The Effect of Antiviral Therapy on the Incidence of Bacterial Aggravations and Administration of Systemic Antibiotics in Patients with Acute Respiratory Viral Infections and Influenza (Results of International Cohort Observational Study).

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the incidence of bacterial aggravations and antibiotics administration with analysis of effectiveness of antiviral therapy in ambulatory patients with acute viral respiratory infection (ARVI) and influenza. MATERIAL AND METHODS: International cohort open non-interventional .study <<Treatment of ARVI and influenza in routine clinical practice? was conducted. The data analysis covers treatment results of 18946 ambulatory patients aged 18-93 years with clinical diagnosis of ARVI or influenza in 262 centers in Russia, Moldova, Armenia and Georgia. One group of patients received treatment in accordance with approved and applicable in their country schemes of complex treatment of ARVI and influenza; other group included patients treated with the complex treatment including antiviral drug Kagocel@ (Russia). On each of 3 visits were evaluated clinical symptoms (in scores), the presence of bacterial aggravations, and the effectiveness of drug treatment including antibacterial therapy. RESULTS: Bacterial aggravations were recorded in 8.3% cases, and-systemic antibiotics were prescribed by doctors in 9.3% cases. The incidence of bacterial aggravations and administration of systemic antibiotics increased proportionally to the age of patients, severity of disease, times of first visit to the doctor and the start of treatment. Prescription of Kagocel@ in the complex treatment of ARVI and influenza contributes to reduction of number of bacterial aggravations in 1.65 times (p<0.01) and decreases necessity of systemic antibiotic therapy in 1.51 times (p<0.01), which leads to better disease outcome at various therapy start times. Maximum efficiency and fewer treatment aggravations were recorded for working age patients. CONCLUSIONS: Antiviral therapy has shown its effectiveness in the treatment of ARVI and influenza, its implementation leads to decrease of bacterial aggravations incidence.