Combinaciones fijas de antibióticos utilizadas en Centroamérica

Abstract

A survey was made of 77 fixed antibiotic drug combinations registered in Central America and the Dominican Republic and listed in the drug manufacturers' book, the Diccionario de especialidades farmaceuticas (5). A search was made for the same or similar drug combinations in the Physicians' Desk Reference (6); the site of each drug manufacturer was examined; and available information about certain combinations was noted. The results of this survey indicated that only one of the 77 combinations was listed in the Physicians' Desk Reference; that the information contained in the Diccionario de especialidades farmaceuticas by itself tended to be less than satisfactory; that most of the combinations were manufactured by European pharmaceutical companies of by Latin American branches of U.S. or European firms; that all or nearly all of the 77 drug products were unnecessary of obsolete; and that the prevaling unregulated use of these drug combinations cannot but promote bacterial resistance to a wide range of worthile drugs. The authors therefore suggest that manufacturers be required to place in the Diccionario all information about each of their antibiotics that is contained in the Physicians' Desk Reference. They also recommend that the health authorities involved devise regulations to improve manufacturing standars and regulate access to these drugs, measures that could yield great benefits for