Pattern of antibiotic use in a trachoma-endemic region of Nepal: implications for mass azithromycin distribution

To investigate antibiotic utilization in a rural district of western Nepal that is currently receiving azithromycin as part of a trachoma program and is being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for drug resistance. Antibiotic purchase receipts were collected for 3 mont...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ophthalmic epidemiology 2003-02, Vol.10 (1), p.31-36
Main Authors: Schiedler, Vivian, Bhatta, Ramesh C, Miao, Yinghui, Bird, Mariko, Jha, Hem, Chaudary, J S P, Fry, Alicia M, Lietman, Thomas M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Azithromycin
Drug Prescriptions - statistics & numerical data
Drug Resistance, Bacterial
Drug Utilization Review
Endemic Diseases - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Nepal - epidemiology
Rural Population - statistics & numerical data
Trachoma - drug therapy
Trachoma - epidemiology
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Summary:To investigate antibiotic utilization in a rural district of western Nepal that is currently receiving azithromycin as part of a trachoma program and is being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for drug resistance. Antibiotic purchase receipts were collected for 3 months from all medicine halls, pharmacies, and government sub-health posts in a sub-district of Western Nepal. Supplementary surveys of antibiotic sales were performed in different seasons. Macrolides account for 3.9% of total antibiotic use, far less than quinolones, penicillins, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides. If trachoma programs in Western Nepal generate transient macrolide resistance in pneumococcus and other bacteria, the epidemiological impact may not be great, as macrolides are not commonly used in the area.
ISSN:0928-6586
DOI:10.1076/opep.10.1.31.13772