title: Trends in antibiotic utilization in eight Latin American countries, 1997-2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the trends in antibiotic utilization in eight Latin American countries between 1997-2007
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed retail sales data of oral and injectable antibiotics (World Health Organization (WHO) Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code J01) between 1997 and 2007 for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Antibiotics were aggregated and utilization was calculated for all antibiotics (J01); for macrolides, lincosamindes, and streptogramins (J01 F); and for quinolones (J01 M). The kilogram sales of each antibiotic were converted into defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day (DID) according to the WHO ATC classification system. We calculated the absolute change in DID and relative change expressed in percent of DID variation, using 1997 as a reference
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total antibiotic utilization has increased in Peru, Venezuela, Uruguay, and Brazil, with the largest relative increases observed in Peru (5.58 DID, +70.6%) and Venezuela (4.81 DID, +43.0%). For Mexico (-2.43 DID; -15.5%) and Colombia (-4.10; -33.7%), utilization decreased. Argentina and Chile showed major reductions in antibiotic utilization during the middle of this period. In all countries, quinolone use increased, particularly sharply in Venezuela (1.86 DID, +282%). The increase in macrolide, lincosaminde, and streptogramin use was greatest in Peru (0.76 DID, +82.1%), followed by Brazil, Argentina, and Chile
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analyzing antibiotic utilization in Latin America presents a series of challenges. Creating policy-relevant evidence based on antimicrobial consumption patterns is needed in order to foster policies aimed at improving appropriate use of antibiotics in the region.
authors.affiliation: Health Systems Research Centre, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico. vwirtz@correo.insp.mx
authors.forename: Veronika J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.forename: Anahí
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dreser
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonzales
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents