Number of Daily Doses Does Not Affect Compliance with Flucloxacillin Prescriptions
- 1 Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- 2 Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;
- 3 Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Norrbotten County Council, Lule?, Sweden
Abstract
Objective: To achieve optimal effect with beta-lactam antibiotics, regimens with frequent dosages have been found necessary. However, if compliance is negatively influenced by more frequent dosages, this might hamper the effect of the treatments. Therefore, we have studied whether the numbers of daily dosages influence the compliance with prescribed flucloxacillin regimens. Design: A prospective interview study of patients with different dosing regimens of flucloxacillin. Setting: In the study, 200 patients with different dosing regimens of flucloxacillin underwent structured telephone interviews in order to reveal their compliance with the medication. Of these, 13 were prescribed twice-daily doses, 163 three times daily and 24 patients four times daily regimens. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between missed doses and prescribed numbers of daily doses. There was, however, a significant difference in the number of daily doses and experiences associated with the medication. Conclusions: This study shows that patients comply well with regimens of up to four daily doses of flucloxacillin, despite experiencing increasing difficulties with regimens of more frequent dosages.
- WHO, “The Evolving Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance: Options for Action,” WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data, 2012. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2012/9789241503181_eng.pdf
- K. Krigsman, “Refill Adherence to Long-Term Drug Treatment with a Focus on Asthma/COPD Medication,” Ph.D. Thesis, Uppsala University, 2007.
- J. Ho, D. M. Taylor, M. S. Cabalag, A. Ugoni and M. Yeoh, “Factors That Impact on Emergency Department Patient Compliance with Antibiotic Regimens,” Emergency Medicine Journal, Vol. 27, No. 11, 2010, pp. 815-820. doi:10.1136/emj.2009.081984
- J. W. Cals, R. M. Hopstaken, P. H. Le Doux, G. A. Driessen, P. J. Nelemans and G. J. Dinant, “Dose Timing and Patient Compliance with Two Antibiotic Treatment Regimens for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Primary Care,” International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, Vol. 31, No. 6, 2008, pp. 531-536. doi:10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2008.01.029
- B. S. Aronson, “Antibiotic-Taking Experiences of Undergraduate College Students,” Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Vol. 18, No. 12, 2006, pp. 591-508. doi:10.1111/j.1745-7599.2006.00184.x
- K. Przemyslaw, “Comparison of Patients’ Compliance with Once-Daily and Twice-Daily Antibiotic Regimens in Respiratory Tract Infections: Results of a Randomized Trial,” Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Vol. 59, No. 3, 2007, pp. 531-536.doi:10.1093/jac/dkl528
- S. Hernández, C. Bayona, M. Hernández, A. Moragas and O. Calvio, “Compliance Rate of Antibiotic Therapy in Patients with Acute Pharyngitis Is Very Low, Mainly When Thrice-Daily Antibiotics Are Given,” Revista Espanola De Quimioterapia, Vol. 22, 2009, pp. 20-24.
- J. Claxton, J. Cramer and C. Pierce, “A Systematic Review of the Associations between Dose Regimens and Medication Compliance,” Clinical Therapeutics, Vol. 23, No. 8, 2001, pp. 1296-1310. doi:10.1016/S0149-2918(01)80109-0
- W. A. Craig, “Choosing an Antibiotic on the Basis of Pharmacodynamics,” Ear, Nose & Throat Journal, Vol. 77, No. 6, 1998, pp. 7-11.
- C. A. DeRyke, S. Y. Lee, J. L. Kuti and D. P. Nicolau, “Optimising Dosing Strategies of Antibacterials Utilising Pharmacodynamic Principles: Impact on the Development of Resistance,” Drugs, Vol. 66, No. 1, 2006, pp. 1-14. doi:10.2165/00003495-200666010-00001
- C. Llor, N. Sierra, S. Hernández, A. Moragas, M. Hernández, C. Bayona and M. Miravitlles, “The Higher the Number of Daily Doses of Antibiotic Treatment in Lower Respiratory Tract Infection, the Worse the Compliance,” Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Vol. 63, No. 2, 2009, pp. 396-399. doi:10.1093/jac/dkn472