ILLICIT SALE OF ANTIBIOTICS ON THE COTONO U INTERNATIONAL MARKET DANTOKPA - AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC-HEALTH PROBLEM

We performed a study in the Cotonou market, in order to identify antib iotics sold by persons without any medical nor pharmaceutical training . This study demonstrated that all antibiotic families were available. We asked for 37 different agents, and we found 29 of them (87 %) in t he market. Betalactams were the most numerous (45 %), followed by cycl ins (14 %), macrolides (10 %), aminoglycosides (7 %), phenicols (7 %), and others (7 %). Compared to their official price, they were underso ld by 1 to 10 times. In order to treat an acute gonococcal urethritis, 18 to 85 % of the saleswomen recommended wrong dosages. Among hospita lized patients, 49 % declared they had bought their medications in an illicit place. The authors emphasize reasons and risks of this trade, that should be eradicated, in order to improve antibiotherapy in Afric a.