Time Trends and Factors Associated with Antibiotic Prescribing in Swiss Primary Care (2008 to 2020)
Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a major threat to public health, and the majority of antibiotics are prescribed in the outpatient setting, especially in primary care. Monitoring antibiotic consumption is one key measure in containing ABR, but Swiss national surveillance data are limited. We conducted...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Antibiotics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/9/11/837 |
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| author | Nahara Anani Martínez-González Stefania Di Gangi Giuseppe Pichierri Stefan Neuner-Jehle Oliver Senn Andreas Plate |
| author_facet | Nahara Anani Martínez-González Stefania Di Gangi Giuseppe Pichierri Stefan Neuner-Jehle Oliver Senn Andreas Plate |
| author_sort | Nahara Anani Martínez-González |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a major threat to public health, and the majority of antibiotics are prescribed in the outpatient setting, especially in primary care. Monitoring antibiotic consumption is one key measure in containing ABR, but Swiss national surveillance data are limited. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study to characterise the patterns of antibiotic prescriptions, assess the time trends, and identify the factors associated with antibiotic prescribing in Swiss primary care. Using electronic medical records data, we analysed 206,599 antibiotic prescriptions from 112,378 patients. Based on 27,829 patient records, respiratory (52.1%), urinary (27.9%), and skin (4.8%) infections were the commonest clinical indications for antibiotic prescribing. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were broad-spectrum penicillins (BSP) (36.5%), fluoroquinolones (16.4%), and macrolides/lincosamides (13.8%). Based on the WHO AWaRe classification, antibiotics were 57.9% Core-Access and 41.7% Watch, 69% of which were fluoroquinolones and macrolides. Between 2008 and 2020, fluoroquinolones and macrolides/lincosamides prescriptions significantly declined by 53% and 51%; BSP prescriptions significantly increased by 54%. Increasing patients’ age, volume, and employment level were significantly associated with antibiotic prescribing. Our results may inform future antibiotic stewardship interventions to improve antibiotic prescribing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:37:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63e096285dea49e6b7a7a089b1ae8a59 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6382 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:37:54Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-63e096285dea49e6b7a7a089b1ae8a592023-11-20T22:01:31ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822020-11-0191183710.3390/antibiotics9110837Time Trends and Factors Associated with Antibiotic Prescribing in Swiss Primary Care (2008 to 2020)Nahara Anani Martínez-González0Stefania Di Gangi1Giuseppe Pichierri2Stefan Neuner-Jehle3Oliver Senn4Andreas Plate5Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 24, CH-8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 24, CH-8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 24, CH-8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 24, CH-8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 24, CH-8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 24, CH-8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandAntibiotic resistance (ABR) is a major threat to public health, and the majority of antibiotics are prescribed in the outpatient setting, especially in primary care. Monitoring antibiotic consumption is one key measure in containing ABR, but Swiss national surveillance data are limited. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study to characterise the patterns of antibiotic prescriptions, assess the time trends, and identify the factors associated with antibiotic prescribing in Swiss primary care. Using electronic medical records data, we analysed 206,599 antibiotic prescriptions from 112,378 patients. Based on 27,829 patient records, respiratory (52.1%), urinary (27.9%), and skin (4.8%) infections were the commonest clinical indications for antibiotic prescribing. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were broad-spectrum penicillins (BSP) (36.5%), fluoroquinolones (16.4%), and macrolides/lincosamides (13.8%). Based on the WHO AWaRe classification, antibiotics were 57.9% Core-Access and 41.7% Watch, 69% of which were fluoroquinolones and macrolides. Between 2008 and 2020, fluoroquinolones and macrolides/lincosamides prescriptions significantly declined by 53% and 51%; BSP prescriptions significantly increased by 54%. Increasing patients’ age, volume, and employment level were significantly associated with antibiotic prescribing. Our results may inform future antibiotic stewardship interventions to improve antibiotic prescribing.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/9/11/837antibiotic prescriptionsantibiotic prescribingantibiotic useprimary caregeneral practicefamily medicine |
| spellingShingle | Nahara Anani Martínez-González Stefania Di Gangi Giuseppe Pichierri Stefan Neuner-Jehle Oliver Senn Andreas Plate Time Trends and Factors Associated with Antibiotic Prescribing in Swiss Primary Care (2008 to 2020) Antibiotics antibiotic prescriptions antibiotic prescribing antibiotic use primary care general practice family medicine |
| title | Time Trends and Factors Associated with Antibiotic Prescribing in Swiss Primary Care (2008 to 2020) |
| title_full | Time Trends and Factors Associated with Antibiotic Prescribing in Swiss Primary Care (2008 to 2020) |
| title_fullStr | Time Trends and Factors Associated with Antibiotic Prescribing in Swiss Primary Care (2008 to 2020) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Time Trends and Factors Associated with Antibiotic Prescribing in Swiss Primary Care (2008 to 2020) |
| title_short | Time Trends and Factors Associated with Antibiotic Prescribing in Swiss Primary Care (2008 to 2020) |
| title_sort | time trends and factors associated with antibiotic prescribing in swiss primary care 2008 to 2020 |
| topic | antibiotic prescriptions antibiotic prescribing antibiotic use primary care general practice family medicine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/9/11/837 |
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