ISSN: 2474-9214
Authors: Dobrea C* and Nicolae A
Antibiotics are a class of active substances that have significant impact in medicine. Antibiotic resistance grew to concerning levels. The way patients behave is one of the main factors contributing to the control of antibiotic resistance levels. According to the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network, Romania is among the member states with the highest levels of antimicrobial resistance in Europe. The aim of this study was to identify the pattern of antibiotic use of patients from the center of Romania, and to highlight the behaviors that most contribute to the rise of antibiotic resistance. 996 patients responded to a specific 25 items questionnaire. All of them used antibiotics during their lifetime. 58.2% used antibiotics during the last 12 months. 94.4% declared they used the antibiotics in accordance to the prescription. 70.4% had more than one dose of antibiotics available at the end of the treatment. 41.5% tried to buy antibiotics without prescription. 74.2% knew that antibiotics are useful only against bacteria. 82.6% declared they have some knowledge about specific rules of antibiotherapy, but only half of them could mention some of those rules. Romanian patients need more knowledge about the use and side effects of antibiotics. Doctors and pharmacists form a team that focuses on the health of the patient. The prescription of antibiotics should be carefully planned to contain exactly the antibiotic most suited to each patient, the right dose and the right number of doses. The pharmacist, being the last health specialist that the patient sees before using the medicines, can help improve the situation by counseling the patients, underlining the rules and precautions associated to antibiotherapy and self-medication.
Keywords: Antibiotics; Antibiotic Resistance Levels; Romania; Patient Behavior; Counseling
