The Hereford Hospitals prescribing study. Changes in the prescribing patterns of anti-bacterial agents in the medical wards of a district general hospital over four years.

Analysis of the prescribing of systemic anti-bacterial drugs in the medical wards of a district general hospital from April 1975 to March 1979 showed that 26% of patients received these drugs and that ampicillin, amoxycillin and cotrimoxazole were prescribed much more frequently than other agents. During this time, there were considerable changes in prescribing habits, with increases noted in amoxycillin, flucloxacillin and metronidazole. These changes were paralleled by decreases in ampicillin, cloxacillin and clindamycin usage.