title: [Prevalence of purchase of antibiotics without prescription and antibiotic recommendation practices for children under five years of age in private pharmacies in peri-urban areas of Lima, Peru].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of purchase of antibiotics without prescription and antibiotic recommendation for its use in children <5 years of age in private pharmacies in peri-urban areas of Lima.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous population survey was conducted among adults who bought an antibiotic for a child <5 years of age from a private pharmacy. Fictitious cases were applied in a subgroup of pharmacies to evaluate antibiotic recommendation practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of purchase of antibiotics without a prescription was 13%, including 1.7% that were chosen by consumers and 11.3% that were recommended by pharmacists. A total of 66.7% of the medications purchased to treat colds were antibiotics, 56.9% of which were prescribed. 64.4% of medications purchased to treat bronchospasm, 96.4% of the medications to treat watery diarrhea and 90.9% of the medications to treat pharyngitis were antibiotics. Amoxicillin (51.5%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (20.6%) were the most commonly purchased antibiotics. A pharmacist suggested an antibiotic in 60% of the fictitious common cold cases, 76% of the bronchospasm cases, 44% of the watery diarrhea cases, and 76% of the dysentery cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The purchase of antibiotics for children <5 years of age in private pharmacies primarily occurs with a medical prescription. The pharmacist commonly recommended an antibiotic in cases lacking a prescription. Measures are needed to reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics at medical facilities and in pharmacies.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ecker
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Luis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Del Valle
authors.forename: Theresa J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ochoa
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru; D010594:Pharmacies; D010595:Pharmacists; D055656:Prescriptions; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents