title: Self-medication with antibiotics in the ambulatory care setting within the Euro-Mediterranean region; results from the ARMed project.
abstract: Anecdotal data from the southern and eastern Mediterranean region suggests that self-medication with antibiotics is commonly practiced in many countries. In order to provide proper information on the situation, we undertook short structured interviews in out-patients clinics or primary health centres in Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia and Turkey. A total of 2109 interviews were undertaken of which 1705 completed the full questionnaire. Self-medication was reported by 19.1% (<0.1% in Cyprus to 37% in Lebanon) of respondents. Intended self-medication ranged from 1.3% (95% CI 0%, 3%) in Cyprus to 70.7% (95% CI 64%, 77%) in Jordan. Upper respiratory tract symptoms were the most frequent reasons for which respondents indicated they would self-medicate. 48.4% of the whole group replied that they kept antibiotics at home, being highest in Lebanon (60%, 95% CI 51%, 69%). We found a significant association between antibiotic hoarders and intended users of antibiotics for self-medication. Our data confirms that non-prescribed antibiotic use is high within ambulatory care in southern and eastern Mediterranean countries, being almost twice that reported in a similar European study. Corrective efforts are clearly required in the region to ensure proper use of antimicrobials so as to reduce pressure for antimicrobial resistance.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Unit, Mater Dei Hospital, B'Kara Bypass, Msida MSD 2090, Malta. elizabeth.a.scicluna@gov.mt
authors.forename: Elizabeth Anne
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Scicluna
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Borg
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gür
authors.forename: Ossama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rasslan
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Taher
authors.forename: Saida Ben
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Redjeb
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Elnassar
authors.forename: Despo Pieridou
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Bagatzouni
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Daoud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003535:Cyprus; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014416:Tunisia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs