Introduction: Ampicillins are thought to be the most widely used antibiotics. Although ampicillin is included in the WHO list of essential drugs, its per-oral administration is not recommended, whereas amoxicillin is recommended due to its identical antimicrobial spectrum and better pharmacokinetic characteristics. Instead, per oral form of amoxicillin is recommended because of its identical antimicrobial spectrum and better pharmacokinetic characteristics.
Material and methods: Drug utilization evaluation of aminopenicillins (ampicillin and amoxcillin) was performed at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases. Clinical Center of Novi Sad and in the Outpatient Health Care Center, Novi Sad "Liman" (Department of General Practice Children's Health Care Department and Ear, Nose and Throat Department) during one calendar month in the year 2000.
Results: The use of aminopenicillin was 5.1 Defined Daily Doses per 100 bed-days (5.1 DDD/100 BD) at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases. Ampicillin was used in 37.64% of patients and amoxicillin in 13.13%. In Outpatient Health Care Center (OHCC), Department of General Practice, aminopenicillins were prescribed in 1.02 Defined Daily Doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/1000 inh/day); ampicillin being prescribed in 24.51% and amoxicillin in 75.49%, and it is an optimal ratio. In Children's Health Care Department, OHCC, in children older than 14 years, aminopenicillins were prescribed in 0.37 pediatric DDD/1000 inh/day (ampicillin 40.5%, amoxicillin 59.5%). In the same department, in the age group between 3 and 14 years it was 0.31 pediatric DDD/1000 inh/day (ampicillin 22.5%, amoxicillin 77.5%), while in the age group from 1 to 3 years there were 0.006 pediatric DDD/1000 inh/day prescribed (amoxicillin 100%). At the Ear, Nose and Throat Department, OHCC aminopenicillins were prescribed in 0.02 DDD/1000 inh/day (amoxicillin 100%).
Conclusions: Our research showed a change in habits in regard to prescriptions towards the recommended protocol. Oral administration of ampicillin has decreased, especially in comparison to the earlier period in which it had dominated in our primary health care.