Extent of antibiotic use in Taiwan shown by antimicrobial activity in urine Original Research Article

Taiwan has high prevalence of antibiotic resistant, community-acquired respiratory pathogens. We investigated whether there was a high frequency of antibiotic use in the community. Antimicrobial activity in urine was detected in 55·2% of 1182 patients on arrival at an emergency department, 25·1% of 203 internal medicine out-patients, 7·6% of 471 high school students, and 7·4% of 202 people at a centre for senior citizens.