Antibacterial prescribing patterns of doctors in the Irish Republic

Antibacterial prescribing patterns of general practitioners and hospital doctors in a survey carried out this year (1982) were compared with those seen in previous surveys in 1977 and 1973. Since 1973, marked differences in preference for certain drugs in the treatment of urinary tract infection and diarrhoea were seen. Ampicillin, favourite antibiotic for treatment of respiratory infection in the previous surveys, remained first choice therapy in 1982 of both general practitioners and hospital doctors.