Antibiotic prescription in primary health care: clinical and economic perspectives (Catalonia, Spain).
OBJECTIVE
To quantify clinical inappropriateness of antibiotic prescription and its costs in primary health care.


METHODS
2470 cases of infectious disease during 1998 were analysed.


RESULTS
Of all cases, 69.9% did not require antibiotic treatment. Global clinical inappropriateness amounted to 43.7%, rising to 56.7% with the introduction of economic criteria. Treatment unnecessary but antibiotic provided (27.9%) represented the most important category. Costs of inappropriateness reached 68.4% of the estimated total cost.


CONCLUSIONS
Appropriate antibiotic use should be focused on reducing antibiotic prescription when not indicated and restraining the use of penicillins maintaining restrictive and adequate health policies, and also achieving co-responsibility from the general population.
Caminal
Josefina
J
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. josefina.caminal@uab.es
Rovira
Joan
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D013030:Spain
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents