ArticleJAC-antimicrobial resistance2022
Using mystery shoppers to determine practices pertaining to antibiotic dispensing without a prescription among community pharmacies in South Africa-a pilot survey.
Article in JAC-antimicrobial resistance, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers.
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Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed.
- Stewardship without walls: taming the unregulated antibiotic economy to contain antimicrobial resistance in Ethiopia.Nature communications · 2026Review
- The Applicability of AWaRe-Based Antibiotic Quality Indicators to Assess the Appropriateness of Antibiotic Prescribing in Primary Healthcare in South Africa: A Multicentre Point Prevalence Study and Implications for the Future.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- A systematic review of antimicrobial stewardship practices and challenges in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) regulated retail medicine settings.JAC-antimicrobial resistance · 2026Review
- Psychometric Validation of the Community Antimicrobial Use Scale (CAMUS) in Primary Healthcare and the Implications for Future Use.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Community pharmacists' history taking practice in responding to acute uncomplicated cystitis: A simulated patient study from Sudan.PloS one · 2026Article
- Factors associated with inappropriate antibiotic use in South African communities: findings from the CAMUS survey.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- Knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance among patients in rural South Africa and the implications for future policies.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- Prevalence and Associated Factors for Purchasing Antibiotics Without a Prescription Among Patients in Rural South Africa: Implications for Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Antibiotic purchasing through online pharmacies: A mystery shopper study.Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences · 2025Article
- Policy Makers' Perceptions on Implementation of National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance in South Africa and Eswatini Using Coordination, Accountability, Resourcing, Regulation and Ownership Framework (2018-2019).Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Article
- Non-prescription dispensing of veterinary medicines for treating mastitis in dairy cattle among non-veterinary personnel in selected districts of Zambia.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2025Article
- A Simulated Client Study on Non-Prescription Antibiotic Sales and Counselling Practices in Iraqi Nurse-Led Clinics: Implications for Antimicrobial Resistance.Infection and drug resistance · 2025Article
- Is price associated with the quality of medicines? Evidence from active pharmaceutical ingredient testing in Nigeria.PloS one · 2025Article
- Drug providers' perspectives on antibiotic misuse practices in eastern Ethiopia: a qualitative study.BMJ open · 2024Article
- Community antibiotic consumption and associated factors in Lusaka district of Zambia: findings and implications for antimicrobial resistance and stewardship.JAC-antimicrobial resistance · 2024Article
- Managing infectious diarrhea among young children in community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia and the implications for AMR.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2024Article
- Knowledge and Perceptions of Final-Year Nursing Students Regarding Antimicrobials, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Antimicrobial Stewardship in South Africa: Findings and Implications to Reduce Resistance.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- A Narrative Review of Antibiotic Prescribing Practices in Primary Care Settings in South Africa and Potential Ways Forward to Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Sales of antibiotics without a prescription in pharmacies, 2017 and 2021, China.Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundInappropriate use of antimicrobials is a key factor increasing antimicrobial resistance, a major global public health problem including in South Africa. Key drivers include antibiotics being dispensed without a prescription.
objectivesTo determine the accessibility of antibiotics without a prescription in community pharmacies in urban areas in South Africa and determine whether counselling was provided when antibiotics were dispensed. PATIENTS AND
methodsProspective, observational study, employing simulated patients (SPs), presenting with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs), undertaken to establish whether antibiotics can be obtained without a valid prescription in South Africa. This pilot study was conducted in privately owned (
resultsAntibiotics were sold in privately owned pharmacies without a prescription in 80% (16/20) of cases while no antibiotics were dispensed in corporate (franchised) pharmacies. Of the 16 pharmacies selling antibiotics without a prescription, pharmacist assistants were involved in 37.5% (
conclusionsDispensing antibiotics without prescriptions can be common among privately owned pharmacies in urban areas in South Africa. Corporate pharmacies, which probably have a greater income, appear to follow current legislation banning such activities. To limit selling with no prescription, community pharmacists and assistants especially in urban areas should be educated on appropriate patient care and legal requirements, with dispensing electronically monitored.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.