title: [Evaluation of ambulatory antibiotic use in Hungary using drug-specific quality indicators].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rational use of antibiotics is an important tool in combating antibiotic resistance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the authors was to evaluate the quality of ambulatory antibiotic use in Hungary.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crude antibiotic sales data for the period between 1996 and 2010 were converted into DDD (Defined Daily Dose) per 1000 inhabitants and per year. The recently developed and validated drug-specific quality indicators were used to evaluate antibiotic use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Beside constant quantity (18.0±1.8 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day), the authors detected major changes in the composition of antibiotic use. Ratios of the consumption of broad to narrow spectrum beta-lactams and macrolides increased eight-fold (1996: 2.2 vs. 2010: 15.8) and consumption of fluoroquinolones tripled. Out of the ten surveyed drug-specific quality indicators, Hungary belonged to the European elite in case of three, while considering the remaining seven, Hungary ranked among the weak or weakest European countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In quantity Hungary an ambulatory antibiotic use resembles to Scandinavian countries while it mimics antibiotic consumption patterns of southern countries.
authors.affiliation: Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Gyógyszerész-tudományi Kar, Klinikai Gyógyszerészeti Intézet, Szeged. mmatuz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matuz
authors.forename: Ria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benkő
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hajdú
authors.forename: Réka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viola
authors.forename: Gyöngyvér
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soós
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D018942:Macrolides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015363:Quinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013754:Tetracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D018942:Macrolides; D010406:Penicillins; D015363:Quinolones; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013754:Tetracyclines