Antibiotic policies in Central Eastern Europe.
To assess the antibiotic policies in Central Eastern European (CEE) countries, a questionnaire on the prevalence of resistance, antibiotic consumption data for ambulatory and hospital care and antibiotic policies, was mailed to national representatives. Data on antibiotic resistance and consumption of antibiotics at national levels are limited and vary considerably among countries. The importance of surveillance data in altering perceptions of the prevalence of resistance is shown by the comparison of surveillance data and interview data. Interview data without surveillance data produced the widest range of estimates of the prevalence of resistance in streptococcus pneumonia -5% in Lithuania and 82% in Belarus. The average consumption of antibiotics in ambulatory care in eight CEE countries in 2001 was 19.35 defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 inhabitants per day, (range 13.1 - 24.8 DDD) and in hospitals in six CEE countries was 2.2 DDD/1000 inhabitants per day (range 1.3-4.5). Over the counter sales of antibiotics are available in some countries. Antibiotic policy interventions do not exist or only apply to specific problems or interventions. Better implementation of antibiotic interventions and education on antibiotic use should be a high priority in this region. An effective strategy requires close co-operation, consultations and partnership at national and international level in particular, via existing international organisations.
Cizman
Milan
M
Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana 1525, Slovenia. milan.cizman@mf.uni-lj.si
Beovic
Bojana
B
Krcmery
Vladimir
V
Barsic
Bruno
B
Tamm
Eda
E
Ludwig
Endre
E
Pelemis
Mojimir
M
Karovski
Kliment
K
Grzesiowski
Pavel
P
Gardovska
Dace
D
Volokha
Alla
A
Keuleyan
Emma
E
Stratchounski
Leonid
L
Dumitru
Carstina
C
Titov
Leonid P
LP
Usonis
Vytantas
V
Dvorák
Peter
P
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004493:Education; D005061:Europe, Eastern; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D005791:Patient Care
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs