ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY PRACTICES, A STUDY ON CONSUMPTION AND EXPENSES ON ANTIBIOTICS IN SEVERAL ROMANIAN HOSPITALS

Abstract

Antibiotics are substances that destroy or prevent the development of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoa, and are a valuable resource for infections, the efficacy of which must be maintained by administering them only when recommended by the physician. Microbial resistance to antibiotics has risen to alarming levels in all parts of the world and is today one of the most serious threats to public health and global development. Microbial resistance to antibiotics also implies an economic burden, as these infections induce an increase in the average duration of hospitalization, and thus, additional health costs and losses in labor productivity. The total consumption of antibiotics in Romania in 2015 was extremely high and it was characterized by the increased use of antibiotics at risk of selecting bacterial resistance and inducing severe infections and thus, Romania was on the second place in Europe. Romania is still among the first countries in the use of antibiotics for systemic use, in 2016 it ranked fourth in the European Union. This critical situation is due to insufficient information in the general population regarding the role, benefits, and risks of antibiotics, their excessive prescription in both hospital and outpatient settings, and still relatively easy access to antibiotics, disobeying the rules of prescription release only. Keywords: antibiotics, bacterial resistance, antibiotic costs Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Table Normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}