Evaluation of antibiotics pack size compliance with the treatment guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infections in the Lebanese population

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance emergence has contributed to global public health threat rendering the choices of antibiotics limited. Antibiotics are universally packaged by manufacturers without taking into consideration scientific basis of therapy duration. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accordance of marketed antibiotics pack size in Lebanon with national and international guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and urinary tract infections (UTI) treatment. Moreover, it is to assess the possibility of self-medication with the leftover units among Lebanese population. The marketed antibiotics were cross-referenced with the Lebanese Society for Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (LSIDCM) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines to calculate the excess units and assessing the use of leftover units. The final list contained 34 antibiotics with 84 different pack sizes. Concerning CAP treatment, 11 packs matched LSIDCM and IDSA guidelines out of 26 and 30 combinations. Regarding LSIDCM and IDSA guidelines for UTI treatment, 45 and 18 packs result in extra units out of 63 and 26 combinations. Behaviors towards antibiotic use were significantly associated with occupation and economical status. Leftover users were more compliant with short-duration therapy with a significant ability to stop medication when symptoms improvement.