[The antibiotherapy in general medicine in Monastir, Tunisia]

ABSTRACT

In order to determine the cost and frequency of antibiotic prescription by general practitioners, we studied 563 outpatients from health centres in Monastir [Tunisia]. All patients had acute diseases. Antibiotics were prescribed to 50.4%. Single antibiotics were generally prescribed, but 52.8% of these patients did not have any laboratory tests. The more frequently used antibiotics were penicillin G and A. Antibiotics cost represented 34.7% of medicinal cost borne by patients and 49.7% of the cost borne by the public sector. Rationalization of medicinal prescription would have a positive impact on household and state budgets