Variability in the community consumption of antibiotics: a problem in Europe, Spain and Asturias.

Increasing bacterial resistance is strictly correlated to the increasing use of antibiotics, currently constituting a public health problem. The aim of this study was to describe the consumption of antibiotics in Asturias, an autonomous community in northwestern Spain, and compare the results obtained with data from elsewhere in Spain and other European countries. A descriptive study was carried out on the use of antibacterial drugs for systemic use, ATC code J01 in Asturias in 2011-2015. Data were obtained from the prescription-billing information system charged to the Health Service of Asturias. The consumption data are expressed in daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants and day (DHD), and number of packages per thousand inhabitants per day. The average weighted consumption of antibiotics for systemic use in the Asturian community was 26.23 daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DHD) in 2015. This figure was higher than that of the EU/EEA population, which was 22.4 DHD, and that of the whole of Spain at 22.2 DHD. There is a wide variability in consumption among the different areas of the Asturian region. This variability is common to the rest of the country and Europe. It can be explained by the influence of the data used in the indicators and by the variability in medical practice. Priority should be given to homologating consumer-monitoring information systems and implementing national strategies aimed at providing more information to medical practitioners, encouraging the appropriate use of antibiotics so as to reduce variability, consumption and resistance.

Análisis del uso ambulatorio de antibióticos en los hospitales generales de Asturias entre 2006 y 2015 / Analysis on the ambulatory usage of antibiotics at general hospitals in Asturias (2006-2015)

Introducción. La Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE) señala, en su informe sobre políticas de salud de 2017 que, España es uno de los países con mayor consumo en antibióticos, 21,6 DHD (dosis diaria definida por 1000 habitantes y día) en 2014 superior a los 20,5 DHD de media en sus países, situándose según el European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) en el puesto 11 de 30 países europeos en 2016. La prescripción ambulatoria de atención especializada se analiza con menor frecuencia, debido a la mayor contribución en consumo y gasto de la atención primaria. Material y métodos. Estudio descriptivo, observacional, y retrospectivo del consumo y gasto del grupo J01 derivado de la prescripción ambulatoria (consulta externa y urgencias) de los hospitales públicos generales de Asturias, en una década (2006- 2015). Se estudió el consumo a través de la base de datos de facturación de receta del Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias, los datos demográficos se obtuvieron del Instituto Nacional de Estadística. El consumo se expresó en DHD y el gasto: en gasto por habitante e importe por dosis diaria definida. Resultados. El consumo medio ambulatorio global del periodo fue de 23,4 DHD, correspondiendo el 11,5% (2,7 DHD) a la receta ambulatoria de atención especializada. En términos de gasto, supuso el 13,6% del gasto global ambulatorio en antibióticos. Conclusiones. Gasto y consumo tuvieron tendencias opuestas, las medidas de control del gasto no tuvieron, o tuvieron poco impacto en consumo, por tanto, se precisan en este ámbito medidas de racionalización independientes y específicas (AU)

Introduction. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) emphasize, in its report on health policies from 2017 that, Spain is one of the countries with largest consumption of antibiotics, 21.6 DHD (defined daily dose per 1000 inhibitants per day) in 2014 greater than the average 20.5 DHD in their countries, ranking according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in the 11th place out of 30 European countries in 2016. The outpatient prescription of specialized care is analyzed less frequently, due to the greater contribution in consumption and expenditure of primary care. Material and methods. A descriptive, observational, and retrospective study of the consumption and expenditure of the J01 group derived from outpatient prescription (outpatient and urgent care) of public hospitals in Asturias, in a period of ten years (2006-2015). Consumption data were obtained using the database of prescription billing of the Health Service of the Principality of Asturias, demographic data were provided by the National Institute of Statistics. Consumption was expressed in DHD and antibiotics expenditure in: expenditure per capita and expenditure in euros per defined daily dose. Results. The average global ambulatory consumption for the period was 23.4 DHD, corresponding 11.5% (2.7 DHD) to the ambulatory specialty care prescription. In terms of expenditure, it accounted for 13.6% of overall outpatient spending on antibiotics. Conclusions. Outlay and consumption had opposite tendencies, the expenditure control measures did not have or had little impact on consumption, therefore, independent and specific rationalization measures are required in this area (AU)