Healthy Skepticism Library item: 10276

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Abasolo E, Hermosilla-najera L, Guijarro J, Ramos-saiz EM, Abecia LC.
Minimised antimicrobial cost analysis at a Health Care Centre
Pharmaceutical Care Espana 2003; 5:(3):132-8

Abstract:

The aim of this study is to assess the economic cost of the antimicrobials prescribed to adult patients at a health centre as well as to search for some cheaper alternatives.A retrospective study was carried out. The economic cost of antimicrobial agents prescribed over three years was studied. Afterwards, a minimized analysis of costs was made. The final sample was formed by 13248 people all of them older than 14 years, who were attended bay seven practitioners. During the study period, antimicrobials were prescribed to the 40.06% of these patients. The most commonly used groups were antibiotic combinations, penicillins, macrolides, cephalosporins and quinolones in this order. The total expenditure reached 135846.77 < Euro >. The most important groups from an economic point of view were macrolides, antibiotic combinations, cephalosporins, quinolones and penicillins (82.60% of the total expenditure). By prescribing the cheapest marketed pharmaceutical products a 7.22% (9813.51 < Euro >) of the total expenditure could have been saved.