ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG UTILIZATION IN HOSPITALS IN ITALY AND OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Antibiotic prescribing patterns in hospitals are analysed in this revi ew of three drug utilisation studies conducted in six European countri es, with special emphasis to the third-generation cephalosporins. A gr eat variability in the use of antimicrobial drugs is evident, both bet ween countries and between hospitals in the same country. This variabi lity is found also between patients with the same infectious disease. The possible reasons for these differences ape discussed and a strateg y to modify the hospital drugs prescribing is suggested.