Antibiotic use profile at paediatric clinics in two transitional countries.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we evaluated antibiotic utilisation pattern at two paediatric clinics in different European (transitional) countries: Croatia (Rijeka) and Russia (Smolensk).


METHODS
Antibiotic utilisation during the year 2000 was observed using the ATC/defined daily doses (DDD) methodology (ATC code-J01). Drug-usage data was expressed in numbers of DDD/100 bed-days and the DU90% profile.


RESULTS
In Rijeka, 35 different systemic antibiotics were used and in Smolensk 22. The overall consumption of antibiotic drugs in Rijeka was more than three times higher than in Smolensk (28.96 vs 8.3 DDD/100 bed-days). The top five antibiotic drugs used in Smolensk were amoxicillin, mydecamicin, ampicilin, doxycylin, gentamicin; and in Rijeka cefuroxime axetil, ceftriaxone, azytromycin, ceftibuten and amoxicillin.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in antibiotic prescribing patterns are greater than expected. The pattern of antibiotic utilisation in both countries implies that regional control measures and guidelines for antibiotic use in children should be urgently established.
Palcevski
Goran
G
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia. goran.palcevski@ri.tel.hr
Ahel
Vladimir
V
Vlahović-Palcevski
Vera
V
Ratchina
Svetlana
S
Rosovic-Bazijanac
Vesna
V
Averchenkova
L
L
D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077722:Ceftibuten; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017523:Croatia; D003625:Data Collection; D003906:Developing Countries; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006753:Hospital Records; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007933:Leucomycins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012426:Russia
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D005839:Gentamicins; D007933:Leucomycins; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D000667:Ampicillin; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017963:Azithromycin; D000077722:Ceftibuten; D004318:Doxycycline; C026483:midecamycin; D002444:Cefuroxime