Abstract

BERNABE M, Elena; FLORES D, Macarena  and  MARTINEZ M, Fernando. ANALYSIS OF THE DISPENSATION OF OUTPATIENT ANTIBIOTICS IN A COMMUNITY PHARMACY AT MURCIA, SPAIN. Vitae [online]. 2013, vol.20, n.3, pp.203-214. ISSN 0121-4004.

Background: Misuse of antibiotics is considered as one of the main drivers for the emergence of microbial resistance. This is in turn considered as a public health problem, and chemists have a fruitful opportunity in intervening the dispensation of these medicines. Objectives: To identify and resolve incidents regarding the use of antibiotics during the dispensation in a community pharmacy, as well as to classify the demand for antibiotics according to the patient's profile and the type of demanded antibiotic. Methods: A quasiexperimental study (without a control group) was carried out, including the patients who came to the chemist to withdraw an antibiotic during the period of study. The intervention in patients requesting the antibiotic for the first time consisted in verifying any possible criteria for its non-provision, and informing about the process of using the medicine. While supplying the product repeatedly, both its effectiveness and safety were tested together with incidents identification and resolution through a follow-up process. When the antibiotic was required without prescription, an action was taken in order to avoid it and offer to the patient other alternatives. Results: 76.1 % (64) of requests were under medical prescription. The average age was 44.5 (DE=18.2), most of them women (65.6%), with a bachelor degree (68.8 %). The most prescribed therapeutic group was the beta-lactams (48.4 %), and the most frequent case of infection was the respiratory (45.3 %). 20.2 % (13) of the population group demanding prescription medicines had a follow-up process, and this incident was resolved in 100% of the cases. 23.8% (20) of the requests were self-medication, and 25% was avoided after talking to the patient. 58.3% (7) of the patients were referred to the doctor, and 41.6% (5) did not accept the proposal. Conclusions: One in every five antibiotics dispensations have some kind of related incident, and in most of the cases they can be resolved through a distribution protocol. The chemist's intervention can reduce self-medication, since it may be avoided in one out of four cases.

Keywords : Anti-bacterial agents; good dispensing practices; self medication; community Pharmacy Services.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )