The sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in Damascus, Syria

Introduction: Overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the development of organism resistance. The acquisition of antibiotics without prescription by the general population seems to be common practice in pharmacies of Damascus, Syria. This study aimed to determine the proportion of pharmacies disp...

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Main Authors: Zaid Al-Faham, Ghaith Habboub, Farah Takriti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2011-03-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1248
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author Zaid Al-Faham
Ghaith Habboub
Farah Takriti
author_facet Zaid Al-Faham
Ghaith Habboub
Farah Takriti
author_sort Zaid Al-Faham
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the development of organism resistance. The acquisition of antibiotics without prescription by the general population seems to be common practice in pharmacies of Damascus, Syria. This study aimed to determine the proportion of pharmacies dispensing antibiotics without medical prescription and without seeing the patient. Methodology: A cross-sectional study involving a sample of 224 pharmacies was conducted in Damascus. To obtain antibiotics without medical prescription, the investigators posed as individuals who had a sister with symptoms of sinusitis.. Results: From 200 pharmacies visited, 87% agreed without insistence from the investigator to sell antibiotics without prescription. This figure increased to 97% when the investigators who were at first denied antibiotics insisted on having the antibiotics. Conclusion: Dispensing of antibiotics is high in Damascus despite federal regulations. Health education programs should be directed to pharmacies and also to the population.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1972-2680
language English
publishDate 2011-03-01
publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
record_format Article
series Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
spelling doaj-art-bde9b341fd9f4e9aa8b6fa8c75dbe5a02025-08-20T03:48:58ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802011-03-0150510.3855/jidc.1248The sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in Damascus, SyriaZaid Al-Faham0Ghaith Habboub1Farah Takriti2Damascus University School of Medicine, Damascus, SyriaDamascus University School of Medicine, Damascus, SyriaDamascus University School of Pharmacy, Damascus, Syria Introduction: Overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the development of organism resistance. The acquisition of antibiotics without prescription by the general population seems to be common practice in pharmacies of Damascus, Syria. This study aimed to determine the proportion of pharmacies dispensing antibiotics without medical prescription and without seeing the patient. Methodology: A cross-sectional study involving a sample of 224 pharmacies was conducted in Damascus. To obtain antibiotics without medical prescription, the investigators posed as individuals who had a sister with symptoms of sinusitis.. Results: From 200 pharmacies visited, 87% agreed without insistence from the investigator to sell antibiotics without prescription. This figure increased to 97% when the investigators who were at first denied antibiotics insisted on having the antibiotics. Conclusion: Dispensing of antibiotics is high in Damascus despite federal regulations. Health education programs should be directed to pharmacies and also to the population. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1248SyriaAntibioticsPharmaciesDrug resistance
spellingShingle Zaid Al-Faham
Ghaith Habboub
Farah Takriti
The sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in Damascus, Syria
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Syria
Antibiotics
Pharmacies
Drug resistance
title The sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in Damascus, Syria
title_full The sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in Damascus, Syria
title_fullStr The sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in Damascus, Syria
title_full_unstemmed The sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in Damascus, Syria
title_short The sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in Damascus, Syria
title_sort sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in damascus syria
topic Syria
Antibiotics
Pharmacies
Drug resistance
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1248
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