OUTPATIENT UTILIZATION OF
ANTI-INFECTIVE DRUGS IN A SPECIALIZED
HEALTH CARE FACILITY LOCATED IN
MANAUS
SILVA, L. R. S. (1); BORDALLO, J. V. A. (1); PIMENTEL, L. F. (2); SOUSA, Y. M. A. (2); MAGALHÃES,
I. R. S. (1)
(1). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas da Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus,
Amazonas, Brazil; (2). Fundação de Dermatologia Tropical e Venereologia Alfredo da Matta, Manaus,
Amazonas, Brazil
[email protected]
Keywords: Anti-infective drugs; outpatient pharmacy; drug utilization study; ATC/DDD.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization of anti-infective drugs in an outpatient pharmacy
located in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. The research was carried out at the Fundação de
Dermatologia Tropical e Venereologia Alfredo da Matta (FUAM), which is a worldwide recognized
institution for the treatment of tropical dermatologic and venereal diseases. The data obtained from
pharmacy records during the period of January-June 2013 were transformed into the number of
defined daily doses (DDDs) and DDDs per thousand inhabitants per day (DDDs/TID) based on
Anatomical Therapeutic Classification/DDD methodology. The research comprised antibacterials,
antifungals, antivirals and antiparasitics and agents for topical use were not included for calculating
the DDDs consumed. During the data collection period, 19308 patients were attended at the
pharmacy and, therefore, included in the study. Considering all drugs evaluated, the average rate of
drug utilization during the whole period was 139.31 DDDs/TID and June was the month with the
high rate observed (173.09 DDDs/TID). The leading agent was doxycycline with 55.83 DDDs/TID
(40.07%) and the less used drug was sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim with 0.34 DDDs/TID (0.24%).
To our knowledge, the outpatient utilization of anti-infective drugs was for the first time assessed in
Manaus by the World Health Organization ATC/DDD methodology. The study revealed a very high
consumption of this class of drugs when compared to similar studies reported in the literature.
However, these results may be explained by the epidemiological profile seen at this facility,
predominantly infections including sexually transmitted diseases, such as Chlamydia.