Objective

To characterize the dispensing of antibiotics to outpatients of a university social security institute during the year 2020.

Methods

An observational, descriptive-correlational study of drug use was carried out. To quantify the dispensation, the defined daily dose (DDD) per 1 000 inhabitants per day (DHD) and the dose unit, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), were used. The classification of potential therapeutic intrinsic value, by Laporte and Tognoni, was used as a qualitative indicator.

Results

A total of 4 748 outpatient dispensations of antibiotics were included, 55% for the female sex. Average age: 42 years; range: 0-94 years. The majority belonged to the penicillin group (51.3%) with a predominance of amoxicillin (48.3%) in fixed-dose associations or mono-drug, followed by macrolides (21.0%) and fluoroquinolones (17.0%). A potential consumption of 7.7 DHD was observed, which implies that, on average, 7 out of every 1 000 members of the institution were exposed to these agents daily with a predominance of amoxicillin associated with clavulanic acid (2.2 DHD).

Conclusion

The general population of university students was exposed to high fixed-dose associations prescription of amoxicillin, some of relative or unacceptable potential therapeutic intrinsic value, as well as to the new macrolides and second or third generation of fluoroquinolones. This requires special attention because the indiscriminate outpatient use of broad-spectrum antibiotics could become a risk factor for the development of bacterial resistance. It also implies a higher risk of serious adverse events and an increase in healthcare costs.