Azithromycin consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia, 2020.
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
Antiviral Agents
/ therapeutic use
Azithromycin
/ therapeutic use
Croatia
/ epidemiology
Databases, Factual
Drug Therapy, Combination
Drug Utilization
/ trends
Hospitalization
Humans
Hydroxychloroquine
/ therapeutic use
Pandemics
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
/ statistics & numerical data
SARS-CoV-2
/ drug effects
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Journal
PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
Titre abrégé: PLoS One
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101285081
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2022
2022
Historique:
received:
11
04
2021
accepted:
19
01
2022
entrez:
2
2
2022
pubmed:
3
2
2022
medline:
12
2
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was great enthusiasm for the use of azithromycin with or without hydroxychloroquine. We analyzed azithromycin consumption in Croatia in 2020 and compared this to the period 2017-2019. Azithromycin consumption was evaluated using the IQVIA Adriatic d.o.o. database which collects data on azithromycin distribution from wholesale pharmacies to hospital and non-hospital pharmacies in Croatia. We analyzed data for the period from January 2017 to December 2020. Azithromycin distribution was measured as days of therapy (DOT) and reported as per 1000 inhabitants or per 1000 inhabitant-days. In the period 2017-2020, total azithromycin DOT in Croatia increased in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 (1.76, 1.91, 1.91 and 2.01/1000 inhabitant-days, respectively). Non-hospital pharmacies received 2.18 times and hospital pharmacies 4.39 times more DOT units/1000 inhabitants of azithromycin in March 2020 compared to the average distribution rate in March 2017-2019. During the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic (November and December 2020) azithromycin distribution increased considerably in hospital (3.62 and 3.19 times, respectively) and non-hospital pharmacies (1.93 and 1.84 times, respectively) compared to the average consumption in the same months in 2017-2019. Our data showed increased azithromycin distribution in the period 2017-2020 which indicates azithromycin overuse. Preliminary information on COVID-19 treatments with a desire to offer and try what is available even in the absence of strong scientific evidence may have influenced practices of antimicrobial prescriptions.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was great enthusiasm for the use of azithromycin with or without hydroxychloroquine.
OBJECTIVES
We analyzed azithromycin consumption in Croatia in 2020 and compared this to the period 2017-2019.
METHODS
Azithromycin consumption was evaluated using the IQVIA Adriatic d.o.o. database which collects data on azithromycin distribution from wholesale pharmacies to hospital and non-hospital pharmacies in Croatia. We analyzed data for the period from January 2017 to December 2020. Azithromycin distribution was measured as days of therapy (DOT) and reported as per 1000 inhabitants or per 1000 inhabitant-days.
RESULTS
In the period 2017-2020, total azithromycin DOT in Croatia increased in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 (1.76, 1.91, 1.91 and 2.01/1000 inhabitant-days, respectively). Non-hospital pharmacies received 2.18 times and hospital pharmacies 4.39 times more DOT units/1000 inhabitants of azithromycin in March 2020 compared to the average distribution rate in March 2017-2019. During the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic (November and December 2020) azithromycin distribution increased considerably in hospital (3.62 and 3.19 times, respectively) and non-hospital pharmacies (1.93 and 1.84 times, respectively) compared to the average consumption in the same months in 2017-2019.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data showed increased azithromycin distribution in the period 2017-2020 which indicates azithromycin overuse. Preliminary information on COVID-19 treatments with a desire to offer and try what is available even in the absence of strong scientific evidence may have influenced practices of antimicrobial prescriptions.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35108332
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263437
pii: PONE-D-21-11999
pmc: PMC8809604
doi:
Substances chimiques
Anti-Bacterial Agents
0
Anti-Infective Agents
0
Antiviral Agents
0
Hydroxychloroquine
4QWG6N8QKH
Azithromycin
83905-01-5
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e0263437Commentaires et corrections
Type : ErratumIn
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
This commercial affiliation does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.
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