INTRODUCTION. Produce knowledge on the use of antibiotics is important to promote the rational use of drugs and controlling the growth of the bacterial resistance, without affecting the treatment of infections, especially in older people. Methodology. Study of the use of drugs (antibiotics of controlled use) in older people in a IPS in Bogota, based on records of billing and prescription between January and July 2009. RESULTS. The median age was 75 years; 48.6 percent were women; the records of the group of 71 80 years showed a high frequency of prescription of antibiotics. Of the 4624 records of expenditures, 426 had at least a request for prescription of an antibiotic of controlled use. Of the 676 applications for prescription of antibiotics controlled, 27.7% corresponded to the active Vancomycin. Were consumed in total 5983 DDD antibiotic use controlled; the density of consumption was 18.63 DDD/100 beds-day and Meropenem the antibiotic of increased consumption with 4.59 DDD/100 beds-day, corresponding to 24.6 percent of total DDD/100 beds-day. Antibiotics controlled represented US$361,062 of the total billed in drugs. Meropenem has the total cost higher: US$136,313. The antibiotic with greater cost by DDD was Tigeciclina with US$27,346.CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of prescription of antibiotics of controlled use was 9.2 percent more prescription in the group of 71- 80 years. 59.2 Per cent of applications for prescription corresponded to an antibiotic. Vancomycin was the most antibiotic prescribed. Used 18.63 DDD/100 beds-day total of antibiotics controlled. Meropenem, Piperacillin/Tazobactam and Ertapenem accounted for 75 percent of the total cost invoiced antibiotic use controlled. Of the 16 antibiotics studied, six were prescribed in higher percentage in other sepsis.
