Antibiotic leftovers in primary health care: an approach to economic impact and pharmaceutical care.
Mariana Lino de Oliveira Santos, Maria Clara Padoveze
PMID 42566773WHAT IT FOUND
At a primary care unit, 81.9% of analysed antibiotic prescriptions were dispensed with leftover tablets or capsules, with an estimated loss of R$ 2,349.54.
Of 17 patients counselled, only five returned leftovers, and 13 did not know how to dispose of them.
Key findings
01Of 1,495 prescriptions analysed, 1,225 (81.9%) were dispensed with more medication than the treatment required.
02The total estimated financial loss from leftover antibiotics was R$ 2,349.54 for the period.
03Among 17 users counselled, only five returned leftovers and 13 did not know where to dispose of leftover or expired medications.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The analysed prescriptions were limited to antibiotics whose packaging did not allow exact dispensing, so the 81.9% rate does not describe all antibiotic prescriptions. The dispensing data came from a single primary care unit during the study period, so the leftover rate may not apply elsewhere. The counselling group was a convenience sample of 17 users, with no comparison group, so it cannot show that counselling caused behaviour change. Only five of 17 counselled users returned for follow-up, so the knowledge and disposal findings may not represent all patients.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that pharmacist counselling made patients return antibiotics. Only five of 17 counselled users returned leftovers, and the study had no comparison group.