Original scientific paper
Antibiotic consumption in Međimurje
Marina Payer-Pal
; Zavod za javno zdravstvo Međimurske županije, Hrvatska
Damjan Debelec
; Zavod za javno zdravstvo Međimurske županije, Hrvatska
Abstract
Overprescribing and unnecessary use of antibiotics leads to the most significant public health problem nowadays, which is bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The surveillance of antibiotic consumption as well as bacterial resistance monitoring have been introduced in Croatia. Croatia is a country with significant antibiotic consumption compared to other country members of the EU. This paper shows antibiotic consumption rates in Međimurje County, especially ambulatory consumption, which is, in Međimurje County, lower than the national average, and accounts for 95% of all antibiotic consumption. 61% of all antibiotics prescribed are penicillins, unfortunately mainly broad spectrum antibiotics with and without inhibitors (92%). Most antibiotics are being prescribed for children between 1 and 4 years of age. Women use more antibiotics compared to men, especially the group of tetracyclines, cephalosporins, cotrimoxazole and nitrofurantoin. Also, 26% higher consumption rates have been recorded in the winter period. Despite long-lasting and intense activities aimed to rationalize antibiotic consumption (education, public campaigns) in Međimurje County, the results show the need for even more intense work especially concerning primary care through which more than 95% of all antibiotic consumption in Međimurje is prescribed.
Keywords
Antibiotic consumption; primary care; Međimurje
Hrčak ID:
166685
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2015.
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