Journal of Infection and Public Health
Volume 2, Issue 4 , Pages 189-197 , 2009

Self-medication with antibiotics in the ambulatory care setting within the Euro-Mediterranean region; results from the ARMed project

  • Elizabeth Anne Scicluna

      Affiliations

    • Infection Control Unit, Mater Dei Hospital, B’Kara Bypass, Msida MSD 2090, Malta
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +356 2545 4554; fax: +356 2545 4541.
    • ,
  • Michael A. Borg

      Affiliations

    • Infection Control Unit, Mater Dei Hospital, B’Kara Bypass, Msida MSD 2090, Malta
    • ,
  • Deniz Gür

      Affiliations

    • Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
    • ,
  • Ossama Rasslan

      Affiliations

    • Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
    • ,
  • Ibrahim Taher

      Affiliations

    • AL-Arab Medical University, Benghazi, Libya
    • ,
  • Saida Ben Redjeb

      Affiliations

    • Hospital Charles Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisia
    • ,
  • Ziad Elnassar

      Affiliations

    • Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
    • ,
  • Despo Pieridou Bagatzouni

      Affiliations

    • Nicosia General Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus
    • ,
  • Ziad Daoud

      Affiliations

    • St. George University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon

Received 23 June 2009 ,Revised 16 September 2009 ,Accepted 18 September 2009.

References 

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  2. Borg MA, Scicluna E, de Kraker M, van de Sande-Bruinsma N, Tiemersma E, Gür D, et al. Antibiotic resistance in the south-eastern Mediterranean—preliminary results from the ARMed project. Eurosurveillance Monthly. July–August 2006; http://www.eurosurveillance.org/em/v11n07/1107-226.asp.
  3. Borg M, de Kraker M, Scicluna E, van de Sande-Bruinsma N, Tiemersma E, Monen J, et al. Prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in invasive isolates from Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2007;60(December (6)):1310–1315
  4. Borg MA, van de Sande-Bruinsma N, Scicluna E, de Kraker M, Tiemersma E, Monen J, et al. Antimicrobial resistance in invasive strains of Escherichia coli from Southern and Eastern Mediterranean laboratories. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2008;14:789–796
  5. Borg MA, Tiemersma E, Scicluna E, van de Sande-Bruinsma N, de Kraker M, Monen J, et al. Prevalence of penicillin and erythromycin resistance amongst Streptococcus pneumoniae from invasive isolates reported by laboratories in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2009;15(3):232–237
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  15. Borg MA, Scicluna EA. Over-the-counter acquisition of antibiotics in the Maltese general population. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2002;20(4):253–257
  16. Orero A, Gonzalez J, Prieto J. Antibiotics in Spanish households. Medical and socio-economic implications. URANO Study Group. Med Clin (Barc). 1997;109(20):782–785
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  20. Gonzalez Nunez J, Ripoll Lozano MA, Prieto Prieto J. Self-medication with antibiotics. The URANO Group. Med Clin (Barc). 1998;111:182–186
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  22. Grigoryan L, Haaijer-Ruskamp FM, Burgerhof JGM, Mechtler R, Deschepper R, Tambic-Andrasevic A, et al. Self-medication with antimicrobial drugs in Europe. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006;12(3):452–459
  23. Deschepper R, Grigoryan L, Lundborg CS, Hofstede G, Cohen J, Kelen GV, et al. Are cultural dimensions relevant for explaining cross-national differences in antibiotic use in Europe?. BMC Health Serv Res. 2008;8:123
  24. Grigoryan L, Burgerhof JG, Degener JE, Deschepper R, Lundborg CS, Monnet DL, et al. Determinants of self-medication with antibiotics in Europe: the impact of beliefs, country wealth and the healthcare system. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2008;61(May (5)):1172–1179
  25. Gonzalez J, Orero A, Prieto J. Storage of antibiotics in Spanish households. Rev Esp Quimioter. 2006;19(3):275–285
  26. Grigoryan L, Burgerhof JG, Haaijer-Ruskamp FM, Degener JE, Deschepper R, Monnet DL, et al. Is self-medication with antibiotics in Europe driven by prescribed use?. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2007;59(1):152–156
  27. Akici A, Kalaça S, Uğurlu MU, Oktay S. Prescribing habits of general practitioners in the treatment of childhood respiratory-tract infections. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2004;60(May (3)):211–216

PII: S1876-0341(09)00065-3

doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2009.09.004

Journal of Infection and Public Health
Volume 2, Issue 4 , Pages 189-197 , 2009

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