title: [Antibiotic use in Norway].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antibiotic use is a major cause of development and spread of resistant bacteria. Sensible antibiotic use should aim at decreasing total antibiotic use and replace broad-spectrum antibiotics with narrow-spectrum ones; pharmaceutical drug statistics are vital in this context.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from the wholesaler-based drug statistics (for the period 1974 - 2007) and from the Norwegian Prescription Database (2006). The ATC/DDD methodology is used in the drug statistics. Data are presented as number of users (prevalence), number of dispensed prescriptions, defined daily doses (DDD per 1 000 inhabitants per day) and in Norwegian kroner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Longitudinal trends show a relatively stable and high use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics, even though broad-spectrum antibiotic use is slightly increasing. Antibiotic use varies largely by age and sex. The highest prevalences are seen among small children (0 - 5 years), women in their twenties and in people over 70 years. Over 30 % of people in these groups receive at least one antibiotic per year. The therapy profile differs between the types of prescription issued. Neither the wholesaler statistics nor the Prescription Database contains information on diagnosis, making it difficult to monitor whether the Norwegian primary health service has a rational antibiotic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for legemiddelepidemiologi Divisjon for epidemiologi Nasjonalt folkehelseinstitutt Postboks 4404 Nydalen 0403 Oslo. irene.litleskare@fhi.no
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Litleskare
authors.forename: Hege Salvesen
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Blix
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rønning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004363:Drug Utilization; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D012042:Registries
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents