrospective, observational study. SETTING: Catalonia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using the data supplied by the pharmacy data base of the Catalan Health Service in DHD for 1992-1995, analyses were made of the development in the use of the different antibacterial subgroups, the effect of using new medicines and their impact on similar older antibacterials. MAIN RESULTS: The overall number of antibacterials taken in Catalonia remained fairly stable at high levels. CONCLUSIONS: Antibacterials are widely used. Three is a tendency to substitute newly marketed medicines for traditional medicines. A more prudent attitude should be adopted when starting antibacterials treatments and choosing the most suitable antibiotics for non-hospital care.
OBJECTIVE: Due to the high morbidity of bacterial illnesses, there have been a lot of studies to assess the use of antibacterials. These studies usually focus on a small sample, whereas in the present study both the development of the use of antimicrobials in non-hospital care throughout Catalonia, and the extent to which new medicines are used, are examined. DESIGN: A retrospective, observational study. SETTING: Catalonia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using the data supplied by the pharmacy data base of the Catalan Health Service in DHD for 1992-1995, analyses were made of the development in the use of the different antibacterial subgroups, the effect of using new medicines and their impact on similar older antibacterials. MAIN RESULTS: The overall number of antibacterials taken in Catalonia remained fairly stable at high levels. CONCLUSIONS: Antibacterials are widely used. Three is a tendency to substitute newly marketed medicines for traditional medicines. A more prudent attitude should be adopted when starting antibacterials treatments and choosing the most suitable antibiotics for non-hospital care.