Minimized analysis of costs applied to antimicrobial consumption in a rural area.
OBJECTIVE
Antimicrobial agents constitute one of the most utilized groups of drugs in daily clinical practice and, therefore they involve a significant expense. The aim of this study was to evaluate the economic cost of the antimicrobials prescribed in a rural area as well as to search for some cheaper alternatives.


METHODS
Retrospective study. The economic cost of antimicrobial agents prescribed at a health centre over 18 months was studied. To do this, clinical histories of 800 people were reviewed. Afterwards, a minimized analysis of costs was carried out.


RESULTS
The total cost of antimicrobial consumption came to 2,080.752 pts. The average expenditure per patient came to 6,433.85 +/- 14 269.29 pts. Significant differences between the sexes were not found; however, the expenditure in patients of 65 years of age or over was significantly higher than the rest. After applying the ABC analysis it was noticed that macrolides, cephalosporins, antimicrobial combinations and quinolones were the most important groups from an economic point of view. The use of monodose containers would allow us to save up to 7.83% of the total expenditure. In addition, by prescribing the cheapest marketed pharmaceutical product we could save a further 6.54%, and, finally, by combining these two measures the total possible saving would reach 299,052 pts, a 14.37% of the total expenditure.


CONCLUSIONS
We consider important the elaboration of pharmacoeconomic guides as well as the introduction of monodose containers not only at hospitals but also at community pharmacists.
Sánchez
C C
CC
Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department, Basque Country University, Spain.
Nájera
L H
LH
Inchaurregui
L C
LC
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D013030:Spain
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents