The pattern of antimicrobial use in general hospitals in Egypt.

This work was carried out to study the pattern of use of antimicrobial agents in Egypt. 2034 files were selected from two general hospitals by a systematic random sampling method, and the data concerning the antimicrobials were collected from each file. The results of this study showed that there was misuse of these agents both in therapy and prophylaxis. Antibiotics were prescribed to 80.17% of admitted patients. In most of the cases they were prescribed without documented proof of infection and were prescribed for conditions in which antimicrobial use is not justified for either therapy or prophylaxis. Among patients who received antibiotics, 30.8% received repeated courses, in most of whom there was no reasonable indication.