In many countries, antibiotics for oral administration are sold in fixed packages, a practice that may influence prescribers’ decisions regarding the duration of treatment. This study aimed to investigate the alignment of approved antibiotic package sizes with national guidelines for treating community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Researchers developed criteria based on national CAP treatment recommendations and evaluated whether the number of doses in approved antibiotic packages matched these guidelines.
Methods:
To test the hypothesis, criteria were created to assess the alignment of antibiotic packages with national CAP treatment guidelines. The study analyzed 39 different therapeutic option-package size combinations to determine whether the number of antibiotic doses in these packages was appropriate for the recommended treatment duration. Combinations were classified as either matched (no leftover doses after completing therapy) or mismatched (excess doses remaining).
Key Findings:
- Out of 39 therapeutic option-package size combinations, 11 (28.2%) matched the guidelines, meaning there were no leftover antibiotic doses after completing the prescribed therapy.
- The remaining 28 combinations (71.8%) were mismatched, resulting in excess antibiotic doses.
- All identified combinations for amoxicillin, doxycycline, cefpodoxime, and levofloxacin were mismatched, whereas only those for azithromycin were completely matched.
- The study highlights a significant misalignment between antibiotic package sizes and national CAP treatment guidelines, leading to excess antibiotics in the community.
- Previous research aligns with these findings, showing similar mismatches in antibiotic package sizes for other conditions and countries.
- The presence of leftover antibiotics can contribute to improper use and antimicrobial resistance, emphasizing the need for better alignment of package sizes with treatment guidelines and consideration of unit dispensing strategies.
Link to the study : https://tinyurl.com/mjdvd229
