RESUMO
Background: There is the need for improved efficiency and minimization in cost of antibacterial therapy in developing countries. The study objective was to carry out cost minimisation analysis of antibacterial in a tertiary health care facility in Nigeria between the year 2005 and 2006. Methods: Drug utilization review was carried out using prescriptions in 525 consecutively sampled case notes of some infectious diseases retrospectively. Relevant data such as demographics; diagnosis; prescribed drugs; and dosages were extracted. Cost per defined daily dose of each drug; the cost of each prescription and theaverage cost of antibacterial agents per patient were determined. This was followed by economic evaluation using Cost Minimization Analysis. Data were analysed appropriately. Results: Amoxicillin and coamoxiclav for ENT infections and ciprofloxacin/doxycycline for STIs were the mostwidely utilized. Generic products; higher strength; solid dosage forms and oral formulations are more costeffective than branded agents; lower strength; liquid formulations and injections of the same drug entityrespectively. For instance; the use of generic product of ciprofloxacin for 5 days for 1000 patients (5000DDDs) resulted in a cost saving of NGN1.04million (USD9;333.33). Conclusion: Only few drug items were predominantly responsible for high antibacterial therapy costs which need to be closely monitored for cost to be appreciably minimized. Generic antibacterial agents; higher strength preparations of the same drugs; solid forms in preference to syrups among school age children andoral agents in preference for injection should be used. Significant cost could be minimised and improved accessto essential drugs assured if these are followed