assessment of the extent of medication wastage among families in Jordan

Medication wastage is defined as any drug product that is never fully consumed. This study is the first study in Jordan that evaluates and estimates medication wastage, and cost. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 435 households selected randomly from different areas in the north of Jordan. Of the total of 2835 medication items found in the 435 selected houses, 65.3% were in use, and 34.7% were not in use. Some medicines [5.8%] were expired. The total cost of all medications in the selected households was calculated as 9593 JD [1 JD=US$ 0.71] with an average cost of 22.1 JD per family. The total cost of unused medications in Jordan was estimated at 6,326,000 JD and the total cost of expired medications in Jordan was estimated at 1,267,000 JD. A comprehensive evaluation of the current national drug policies is warranted

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] at a Tertiary hospital in North Jordan

Steadily increasing methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] contributes significantly to mortality, morbidity, and increasing health care burden. In this study, we identified MRSA percentage rates, and patterns of resistance to various antibiotics at King Abdullah University Hospital [KAUH] in north Jordan. This retrospective study covered the period between 31/10/2003 and 31/10/2005. We tracked all MRSA infections judged by the infection control committee to be of nosocomial origin in eight different wards of the hospital. The number of isolates analyzed was 152. Susceptibility testing of staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus] to different antibiotics was done at KAUH clinical laboratory by disk diffusion testing according to NCCLS recommendations. MRSA percentage rate was 34% allover, with notably high percentage rates [about 57-70%] in adult intensive care units. No statistically significant age or gender differences in the pattern of S. aureus susceptibility have been encountered. In conclusion, MRSA percentage rate at KAUH is high and similar to rates from surrounding countries. Patterns of MRSA are also similar to those reported in literature, but no resistance to alycopeptides has been detected. Strict system to enforce proper use of antibiotics, assisted by applying proper infection control practices and surveillance in order to monitor and control nosocomial infections including MRSA