The sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in Catalonia, Spain
BACKGROUND: Current regulations in Spain state that antibiotics cannot be sold without a medical prescription. The objective of this study was to quantify the percentage of pharmacies selling antibiotics without an official medical prescription in Catalonia, Spain, by the simulation of 3 different clinical cases presented by actors.
METHODS: A prospective study was performed from January through May 2008. Three different cases were presented at pharmacies: sore throat, acute bronchitis, and a urinary tract infection. Three levels of demand were used to convince the pharmacists to sell an antibiotic.
RESULTS: A total of 197 pharmacies were visited. Antibiotics were obtained from 55 (79.7%) of 69 pharmacies when a urinary tract infection was simulated, 24 (34.8%) of 69 pharmacies when a sore throat was simulated, and 10 (16.9%) of 59 pharmacies when acute bronchitis was simulated (P < .001). Among the pharmacies that sold antibiotics, the pharmacists provided an explanation as to the number of times per day the drug should be taken in 84.3%, explained the duration of treatment in 68.7%, and inquired about allergies prior to the sale of the antibiotic in only 16.9%. Of the 108 pharmacies that did not sell the antibiotics, only 57 (52.8%) explained that they could not be given over the counter for health care reasons or to avoid antibiotic resistance.
CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that, although illegal, the sale of antibiotics without a prescription continues in Spain. This should be taken into account by countries that are currently considering the possibility of making some antibiotics available over the counter.
| Errataetall: |
CommentIn: Clin Infect Dis. 2009 May 15;48(10):1350-3. - PMID 19361305 |
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| Medienart: |
E-Artikel |
| Erscheinungsjahr: |
2009 |
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| Erschienen: |
2009 |
| Enthalten in: |
Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:48 |
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| Enthalten in: |
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America - 48(2009), 10 vom: 15. Mai, Seite 1345-9 |
| Sprache: |
Englisch |
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| Beteiligte Personen: |
Llor, Carl [VerfasserIn] |
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| Links: |
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| Themen: |
Anti-Bacterial Agents |
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| Anmerkungen: |
Date Completed 18.05.2009 Date Revised 08.04.2022 published: Print CommentIn: Clin Infect Dis. 2009 May 15;48(10):1350-3. - PMID 19361305 Citation Status MEDLINE |
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| doi: |
10.1086/598183 |
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| funding: |
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| Förderinstitution / Projekttitel: |
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| PPN (Katalog-ID): |
NLM187767793 |
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| 245 | 1 | 4 | |a The sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in Catalonia, Spain |
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| 500 | |a Date Revised 08.04.2022 | ||
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| 500 | |a CommentIn: Clin Infect Dis. 2009 May 15;48(10):1350-3. - PMID 19361305 | ||
| 500 | |a Citation Status MEDLINE | ||
| 520 | |a BACKGROUND: Current regulations in Spain state that antibiotics cannot be sold without a medical prescription. The objective of this study was to quantify the percentage of pharmacies selling antibiotics without an official medical prescription in Catalonia, Spain, by the simulation of 3 different clinical cases presented by actors | ||
| 520 | |a METHODS: A prospective study was performed from January through May 2008. Three different cases were presented at pharmacies: sore throat, acute bronchitis, and a urinary tract infection. Three levels of demand were used to convince the pharmacists to sell an antibiotic | ||
| 520 | |a RESULTS: A total of 197 pharmacies were visited. Antibiotics were obtained from 55 (79.7%) of 69 pharmacies when a urinary tract infection was simulated, 24 (34.8%) of 69 pharmacies when a sore throat was simulated, and 10 (16.9%) of 59 pharmacies when acute bronchitis was simulated (P < .001). Among the pharmacies that sold antibiotics, the pharmacists provided an explanation as to the number of times per day the drug should be taken in 84.3%, explained the duration of treatment in 68.7%, and inquired about allergies prior to the sale of the antibiotic in only 16.9%. Of the 108 pharmacies that did not sell the antibiotics, only 57 (52.8%) explained that they could not be given over the counter for health care reasons or to avoid antibiotic resistance | ||
| 520 | |a CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that, although illegal, the sale of antibiotics without a prescription continues in Spain. This should be taken into account by countries that are currently considering the possibility of making some antibiotics available over the counter | ||
| 650 | 4 | |a Journal Article | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't | |
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| 700 | 1 | |a Cots, Josep Maria |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
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