Análisis del uso racional de antibióticos en pacientes mayores de 65 años de la parroquia Huachi Chico del cantón Ambato.

Abstract

The main objective of the present research study was to evaluate the rational use of antibiotics in geriatric patients of the parish Huachi Chico of the cantón Ambato. A nonexperimental, retrospective and descriptive design was used for the analysis, where 292 surveys were collected. The prevalent infections with the highest antibiotic prescription were quantified and the antibiotics prescribed were compared with the therapeutic protocols of the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador (MPH), confirming the existence or not of a rational use of medicines. The results showed that the most prevalent conditions were urinary tract infections (34%), respiratory tract infections (27%) and gastrointestinal infections (20%), where the most prescribed antibiotics were amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (25%) and amoxicillin (18.5%), corresponding to the beta-lactam group. In the parish Huachi Chico of the cantón Ambato, 66.78% of the patients' irrational use of antibiotics was due to factors such as: not acquiring the pharmacological treatment, not consulting health professionals for the diagnosis of the infection, self-medication, and inadequate duration of treatment. On the other hand, the physicians showed a rational use of antibiotics of 93.5%, since it was verified that they comply with the therapeutic schemes established in the clinical practice guidelines and protocols established by the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador (MPH). Therefore, training was provided to 300 older adults to promote the rational use of antibiotics in geriatric patients through the use of info graphics detailing the correct way to acquire, store, ingest and warn of possible adverse effects of antibiotics. It is recommended that health personnel, especially the pharmacist, should follow up the patient's pharmacological status in order to avoid bacterial resistance.