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Self-medication with antibiotics in Serbian households: a case for action?

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International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background Irregular antibiotic use, including self-medication contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance. One method of accessing antibiotic use in the community is through obtaining an in house inventory of drugs. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of storage and self-medication with antibiotics agents in households in Novi Sad, Serbia. Setting Households in Novi Sad. Method The study was performed during a 4-month period (October 2015–January 2016) using a sample of 112 households in Novi Sad, Serbia. Two trained interviewers performed the survey by visiting each household. The study consisted of making an inventory of all drugs in household and a semi-structured interview about drug use practices and perceptions. Main outcome measure Number of antibiotics obtained without prescription. Results Out of 112 surveyed households, antibiotics were encountered in 55 (49.1%). Antibiotics constituted 11.98% (92/768) of total number of drug items in households. Out of all antibiotics in households, 41 (44.57%) were not in current use, and presented left-overs from previous treatment. Antibiotics were usually acquired with prescription (67, 67.7%), while about a quarter of packages were used for self-medication—purchased at pharmacy without prescription (19, 20.65%) or obtained through friends or family member (6, 6.52%).The most commonly used antibiotics for self-medication was amoxicillin (reported indications included common cold, cough, pharyngitis and tooth-ache). Conclusion Antibiotics were present in large share of households in Novi Sad. Self-medication with antibiotics and sale of antibiotics without prescription represent an important problem in Serbia.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all study participants involved in this research for giving up their time to take part in the study.

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technological development, Republic of Serbia, Project No. 41012.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Ana Tomas, Milica Paut Kusturica, Zdenko Tomić, Olga Horvat & Ana Sabo

  2. Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Daniela Djurović Koprivica

  3. Department of Planning, Analysing and Statistics, Primary Healthcare Center, Pančevo, Serbia

    Dragica Bukumirić

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  1. Ana Tomas
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Correspondence to Milica Paut Kusturica.

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Tomas, A., Paut Kusturica, M., Tomić, Z. et al. Self-medication with antibiotics in Serbian households: a case for action?. Int J Clin Pharm 39, 507–513 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-017-0461-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-017-0461-3

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