Assessment of Antibiotic Dispensing Practice in Community Pharmacies of Tehran, for 2 Common Infectious Symptoms,...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Public Health
• Drug Dispensing Practices
• Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health challenge.
• Community pharmacies are crucial in rationalizing antibiotic use.
• Iranian regulations prohibit dispensing antibiotics without a prescription.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the rate of antibiotic dispensing without a prescription in Tehran, Iran.
• To assess pharmacist practices regarding antibiotic recommendations.
• To identify potential gaps in antibiotic stewardship at the community pharmacy level.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran from September 2016 to May 2017.
• Simulated patient scenarios (sore throat, dysuria) were presented to 388 pharmacies.
• Pharmacist dispensing behavior and patient counseling were observed under varying demand levels.

Main Results:

• Antibiotics were dispensed without a prescription in 39.9% of dysuria and 52.3% of sore throat simulations.
• Pharmacists spent less than 60 seconds on patient assessment in over 90% of cases.
• Counseling on completing the antibiotic course was provided in only 18% of instances.

Conclusions:

• Dispensing antibiotics without a prescription is a common practice in Tehran community pharmacies.
• Inadequate patient assessment and counseling by pharmacists contribute to the problem.
• Urgent interventions are needed to improve antibiotic stewardship and combat resistance.