Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic usage in primary care: a retrospective analysis
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to many changes in the medical practice, including a wider access to tele-consultations. It not only influenced the type of treatment but also shed light on mistakes often made by doctors, such as the abuse of antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55540-5 |
| _version_ | 1797275178548330496 |
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| author | Anna Romaszko-Wojtowicz K. Tokarczyk-Malesa Anna Doboszyńska K. Glińska-Lewczuk |
| author_facet | Anna Romaszko-Wojtowicz K. Tokarczyk-Malesa Anna Doboszyńska K. Glińska-Lewczuk |
| author_sort | Anna Romaszko-Wojtowicz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to many changes in the medical practice, including a wider access to tele-consultations. It not only influenced the type of treatment but also shed light on mistakes often made by doctors, such as the abuse of antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic treatment, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescribing during a GP’s visit. The retrospective medical history analysis involved data from a first-contact medical center (Pantamed, Olsztyn, Poland), from 1 January 2018 to 31 May 2023. Quantities of prescribed antibiotics were assessed and converted into the so-called active list for a given working day of adult patients (> 18 years of age). Statistical analysis based on collective data was performed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a decline in the number of medical consultations has been observed, both remotely via tele-medicine and in personal appointments, compared to the data from before the pandemic: n = 95,251 versus n = 79,619. Also, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decrease in the total amount of prescribed antibiotics relative to the data before the pandemic (2.44 vs. 4.54; p > 0.001). The decrease in the quantities of prescribed antibiotics did not depend on the way doctor consultations were provided. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to changing the family doctors’ management of respiratory infections. The ability to identify the etiological agent—the SARS-COV2 virus—contributed to the reduction of the antibiotics use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:09:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de4c700ae3f5479482fa439dec03cc7c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:09:35Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-de4c700ae3f5479482fa439dec03cc7c2024-03-05T18:45:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-011411710.1038/s41598-024-55540-5Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic usage in primary care: a retrospective analysisAnna Romaszko-Wojtowicz0K. Tokarczyk-Malesa1Anna Doboszyńska2K. Glińska-Lewczuk3Department of Pulmonology, School of Public Health, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynDepartment of Family Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Collegium Medicum, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynDepartment of Pulmonology, School of Public Health, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynDepartment of Water Resources, Climatology and Environmental Management, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynAbstract The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to many changes in the medical practice, including a wider access to tele-consultations. It not only influenced the type of treatment but also shed light on mistakes often made by doctors, such as the abuse of antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic treatment, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescribing during a GP’s visit. The retrospective medical history analysis involved data from a first-contact medical center (Pantamed, Olsztyn, Poland), from 1 January 2018 to 31 May 2023. Quantities of prescribed antibiotics were assessed and converted into the so-called active list for a given working day of adult patients (> 18 years of age). Statistical analysis based on collective data was performed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a decline in the number of medical consultations has been observed, both remotely via tele-medicine and in personal appointments, compared to the data from before the pandemic: n = 95,251 versus n = 79,619. Also, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decrease in the total amount of prescribed antibiotics relative to the data before the pandemic (2.44 vs. 4.54; p > 0.001). The decrease in the quantities of prescribed antibiotics did not depend on the way doctor consultations were provided. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to changing the family doctors’ management of respiratory infections. The ability to identify the etiological agent—the SARS-COV2 virus—contributed to the reduction of the antibiotics use.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55540-5 |
| spellingShingle | Anna Romaszko-Wojtowicz K. Tokarczyk-Malesa Anna Doboszyńska K. Glińska-Lewczuk Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic usage in primary care: a retrospective analysis Scientific Reports |
| title | Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic usage in primary care: a retrospective analysis |
| title_full | Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic usage in primary care: a retrospective analysis |
| title_fullStr | Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic usage in primary care: a retrospective analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic usage in primary care: a retrospective analysis |
| title_short | Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic usage in primary care: a retrospective analysis |
| title_sort | impact of covid 19 on antibiotic usage in primary care a retrospective analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55540-5 |
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