The use of antibiotics in children population in Belgrade region

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze trends in prescription habits and ratio- nal use of antibiotics in three subgroups of children population and to make evaluation in terms of the most used antibiotics. METHODS: All information on antibiotics are based on pre- scriptions that were reimbursed by local Health Insurance Fund (HIF). We used database from Public pharmacy chain of Bel- grade, corresponding to population of 330,338 children, grouped in three following subgroups: A- 0–2 years; B- 3–8 years; C- 9–18 years. The calculations included: monetary cost for months, quarters and years level (2004–2005) and DDD methodology (unit: DDD/1000 inhabitants/day). RESULTS: Expenditure of antibiotics expressed as percentage of all used antibiotics during two years, shows that a third of the overall financial value was spent in children population (32.97% in 2004 and 29.42% in 2005). The highest financial use is in group B (16.21% in 2004 and 14.24% in 2005). The use of antibiotics evaluated by DDD unit reveals that in Belgrade region children used erythromycin most of all antibiotics (A-2.86; B-5.48; C- 2.42 in 2004 and for subgroups A-2.38, B-4.21 and C-1.55 in 2005). The biggist increase has been shown in the use of azithromycin from the value of A-0.13; B-1.74; C-0.85 in 2004 to the value of subgroups A-1.74, B-4.33 and C-2.57 in 2005. In these periods the consumption of amoxicillin was almost equal. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis and evaluation of the data has shown that there had been decrease in expenditure of antibiotics but consumption (volume rate) is still too high for children pop- ulation. The biggest volume increase is notified in the use of azithromycin and it is conducted by drug policy changes (reim- bursement list). Use and prescription of antibiotics is still very soft controlled, therefore it is necessary to monitor processes of drug management in the wider frame.