Resumo

ECKER, Lucie et al. Prevalence of purchase of antibiotics without prescription and antibiotic recommendation practices for children under five years of age in private pharmacies in peri-urban areas of Lima, Peru. Rev. perú. med. exp. salud publica [online]. 2016, vol.33, n.2, pp.215-223. ISSN 1726-4634.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2016.332.2152.

Objectives. To determine the prevalence of purchase of antibiotics without prescription and antibiotic recommendation for its use in children <5 years of age in private pharmacies in peri-urban areas of Lima. Materials and methods. An anonymous population survey was conducted among adults who bought an antibiotic for a child <5 years of age from a private pharmacy. Fictitious cases were applied in a subgroup of pharmacies to evaluate antibiotic recommendation practices. Results. The prevalence of purchase of antibiotics without a prescription was 13%, including 1.7% that were chosen by consumers and 11.3% that were recommended by pharmacists. A total of 66.7% of the medications purchased to treat colds were antibiotics, 56.9% of which were prescribed. 64.4% of medications purchased to treat bronchospasm, 96.4% of the medications to treat watery diarrhea and 90.9% of the medications to treat pharyngitis were antibiotics. Amoxicillin (51.5%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (20.6%) were the most commonly purchased antibiotics. A pharmacist suggested an antibiotic in 60% of the fictitious common cold cases, 76% of the bronchospasm cases, 44% of the watery diarrhea cases, and 76% of the dysentery cases. Conclusions. The purchase of antibiotics for children <5 years of age in private pharmacies primarily occurs with a medical prescription. The pharmacist commonly recommended an antibiotic in cases lacking a prescription. Measures are needed to reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics at medical facilities and in pharmacies.

Palavras-chave : Prescription drug misuse; Drug resistance; microbial; child; Drug prescription; Pharmacies.

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