Trends in number of consultations and antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory tract infections between 1999 and 2005 in primary healthcare in Kalmar County, Southern Sweden.
Scand J Prim Health Care
; 27(1): 18-24, 2009.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19085427
ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED BACKGROUND. Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) comprise the most common indication for consulting a general practitioner and obtaining an antibiotic prescription. OBJECTIVE:
To study changes in the number of visits, diagnoses, and antibiotic prescriptions for RTI in primary healthcare during the period 1999-2005.DESIGN:
A retrospective, descriptive, population-based study of electronic patient records. Setting. County of Kalmar in southeastern Sweden. PATIENTS Patients visiting primary healthcare units in Kalmar County for an RTI between 1 July 1999 and 31 December 2005. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
RTI diagnoses, antibiotic prescriptions, age groups.RESULTS:
A total of 240 447 visits for RTI made between 1999 and 2005 were analysed. The yearly consultation rates for the diagnoses acute tonsillitis and AOM decreased by 12% and 10%, respectively (p = 0.001). Of all patients consulting for an RTI diagnosis, 45% received antibiotics. Of all prescribed antibiotics, 60% were for phenoxymethylpenicillin (PcV) and 18% doxycycline. Amoxicillin or amoxicillin + clavulanic acid was prescribed to a lesser extent. The proportion of patients obtaining an antibiotic prescription was almost constant over time (44-46%). The prescriptions of doxycycline showed increasing values (NS). The prescriptions of remaining antibiotics decreased significantly especially for patients up to middle age.CONCLUSION:
This large population study, comprising more than six years of observations, showed the number of primary healthcare patients receiving an RTI diagnosis decreased during the period 1999-2005, but the proportion of patients receiving an antibiotic prescription remained the same. The large seasonal variations indicate a need for further interventions to decrease antibiotic use for RTIs.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Infecções Respiratórias
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Medicina de Família e Comunidade
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Antibacterianos
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Scand J Prim Health Care
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Suécia