Self-medication with antibiotics by a population in northern Israel.
BACKGROUND
The current study is part of a larger study--Self-Medication with Antibiotics and Resistance Levels in Europe (SAR project)--coordinated by the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and run in 19 European countries and Israel.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate self-medication with antibiotics by a population in northern Israel.


METHODS
We sent by post a questionnaire on antibiotic usage to 2,615 adults, both Jewish and Arab, living in northern Israel.


RESULTS
The overall response rate was low (17.9%), particularly among the Arab population (9.4% of respondents). Among the 467 respondents, 169 (36.2%) reported 215 antibiotic courses within the last year. Amoxicillin was the antibiotic most commonly used (32.7% of courses); 89.4% of antibiotics were obtained via a physician's prescription; 114 respondents (24.4%) stored leftover antibiotics at home, and 81 (18.7%) would consider self-medication with antibiotics without a medical consultation.


CONCLUSIONS
Over-the-counter acquisition of antibiotics is rare in Israel. However, the storage of leftover antibiotics in the home constitutes an alternative potential source of self-medication that can have untoward consequences, not only for the individual patient but also for the general population since inappropriate antibiotic usage contributes to the increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance.
Raz
Raul
R
Infectious Diseases Unit, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. raz_r@clalit.org.il
Edelstein
Hana
H
Grigoryan
Larissa
L
Haaijer-Ruskamp
Flora M
FM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012651:Self Medication; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents