Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
11:17

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses

Published on: August 30, 2018

Consumption of antibiotics in a small Pacific island nation: Samoa

Pauline Norris1, Hong Anh Nguyen2

  • 1School of Pharmacy, University of Otago . Dunedin ( New Zealand ).

Pharmacy Practice
|September 13, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Samoa exhibits high antibiotic consumption, with penicillins dominating use. Over two-thirds of prescriptions included antibiotics, and a quarter of pharmacy sales occurred without a prescription, highlighting significant antibiotic use concerns.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • High antibiotic use is a known driver of antibiotic resistance.
  • Antibiotic use patterns in Samoa are largely unquantified, despite anecdotal evidence of high consumption.
  • Concerns exist regarding potential methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus development in Samoa.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify antibiotic consumption levels in Samoa.
  • To establish baseline data on antibiotic prescribing and dispensing practices.
  • To assess the feasibility of medicine consumption calculation in small developing nations.

Main Methods:

  • Interviews with medicine importers in Samoa.
  • Review of invoices and prescription records from hospitals, pharmacies, and health centers.
  • Prospective observation of antibiotic sales in private pharmacies.

Main Results:

  • Estimated antibiotic consumption at 37.3 Defined Daily Doses (DDDs) per 1000 inhabitant days.
  • Penicillins accounted for 63% of total DDDs used.
  • Antibiotics constituted approximately one-third of prescribed drugs in hospitals/pharmacies and 44% in health centers.
  • Two-thirds of dispensed prescriptions contained antibiotics, with 25% of pharmacy sales being over-the-counter.

Conclusions:

  • Samoa demonstrates high rates of antibiotic use and a strong reliance on penicillins compared to other developing countries.
  • Prescribing levels in Samoa are notably high when compared to similar nations.
  • Methodologies exist to accurately calculate medicine consumption even in very small developing nations.
Keywords:
Anti-Bacterial AgentsDrug UtilizationSamoa

More Related Videos

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment08:33

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment

Published on: November 17, 2018

Application of the Intelligent High-Throughput Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing/Phage Screening System and Lar Index of Antimicrobial Resistance09:59

Application of the Intelligent High-Throughput Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing/Phage Screening System and Lar Index of Antimicrobial Resistance

Published on: July 21, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Antibiotic Selection00:57

Antibiotic Selection

Overview
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Production of Antibiotics01:27

Production of Antibiotics

Penicillin, one of the earliest and most widely used antibiotics, is produced industrially by the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. Large stirred-tank bioreactors ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of liters maintain tightly controlled temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen conditions to support fungal metabolism and maximize antibiotic yield. Penicillin is a secondary metabolite, synthesized primarily during the stationary growth phase, which requires a carefully managed...
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics01:21

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...