[French National Institute for observation of prescriptions and consumption of medicines. Prescription and consumption of antibiotics in ambulatory care].
The National Research Institute for Prescriptions and Consumption of medicines which was founded under the authority of the Minister of Health, is charged with the following missions: improved evaluation of the therapeutic needs of the population; more precise knowledge of therapeutic management; the identification of possible deviations in relation to systems of reference; recommendations in favor of correct use of medicines; and the optimization of patient management. Its first report concerned the antibiotic therapy of respiratory infections. In France, the average annual increase rate of the frequency of antibiotics consumption was in the region of 3.7%, between the periods 1980-1981 and 1991-1992. It essentially concerned cephalosporins and quinolones. Between 1991 and 1996 antibiotics sales increased on average by 2.1%, in units, per year. The increase of this consumption, which was not justified by any epidemiological evolution, is partly explained by the high frequency of antibiotic prescriptions during respiratory or ENT affections presumed to be of viral etiology: in 40% of rhinopharyngitis, 80% of acute bronchitis and more than 90% of anginas, whatever the age. Moreover the antibiotic treatments were not prescribed optimally: too long duration, insufficient dosages. Such phenomena are disturbing with regard to their consequences on the evolution of bacterial resistances. A comparison between French practices and those of Germany and the United Kingdom suggests that recourse to treatment is more frequent in France for the infectious diseases mentioned above, with more intensive utilization of antibiotics, in particular broad-spectrum penicillins. Recommendations have been made in favor of a rationalisation of practices.
Bouvenot
G
G
Laboratoire de Thérapeutique, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille.
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005602:France; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
L'Observatoire national des prescriptions et consommations des médicaments. Prescription et consommation des antibiotiques en ambulatoire.