Use of antibiotics by practicing physicians in Baghdad city

1000 prescriptions prescribed by practicing physicians in Baghdad City were randomly selected and studied. It was found that one or more antibiotics were prescribed in 66.1% of all prescriptions. The antibiotics as a group were the most common drugs used. Ampicillin, erythromycin and cephalosporins were the most widely used antibiotics followed by lincomycin, chloramphenicol and septrin, while penicillin and tetracycline derivies were among the least used. The wide unwise use of antibiotics is a dangerous trend which has its medical and financial implications. Rules and restrictions must be put to safeguard against this trend