Last update:
12-Nov-2004

OBJECTIVE This is a report of the infections that they were registered in a rural Health Center (HC) in Crete, Greece and the management of these community infections. The aim was to use the findings of the study to improve the management of the community infections in the area.

METHOD All the medical records of the Anogia Health Center were reviewed and ICPC-based diagnoses were identified, for patients seen during January and February 2002. A pre-tested epidemiological card was used recording the reason for consultation, clinical findings, laboratory tests, treatment, and the general practitioners’ instructions. The patient’s personal data were also registered. The general practitioner also noted if the diagnosis was certain or was the most likely of several others.

RESULTS Of the patients who visited the HC 14.6% suffered from a community infection. A total of 407 patients with infectious diseases was found. The most frequent reasons for attendance of patients with infectious diseases were fever and symptoms from the respiratory, urinary and digestive system. The most frequent diagnoses concerned infections of the respiratory system, the ear, the digestive system and the urinary system. The most frequent used antibiotic medicines were clarithromycin, cefprozil, and amoxycillin.

CONCLUSIONS The number of diagnoses of community infections in this study was small. The number of the reasons for consultation and the number of antibacterial medications were also small. We therefore believe that it is proper to formulate guidelines for the management of these common infectious diseases and the appropriate use of antibacterial medications.

Key words: Antibiotics, Community infections, Primary health care.