[Reduced utilization of antibiotics in Swedish hospitals. Considerable variations between hospitals concerning choice and use of preparations].

Defined daily dose (DDD) consumption of antibiotics in 26 Swedish hospitals decreased by an average of 25% from 1990 to 1998, according to statistics from Apoteket AB. In one hospital, the decrease was 61%. Average consumption of tetracyclines and penicillins, expressed as percentage of total antibiotics consumption, decreased by 5% and 7% respectively, while quinolones and cephalosporins increased by 4% and 7% respectively. Consumption of tetracyclines and quinolones varied between individual hospitals by a factor of four.