[Characteristics of private and irregular prescription for oral antibiotics in Spanish community pharmacies]

Abstract

Objective: To quantify the proportion of oral antibiotics through private prescription (PP) and irregular prescription (IP) in the Community Pharmacy (CP).

Material and methods: Cross-sectional multicentre study carried out in Spanish community pharmacies over a 4week period, one in each season of the year. An analysis was made of private and irregular prescriptions of oral J01 antibacterials for systemic use (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical [ATC] classification). The study variables used were prescription and consultation characteristics.

Results: A total of 3569 PP (71% followed legislation) and 833 IP were recorded by 365 pharmacists working in 247 CP. PP were prescribed by dentists (43.7%), general practitioners (GP) (26.20%), and paediatricians (10.3%), to treat teeth infections (39.8%), upper respiratory infections (25.6%), lower respiratory infections (10.3%), and urinary infections (7.7%). The most prescribed antibiotics were amoxicillin (27.9%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic (25.2%). IP came from Emergency Departments (32.8%), oral/phone prescriptions (20.4%), and patient demand due to insufficient quantity of antibiotic to complete treatment (10%). Prescriptions came from GP (25.2%), dentists (24.7%), and paediatricians (12%) to treat upper respiratory infections (32.5%), teeth infections (25.8%), urinary infections (14.2%), and lower respiratory infections (10.8%). The most prescribed antibiotics were amoxicillin-clavulanic (27.4%) and amoxicillin (21.6%). Since every patient with IP was referred to the GP, 45.4% of them accepted the recommendations of the pharmacists.

Conclusions: This study obtained PP and IP characteristics, unknown and needed data in Spain for future health policy plans.

Keywords: Anti-bacterial agents; Antibacteriano; Atención primaria; Community pharmacy; Drug resistance-microbial; Farmacia comunitaria; Medicamentos de prescripción; Pharmaceutical services; Prescription drugs; Primary health care; Resistencia a antibióticos; Servicios profesionales farmacéuticos asistenciales.