Respiratory antibacterial prescribing in primary care and the COVID-19 pandemic in England, winter season 2020-21.
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 (Pâ<â0.001). In winter 2020-21, RTI prescriptions almost halved compared with the previous winter in 2019-20 (Pâ<â0.001). 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.
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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