[Adverse reactions to antibiotics: a retrospective study of three years in the regional pharmacovigilance center of Sfax]

ABSTRACT

Adverse reactions to antibiotics constitute a real public health problem. In this work, the frequency, types, predisposing factors and severity of adverse reactions to antibiotics have been analysed. Our retrospective study gathers all adverse reactions to antibiotics produced by spontaneous reporting to the regional pharmacovigilance center in Sfax in the south of Tunisia, for a period of three years. Among 249 cases of drug adverse effects, 82 [32.93%] were related to antibiotics. The age ranged from 5 to 86 years. There were 55 women and 27 men. Seventy [85.36%] adverse reactions to antibiotics among 82 were immune-allergic. In 60 cases [73.17%] patients had medical history of atopy, drug allergy, autoimmunie diseases or chronic conditions requiring poly-medication. 54 patients [65.85%] were taking 3 or more medications. Severe forms have been observed in 12 patients among 82 [14.63%]. Poly-therapy, chronic illness and advanced age are factors favouring the occurrence of adverse reactions to antibiotics. Our results have highlighted the increased risk in patients with a history of allergy to an antibiotic to develop an allergy to another antibiotic