| Author/Editor | Čižman, M; Srovin, T; Pokorn, M; Čad-Pečar, S; Battelino, S | |
| Title | Analysis of the causes and consequences of decreased antibiotic consumption over the last 5 years in Slovenia | |
| Type | članek | |
| Source | J Antimicrob Chemother | |
| Vol. and No. | Letnik 55, št. 5 | |
| Publication year | 2005 | |
| Volume | str. 758-63 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Abstract | Objectives: Compared with European countries, the use of antibiotics in Slovenia is moderate. In the period 1999-2002 an 18.67% decrease in outpatient antibiotic consumption was noted. The aim of the present study was to analyse this decrease and its consequences. Methods: The data on outpatient antibiotic consumption were obtained from the Institute of Public Health and Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia and expressed in defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 inhabitant-days. The number of media publications on 'antibiotic drugs' and "bacterial resistance" during the study period was obtained. In 2000, the prescription of co-amoxiclav and fluoroquinolones was restricted because of a constant increase in the consumption of these drugs. The data on incidence of acute mastoiditis and penicillin resistance among invasive pneumococci were obtained. Results: The total outpatient consumption of antibacterials increased from 15.21 DDD/1000 inhabitantdays in 1996 to 20.08 in 1999, and decreased to 16.97 in 2003. The consumption of restricted antibiotics decreased from 7.29 in 1999 to 5.25 DDD/1000 inhabitant-days in 2003. There was a positive correlation between antibiotic consumption and the number of newspaper articles (r = 0.92), and a negative correlation between the number of diagnostic tests and antibiotic consumption (r = -0.73 for the C-reactive protein test and -0.68 for the streptococcal antigen detection test). Reduced antibiotic consumption was paralleled by a decrease in penicillin resistance among invasive pneumococci. No increase in mastoiditis cases was observed in spite of reduced antibiotic consumption. Conclusion: Restriction of antibiotic prescription proved to be effective in reducing outpatient antibiotic consumption. The effect was prolonged and affected restricted antibiotics as well as non-restricted drugs. | |
| Descriptors | ANTIBIOTICS AMBULATORY CARE DRUG UTILIZATION PRESCRIPTIONS, DRUG DRUG RESISTANCE, MICROBIAL INSURANCE, HEALTH DRUG COSTS SLOVENIA |