title: [Antibiotic use in Mexico: review of problems and policies].
abstract: The inappropriate use of antibiotics signifies a risk for individual health and a waste of health resources. It triggers the development of antibiotic resistance, which increases expenditures and mortality related to infectious disease, and is hence considered a serious public health problem. The World Health Organization has thus recommended a series of strategies to be included within national pharmaceutical policies. In Mexico, diverse factors related to the inappropriate use of antibiotics have been documented. While the response has been mainly in the form of educational and managerial interventions directed toward physicians in public health services, as well as epidemiological surveillance, there is a paucity of research and interventions focused on consumers, pharmacies, and the private sector. Fundamentally, a comprehensive national strategy for antibiotics is not incorporated into health and pharmaceutical policies.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Reino Unido.
authors.forename: Anahí
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dreser
authors.forename: Veronika J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.forename: Kitty K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Echániz
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011634:Public Health; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents