Minimized analysis of costs applied to antimicrobial consumption in a rural area

Purpose Antimicrobial agents constitute one of the most utilized groups of drugs in daily clinical practice and, therefore they involve a significant expense. The aim of this: study was to evaluate the economic cost of the an timicrobials prescribed in a rural area as well as to search for some cheap er alternatives. Methods Retrospective study. The economic cost of antimicrobial agents pres cribed at a health centre over 18 months was studied. To do this, clinical histories of 800 people were reviewed. Afterwards, a minimized analysis of costs was carried out. Results The total cost of antimicrobial consumption came to 2 080 752 pts. The average expenditure per patient came to 6433.85 +/- 14 269.29 pts. Sign ificant differences between the sexes were not found; however, the expendit ure in patients of 65 years of age or over was significantly higher than th e rest. After applying the ABC analysis it was noticed that macrolides, cep halosporins. antimicrobial combinations and quinolones were the most import ant groups from an economic point of view. The use of monodose containers w ould allow us to save up to 7.83% of the total expenditure. In addition, by prescribing the cheapest marketed pharmaceutical product we could save a f urther 6.54%, and, finally, by combining these two measures the total possi ble saving would reach 299 052 pts, a 14. 37% of the total expenditure. Conclusion We consider important the elaboration of pharmacoeconomic guides as well as the introduction of monodose containers not only at hospitals b ut also at community pharmacists. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd .