Assessing the use of antibiotics and the burden of varicella in Belgium using a retrospective GP database analysis
Abstract Background Varicella is a highly contagious infection that typically occurs in childhood. While most cases have a generally benign outcome, infection results in a considerable healthcare burden and serious complications may occur. Objectives The objective of this study was to characterize t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06848-4 |
| _version_ | 1818837869468319744 |
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| author | Jessica Vandenhaute Elyonore Tsakeu Pierre Chevalier Manjiri Pawaskar Goran Benčina Jan Vertriest |
| author_facet | Jessica Vandenhaute Elyonore Tsakeu Pierre Chevalier Manjiri Pawaskar Goran Benčina Jan Vertriest |
| author_sort | Jessica Vandenhaute |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Varicella is a highly contagious infection that typically occurs in childhood. While most cases have a generally benign outcome, infection results in a considerable healthcare burden and serious complications may occur. Objectives The objective of this study was to characterize the burden of varicella in a real-world primary care setting in Belgium, including the rate of varicella-related complications, medication management and general practitioner (GP) visits. Methods The study was a retrospective observational study using data from a longitudinal patient database in a primary care setting in Belgium. Patients with a GP visit and a varicella diagnosis between January 2016 and June 2019 were eligible and data one month prior and three months after the diagnosis were included. Outcomes included varicella-related complications, antibiotic use, antiviral use, and GP follow-up visits. Antibiotic use could be specified by class of antibiotic and linked to a diagnosis. Complications were identified based on concomitant diagnosis with varicella during the study period. Results 3,847 patients with diagnosis of varicella were included, with a mean age of 8.4 years and a comparable distribution of gender. 12.6% of patients with varicella had a concomitant diagnosis of a varicella-related complication. During the follow-up period, 27.3% of patients with varicella were prescribed antibiotics, either systemic (19.8%) and/or topical (10.3%). The highest rate of antibiotic prescriptions was observed in patients with complications (63.5%) and in patients younger than 1 year (41.8%). Nevertheless, 5.3% of the patients were prescribed antibiotics without a concomitant diagnosis of another infection. The most commonly prescribed systemic antibiotics were amoxicillin alone or combined with beta-lactamase inhibitor, and thiamphenicol. Fusidic acid and tobramycin were the most prescribed topical antibiotics. Antivirals were prescribed for 2.7% of the study population. 4.7% of the patients needed a follow-up visit with their GP. Conclusions This study reports a substantial burden of varicella in a primary care setting in Belgium, with high rates of complications and antibiotic use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:29:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d3e93f988ad41ceaf1564b6652b4f06 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:29:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d3e93f988ad41ceaf1564b6652b4f062022-12-21T20:37:33ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342021-11-0121111010.1186/s12879-021-06848-4Assessing the use of antibiotics and the burden of varicella in Belgium using a retrospective GP database analysisJessica Vandenhaute0Elyonore Tsakeu1Pierre Chevalier2Manjiri Pawaskar3Goran Benčina4Jan Vertriest5MSDReal World Evidence, IQVIAReal World Evidence, IQVIACenter for Observational and Real-World Evidence, Merck & Co., IncMSDMSDAbstract Background Varicella is a highly contagious infection that typically occurs in childhood. While most cases have a generally benign outcome, infection results in a considerable healthcare burden and serious complications may occur. Objectives The objective of this study was to characterize the burden of varicella in a real-world primary care setting in Belgium, including the rate of varicella-related complications, medication management and general practitioner (GP) visits. Methods The study was a retrospective observational study using data from a longitudinal patient database in a primary care setting in Belgium. Patients with a GP visit and a varicella diagnosis between January 2016 and June 2019 were eligible and data one month prior and three months after the diagnosis were included. Outcomes included varicella-related complications, antibiotic use, antiviral use, and GP follow-up visits. Antibiotic use could be specified by class of antibiotic and linked to a diagnosis. Complications were identified based on concomitant diagnosis with varicella during the study period. Results 3,847 patients with diagnosis of varicella were included, with a mean age of 8.4 years and a comparable distribution of gender. 12.6% of patients with varicella had a concomitant diagnosis of a varicella-related complication. During the follow-up period, 27.3% of patients with varicella were prescribed antibiotics, either systemic (19.8%) and/or topical (10.3%). The highest rate of antibiotic prescriptions was observed in patients with complications (63.5%) and in patients younger than 1 year (41.8%). Nevertheless, 5.3% of the patients were prescribed antibiotics without a concomitant diagnosis of another infection. The most commonly prescribed systemic antibiotics were amoxicillin alone or combined with beta-lactamase inhibitor, and thiamphenicol. Fusidic acid and tobramycin were the most prescribed topical antibiotics. Antivirals were prescribed for 2.7% of the study population. 4.7% of the patients needed a follow-up visit with their GP. Conclusions This study reports a substantial burden of varicella in a primary care setting in Belgium, with high rates of complications and antibiotic use.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06848-4AntibioticsVaricellaComplicationsPrimary careBurden of varicella |
| spellingShingle | Jessica Vandenhaute Elyonore Tsakeu Pierre Chevalier Manjiri Pawaskar Goran Benčina Jan Vertriest Assessing the use of antibiotics and the burden of varicella in Belgium using a retrospective GP database analysis BMC Infectious Diseases Antibiotics Varicella Complications Primary care Burden of varicella |
| title | Assessing the use of antibiotics and the burden of varicella in Belgium using a retrospective GP database analysis |
| title_full | Assessing the use of antibiotics and the burden of varicella in Belgium using a retrospective GP database analysis |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the use of antibiotics and the burden of varicella in Belgium using a retrospective GP database analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the use of antibiotics and the burden of varicella in Belgium using a retrospective GP database analysis |
| title_short | Assessing the use of antibiotics and the burden of varicella in Belgium using a retrospective GP database analysis |
| title_sort | assessing the use of antibiotics and the burden of varicella in belgium using a retrospective gp database analysis |
| topic | Antibiotics Varicella Complications Primary care Burden of varicella |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06848-4 |
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