Demographic variation in the use of antibiotics in a New Zealand town

To describe the use of antibiotics in one New Zealand town, and to investigate relationships between antibiotic use and gender, age, and socioeconomic status. Data from dispensing computers in all community pharmacies in the town were extracted. All dispensings of antibiotics to residents in the town were identified. Discrete individuals were identified and, where possible, linked with data on gender, age and the socioeconomic status (NZDep) of the area in which they lived. 42% of residents in the town received one or more dispensing of antibiotics in 2002. These people, on average, received 2.1 dispensings. Children received antibiotics more often than adults, females more than males and there was a strong relationship between socioeconomic status and antibiotic dispensings. Rates of antibiotic use in the community are strongly influenced by age, gender and socioeconomic status.