[Self-medication with antibiotics in Poland].
Antibiotic resistance, the important public health threat, depends on antibiotic overuse/misuse. Self-medication with antibiotics is of serious medical concern. The aim of the study, as a part of SAR project (Self-medication with antibiotic in Europe) was to survey the incidence of this phenomenon.


METHODS
In Poland among 938 respondents of the questionnaire 27% adults were treated with antibiotics at least once a year, 13% of the therapies were undertaken without medical consultation. The most frequently prescribed antibiotic was amoxicillin, the most often self-ordered--fusafungine.


RESULTS
The main self-medicated symptoms were sore throat and common cold. The duration of self-ordered therapy was less then 5 days. The sources of antibiotics used for self-medication were leftovers and those given by friends or family.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study confirmed that antibiotic self-medication is relatively frequent problem in Poland and interventions are required in order to reduce the frequency of antibiotics misuse.
Olczak
Anna
A
Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego w Warszawie, Zespól Mikrobiologii Klinicznej i Profilaktyki Zakazeń.
Grzesiowski
Paweł
P
Hryniewicz
Waleria
W
Haaijer-Ruskamp
Flora M
FM
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012646:Self Administration
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents