[Critical study of spanish adult consumer profile of antibiotics on the basis of National Surveys of Health in 1993, 1995, 1997, 2001 and 2003].
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study has been to examine antibiotic consumption in Spain through the use of the National Surveys of Health (NSH) .


METHODS
Taking the NSH, between 1993 and 2003, certain variables regarding the consumption of antibiotics have been analyzed; putting these into groups according to their typology, habits, comorbidity and the utilization of health resources. This information has been compared with published data by other authors.


RESULTS
The consumption of antibiotics was approximately 3%, and 9-19% of this was not prescribed. Significant statistical associations have been observed between the consumption of antibiotics and other aspects such as academic and income levels, habits such as smoking, general health, certain chronic diseases, being bed-ridden due to disease; and also the use of certain medicines and the anti-influenza vaccine.


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of antibiotics coincides with described data by other authors, and this was always higher than prescribed. The association with other variables may be limited by the inadequate NSH design in order to know the exact consumption of antibiotics.
Baquero
J L
JL
Departamento Microbiología I, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. baquerozazo@gmail
Barberán
J
J
Martínez
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D055553:Prescription Drugs