title: Self-medication with antimicrobial drugs among university students in a Northeast region of Romania.
abstract: Self-medication with antimicrobial drugs is an important problem in the world and may lead to serious consequences for healthcare systems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence and patterns of self-medication with antimicrobial drugs among university students in a Northeast region of Romania.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted to collect data from medical and non-medical students who lived in residence halls. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test, when applicable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 320 questionnaires distributed, a total of 281 students completed and returned the questionnaires. Among these, 115 (41%) respondents admitted to have used at least one antibiotic in the six months prior to the survey, 44% of whom did not seek medical advice (irrational self-medication). The most common antimicrobial drugs used for self-medication were amoxicillin (37%), amoxicillin-clavulanate (33%), ciprofloxacin and penicillin (14%) and the most frequently reported reasons for self-medication were respiratory and oral infections (31%), common cold (25%), and genitourinary infections (20%). Some students mentioned the use of more than one antimicrobial drug, for more than one disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  self-medication with antimicrobial drugs is a relatively common practice among students in Romania. This suggests the need for interventions to prevent the irrational use of antimicrobial drugs, such as the implementation of national programs for public education regarding the risks and consequences for the health of irrational use of antimicrobials.
authors.forename: Lisandra
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Damian
authors.forename: Cătălina Elena
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lupuşoru
authors.forename: Cristina Mihaela
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ghiciuc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015995:Prevalence; D012383:Romania; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000658:Amoxicillin