[Geographical distribution and evolution characteristics in outpatient consumption of quinolones in spain and by province (1985-1993)]. / Disribución geográfica y características de la evolución del consumo extrahospitalario de quinolonas en España y por provincias (1985-1993).

The use of quinolones has increased remarkably in recent years. Monitoring the trends in the consumption of these antibiotics is essential for the assessment of bacterial resistance. Sales figures for this group of antibiotics for each province from 1985 through 1993 were obtained from the medication database at the Spanish Ministry of Health. The consumption in milligrams per inhabitant older than 15 were calculated for each province and year. Specific time trends in consumption for Spain were studied and provincial maps were made representing consumption in milligrams per person older than 15. Outpatient prescriptions of quinolones increased 155% between 1985 and 1993 in Spain, more than 2 tons per year. Seven of the eight provinces in Andalucia were among the ten provinces with greater consumption. A south-north pattern was detected from year to year. Important increases were observed in all the Spanish provinces. Further studies should consider this fact in the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and should assess if provincial differences in consumption correlate with the prevalence of the infectious diseases treated with this group of antibiotics.

[Microbial resistance: what is to be done? Information from the panel of experts]. / Resistencia microbiana: qué hacer? Informe del panel de expertos.

This document represents the recommendations of a panel of Spanish experts on antibiotic use and resistance. In a Task Force, under the auspices of the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs that took place in 1994 in Madrid, the members were gravely concerned about the national increase in antibiotic resistance. They analysed the development, evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance among community-acquired human bacterial pathogens in Spain, its relation with antibiotic consumption, and they proposed future surveillance strategies for monitoring the patterns of antibiotic use and consumption. Success will require a collective action among the producers (pharmaceutical industry), prescribers (doctors, veterinarians), dispensers (pharmacists), and consumers (patients). Two similar documents have been recently published by the American Society of Microbiology and the World Health Organization showing the global concern about this topic.