Antibacterial prescribing in primary care
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 1 August 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
- Vol. 60 (suppl_1) , i43-i47
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkm156
Abstract
Monitoring of general practice antibiotic prescribing is important to allow concordance with prescribing guidelines to be assessed. National Prescribing Analysis and Cost Data are limited by lack of information on the condition for which antibiotics are prescribed. Using the General Practice Research Database, we found that the 10 leading indications for antibacterial prescribing were (in descending order): upper respiratory tract infection (RTI), lower RTI, sore throat, urinary tract infection, otitis media, conjunctivitis, vague skin infections without a clear diagnosis, sinusitis, otitis externa and impetigo. Although for some conditions there appeared to be inappropriately high levels of antibacterial prescribing, the antibiotics chosen were usually those recommended for first-line treatment.Keywords
This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
- Delayed prescribing of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infectionBMJ, 2005
- Antibiotic prescribing in general practice and hospital admissions for peritonsillar abscess, mastoiditis, and rheumatic fever in children: time trend analysisBMJ, 2005
- Outpatient antibiotic use in Europe and association with resistance: a cross-national database studyThe Lancet, 2005
- What has happened to antimicrobial usage in primary care in the United Kingdom since the SMAC report? - Description of trends in antimicrobial usage using the General Practice Research DatabaseJournal of Public Health, 2004
- Why has antibiotic prescribing for respiratory illness declined in primary care? A longitudinal study using the General Practice Research DatabaseJournal of Public Health, 2004