Related Experiment Videos
Antibiotic usage and costs in the community
Halil Karatas1, Ata Nevzat Yalcin, Huseyin Turgut
1Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Akdeniz University, Medicine Faculty, Antalya, Turkey.
Le Infezioni in Medicina
|August 19, 2004
Summary
Antibiotic prescriptions for community-acquired infections in Denizli, Turkey, represented 16.4% of all prescriptions and 30.8% of drug costs. This study highlights the significant economic burden of antibiotic use, urging for proper prescription practices.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Infectious Disease Management
- Public Health
Background:
- Community-acquired infections (CAIs) are a significant global health concern.
- Antibiotic utilization patterns and associated costs are critical factors in healthcare economics.
- Understanding local prescribing habits is essential for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the extent of antibiotic use in treating CAIs.
- To determine the economic impact of antibiotic prescriptions in Denizli, Turkey.
- To identify the most frequently prescribed antibiotic classes.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study design was employed.
- Data collected from 43,011 prescriptions in Denizli pharmacies between February and July 2001.
- Analysis of prescription frequency and market value attributed to antibiotics.
Main Results:
- Antibiotics constituted 16.4% of total prescriptions and 30.8% of the total drug market value.
- Penicillins were the most common class (49.7%), followed by cephalosporins (17.3%), macrolides (9.5%), and aminoglycosides (7.6%).
- The economic burden of antibiotic use in the community was found to be higher than in developed countries.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotic consumption represents a substantial economic burden in the studied community.
- The findings underscore the urgent need for optimizing antibiotic prescribing practices.
- Implementing strategies for appropriate antibiotic use is crucial to mitigate healthcare costs.