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Respiratory antibacterial prescribing in primary care and the COVID-19 pandemic in England, winter season 2020-21.
Andrews, Amelia; Bou-Antoun, Sabine; Guy, Rebecca; Brown, Colin S; Hopkins, Susan; Gerver, Sarah.
  • Andrews A; HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
  • Bou-Antoun S; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance at the University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
  • Guy R; Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
  • Brown CS; HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
  • Hopkins S; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance at Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
  • Gerver S; HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
J Antimicrob Chemother ; 77(3): 799-802, 2022 02 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1569708
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Antibacterial prescribing for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) accounts for almost half of all prescribing in primary care. Nearly a quarter of antibacterial prescribing in primary care is estimated to be inappropriate, the greatest being for RTIs. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the provision of healthcare services and impacted the levels of antibacterials prescribed.

OBJECTIVES:

To describe the changes in community antibacterial prescribing for RTIs in winter 2020-21 in England.

METHODS:

RTI antibacterial prescribing was measured in prescription items/1000 population for primary care from January 2014 and in DDDs/1000 population/day for the totality of RTI prescribing [combined with Accident & Emergency (A&E) in secondary care], from January 2016 to February 2021. Trends were assessed using negative binomial regression and seasonally adjusted interrupted time-series analysis.

RESULTS:

Antibacterials prescribed for RTIs reduced by a further 12.4% per season compared with pre-COVID (P < 0.001). In winter 2020-21, RTI prescriptions almost halved compared with the previous winter in 2019-20 (P < 0.001). The trend observed for total RTI prescribing (primary care with A&E) was similar to that observed in the community alone.

CONCLUSIONS:

During COVID-19, RTI prescribing reduced in the community and the expected rise in winter was not seen in 2020-21. We found no evidence that RTI prescribing shifted from primary care to A&E in secondary care. The most likely explanation is a decrease in RTIs and presentations to primary care associated with national prevention measures for COVID-19.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Respiratory Tract Infections / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: J Antimicrob Chemother Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Jac

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Respiratory Tract Infections / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: J Antimicrob Chemother Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Jac