Table 4 General characteristics of the studies conducted in outpatient healthcare settings

Khaksari et al. (1995 and 2000) [63]

Rafsanjan

6895 prescriptions

55.5

NM

NM

Mousavi et al. [64]

Iran (all provinces)

NM (prescription data from all around the country)

45

NM

NM

Makouei et al. [65]

Urmia

1090 prescriptions

53

Penicillin, Sulfonamides, Cephalosporin, Aminoglycosides, Macrolides

Penicillin, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Co-amoxiclav, Cloxacillin

Dinarvand et al. [66]

Tehran

NM (prescriptions in 55 pharmacy)

43

NM

NM

Soleymani et al.(1998–2009) [67]

Iran (all provinces)

200 million prescriptions

53.1

NM

NM

Moghaddam Nia et al. [68]

Babol

4000 prescriptions

61.9

NM

NM

Arab et al. [69]

Khuzestan

986 prescriptions

17.1

NM

NM

Cheragh Ali et al. [29]

Iran (100 primary care settings from 5 provinces of Tehran, Fars, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kermanshah)

NM (prescriptions in 100 primary care settings)

58

NM

Amoxicillin, Procaine Penicillin

Karimi et al. [70]

Savojbolagh

1068 prescriptions

56.8

NM

Penicillin, Azithromycin, Penicillin 6.3.3, Cefixime, Co-amoxiclav

Sepehri et al. [71]

Kerman

45,384 prescriptions

33.95

Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Aminoglycosides

NM

Alikhani et al. [72]

Yasuj

441 prescriptions

64.6

Penicillin, Macrolides, Cephalosporin, Nalidixic-acid, Sulfonamides,

Erythromycin, Amoxicillin, Co-amoxiclav, Penicillin, Cefixime,

Sepehri et al. [73]

Bam

3000 prescriptions

11.2

Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Macrolides, Tetracycline, Aminoglycosides

Amoxicillin, Penicillin G, Cephalexin, Penicillin 6.3.3, Co-trimoxazole,

Bastani et al. (2003–2013) [74]

Iran (all provinces)

59 million prescriptions in each year

53.33

NM

NM

Sadeghi et al. [75]

Khorasan Jonubi

1,423,642 prescriptions

42

NM

Amoxicillin, Cefixime

Ghadimi et al. [76]

East Azarbayjan

2041 prescriptions

39.2

NM

NM

Sasan et al. [77]

Mashhad

1000 infants and children

32.7

NM

Penicillin 6.3.3, Co-trimoxazole, Ampicillin, Gentamicin, Amoxicillin

Masoud et al. (2005–2015) [78]

Kerman

15,784,313 prescriptions

41.42

NM

NM

Dolat Abadi et al. [79]

Sabzevar

167,305 prescriptions

45

NM

Amoxicillin

Ahmadi et al. [80]

Ahvaz

9524 prescriptions

17.7

NM

NM

Sepehri et al. [81]

Bam

297,104 prescriptions

45.5

Penicillin, Cephalosporin

Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole, Amoxicillin

Zare Shahi et al. [82]

Kerman

410,218 prescriptions

40

NM

NM

Mosleh et al. [83]

Tehran

3420 prescriptions

56.49

NM

NM

Sadeghian et al. [84]

Isfahan

7,999,530 prescriptions

25.31

Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Macrolides, Quinolones, Sulfonamides

NM

Safaeian et al. [85]

Isfahan

7,439,709 prescriptions

51

Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Macrolides, Quinolones, Sulfonamides,

Cefixime, Amoxicillin, Co-amoxiclav, Penicillin 6.3.3, Azithromycin,

Karimi et al. [28]

Iran (all provinces)

85 million prescriptions

45

NM

Amoxicillin

Sadigh Rad et al. [86]

Urmia

269,660 prescriptions

39.29

NM

NM

Amani [87]

Ardabil

2000 prescriptions

52.8

NM

Penicillin 6.3.3, Ceftriaxone, Penicillin 800,000

Hossein Zadeh et al. [88]

Ardabil

2000 prescriptions

54.9

Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Macrolides

Cefixime, Azithromycin, Co-amoxiclav, Penicillin 6.3.3, Amoxicillin,

Eftekhari Gol et al. [89]

Khorasan Razavi

14,189 prescriptions

50.8

Nm

NM

Ahmadi et al. [90]

Kermanshah

352,399 prescriptions

52.1

NM

NM

Rezazadeh et al. [91]

Tehran

1035 prescriptions

49.71

NM

NM

Soleymani et al. [92]

Tehran

455,549 prescriptions

30.1

NM

NM

Median: 14,189

Median: 45.25

Most prescribed: Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Macrolides, and Aminoglycosides

Most prescribed: Amoxicillin, Penicillin, Co-amoxiclav, and Cefixime

IQR1: 2000

IQR1: 39.2

IQR3: 939,595

IQR3: 53.33