From 2004 to 2009: Whether Pharmacists’ Recommendations on Acute Urethritis Have Changed over 5 Years? | CMAC

From 2004 to 2009: Whether Pharmacists’ Recommendations on Acute Urethritis Have Changed over 5 Years?

Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2009; 11(3):253-263

​ Andreeva I.V., Kozlov S.N., Korolyov S.V., Fokin A.A., Shal E.P., Ilyin D.V., Muravyev A.A.
acute urethritis males recommendation pharmacists antimicrobials
Section
Pharmacoepidemiology
Type
Journal article
Publication
Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2009; 11(3):253-263

Abstract

Influence of pharmacists on treatment selection in male patients with acute urethritis in 2003–2004 (Moscow, Smolensk, Kaluga, Kaliningrad) and 2009 (Moscow, Smolensk, Kaluga, Kaliningrad, Tula) was studied. Using “patient simulation” method and pre-determined scenario, young males aged of 20 to 30 years went to drug stores and asked for advice on treatments for acute urethritis symptoms. A total of 360 and 409 pharmacists were interviewed in 2003–2004 and 2009, respectively. In 2003–2004 and 2009, pharmacists’ recommendations were the following: treatments (57.8 and 41.1%), physician’s consultation (20.6 and 25.2%), both treatments and physician’s consultation (21.1 and 33.7%). Of those pharmacists who recommended treatments, 96.1 and 95.1% of pharmacists advised antimicrobial agents. In 2003-2004, the most frequently recommended antimicrobials were nitroxoline (23.6%), norfloxacin (14.8%), nitrofurantoin (12.4%), ciprofloxacin (8.1%), pipemidic acid (7.4%), co-trimoxazole (4.3%) and fosfomycin (3.8%). In 2009, the most frequently recommended antimicrobials were norfloxacin (24.3%), nitroxoline (13.0%), fosfomycin (12.4%), pipemidic acid (11.0%), ciprofloxacin (8.2%), furazidin (7.8%), nitrofurantoin (5.8%), amoxicillin/clavulanate (4.0%), and azithromycin (2.0%). The mean duration of recommended treatment course was 6.0±1.5 and 5.6±3.0 days in 2003-2004 and 2009, respectively. Pharmacists advised non-antimicrobial medications (most often herbal remedies) to 16.5 and 17.6% of patients in 2003–2004 and 2009, respectively. We concluded that most pharmacists (75.8% in 2003– 2004 and 71.7% in 2009) recommended antimicrobial agents for the treatment of acute urethritis in males. The most recommended antimicrobials were nitroxoline, norfloxacin and nitrofurantoin in 2004 and norfloxacin, nitroxoline and fosfomycin in 2009. Overall, pharmacists’ advises to males with acute urethritis symptoms have not changed over 5 years.

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