[Prudent use of antibiotics and suggestions for improvement from community and hospital pharmacy]. / Uso prudente de antibióticos y propuestas de mejora desde la farmacia comunitaria y hospitalaria.

ABSTRACT

Appropriate use of antibiotics requires an interdisciplinary approach in which hospital and community pharmacies play a key role. The activities carried out in hospital pharmacy can be divided into 3 stages a) before prescription through the selection of antimicrobial agents, the creation of guides on prophylaxis and empirical treatments, and incorporation of the decisions into computer programmes that provide detailed electronic prescriptions; b) during prescription prescription assessment, dose adjustment, patient information and infection data, preparation of doses to be used, pharmacokinetic adjustments and monitoring of treatment duration, and c) after treatment clinical audits and measurements of the use of antibiotics. In community pharmacy, activities include promoting patient compliance, pharmacotherapeutic follow-up of patients to prevent and detect drug-related problems and avoidance of over-the-counter drug dispensation. Suggestions for improvement include mainly training in monitoring the use of antimicrobials, integration in interdisciplinary teams and avoiding the sale of over-the-counter antibiotics.