engleski

Impact of educational measures on outpatient antimicrobial use

Rational antimicrobial use and infection prevention are the main measures for growth limitation of resistant bacteria. AIM: To evaluate impact of educational measures on: population knowledge regarding antimicrobial use, attitudes of primary care physicians in antimicrobial prescribing and to analyze antibiotic consumption data in the community setting in Primorsko-goranska County. PATIENTS AND METHODS: General population attitudes, habits and knowledge were assessed with questionnaires in 2009, 2010 and 2011. They were distributed before (January 2009) and immediately after conducting public educational campaign on appropriate antimicrobial use, in primary health care centers and pharmacies in Rijeka. The survey among primary care physicians was carried out with questionnaires distributed before and after Guidelines for Antibiotic Use in Primary Health Care publication (November 2009). Data on outpatient antimicrobial use between 2008 and 2012 were obtained from Croatian Health Insurance Fund database. RESULTS: Educational measures improved population knowledge regarding appropriate antimicrobial use, but did not significantly affect primary care physicians habits and quality in antimicrobial prescribing. Reduction of outpatient antimicrobial use was noted in Primorsko-goranska County from 7.73 DDD / inhabitant in 2008 to 6.98 DDD / inhabitant in 2012, after population and physicians educational measures were implemented. The rate of third generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones use was also decreased (4.25% to 3.11% and 6.57% to 6.32%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Education of public and primary care prescribers about appropriate antibiotic use achieved success. Antimicrobial use reduction was registered, after educational measures were implemented in Primorsko-goranska County.

antimicrobials; education

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