[Analysis of prescriptions of antibiotics for acute respiratory infections at a health center].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the prescription of antibiotics for acute respiratory infections (ARI) at our Health Centre.


METHODS
An observational crossover study.


METHODS
Primary Health care. San Gregorio de Telde Health Centre, Gran Canaria.


METHODS
Systematic random sampling of 368 clinical cases with ARI. 196 women (53.26%) and 172 men (46.73%), with an average age of 33.26 +/- 1.97.


RESULTS
Antibiotics were prescribed for 42.66% of ARI. Family doctors used them less than general ones (38.67% against 63.04%, p < 0.0001), and on the afternoon lists they were used less than in the morning (33.82% against 52.35%, p < 0.001). In chronically ill patients they were used less than symptomatic treatment (42.16% against 57.83%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences found between their use and the appearance of complications (37.5% with Antibiotherapy against 62.5% without it) or successive consultations (45.16% with antibiotics against 54.83% without them). They were used more in those aged over 60 (48.97%) and in those who attended less (51.56%). Average cost per patient treated with Antibiotherapy was 2,508.48 +/- 258.80 pesetas against 694.28 +/- 78.67 pesetas for the patient treated symptomatically (p < 0.0005).


CONCLUSIONS
We are using Antibiotherapy inadequately in our field. We propose that quality control studies to detect and correct problems of this type should be undertaken. In our case corrective measures with a later reevaluation should be applied.
Formento Tirado
J A
JA
Centro de Salud San Gregorio de Telde, Las Palmas.
Prieto Esteban
I
I
Celemin Colomina
I
I
Alvarez Rodríguez
F
F
Crespo Llorden
A
A
Arenas Abad
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011897:Random Allocation; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
Análisis de la prescripción de antibióticos en las infecciones respiratorias agudas de un centro de salud.