National and local antibiotic policies in Central and Eastern Europe

To assess the antibiotic policies of Central European countries, we perform ed an overview of antibiotic stewardship, prescription habits and antibioti c prescription regulatory procedures. Since most Central European countries have had centralized health care and drug policies, the situation 10 years after decentralization is surprising. Only 3 of 10 Central European countr ies have some regulation of prescription of antibiotics, only 4 restrict so me antibiotics, only 5 have hospital and only 3 national antibiotic policie s. In all but 3 countries physicians can prescribe quinolones and/or 3rd ge neration oral cephalosporins as first-line antibiotics. Information on loca l and national antibiotic policies in Central and Eastern European countrie s is given including prescription guidelines for antibiotic use in communit y and hospital.