[Development of resistance and antibiotic consumption]

Area of Science:

• * Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• * Public Health and Epidemiology
• * Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Background:

• * Antibiotic resistance is escalating globally, driven by international travel and trade.
• * Inappropriate antibiotic use in hospitals (25-40% of systemic doses) and communities contributes to resistance.
• * Self-medication and non-compliance with treatments, particularly with chemotherapy, are significant concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To analyze antibiotic consumption patterns and prescription rates in Spain.
• * To highlight regional variations in antibiotic use.
• * To provide recommendations for combating antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

• * Analysis of antibiotic consumption data, including Defined Daily Doses (DDD) per 1,000 hospital beds and per 1,000 inhabitants-day (DHD).
• * Examination of data from the URANO study on chemotherapy use and patient compliance.
• * Review of antibiotic consumption trends over the last decade.

Main Results:

• * Antibiotic consumption in Spain stabilized around 20 DHD in 2000, with significant regional disparities.
• * Total antibiotic consumption was approximately 270 tons in 1997, with a modest 10% increase over a decade.
• * Penicillins, macrolides, quinolones, and cephalosporins were the most frequently used antibiotics.

Conclusions:

• * Enhanced surveillance of antibiotic resistance is essential.
• * Improved training for healthcare professionals and patient education on self-medication risks are recommended.
• * Stricter control over antibiotic use in animal husbandry is proposed to mitigate resistance spread.