ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTIONS IN A BASIC HEALTH UNITS AT A SERIDÓ POTIGUAR COUNTY, BRAZIL

Abstract

Antibiotics are among the most commonly consumed drugs in primary care. However, prescriptions occur in a non-compliant way, jeopardizing the patient’s safety, and may generate clinical and economic impacts. The present study aimed to evaluate antimicrobial prescriptions of all primary health units of Caicó, RN, Brazil, through a retrospective, descriptive, exploratory study with a quantitative approach. A total of 1046 antimicrobials prescriptions prepared during the year 2016 and stored in the Pharmacies of primary health units at Caicó, RN, were analyzed. All 1046 prescriptions (100%) were not in compliance with the Brazilian legislation. The most frequent non-compliant items were the absence of the Pharmacist stamp and signature, attesting the dispensation (100%), user group (96.5%), user age (96.5%), duration of treatment (40.8%), administration route (35.7%), information that allows contacting the prescriber (20.1%) and concentration (17.0%). The most prescribed antibiotics were extended-spectrum penicillins 347  (31.5%), macrolides 218 (19.8%), and first-generation cephalosporins 185 (16.8%). The study showed the need of measures to sensitize prescribers about the importance of a precise prescription and without absence of fundamental items so that one can print safety in the use of the medicine.