| 1. |
- Cronberg, Olof, et al.
(författare)
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Diagnosis-linked antibiotic prescribing in Swedish primary care : a comparison between in-hours and out-of-hours
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMC Infectious Diseases. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2334. ; 20:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The rise in antibiotic resistance is a global public health concern, and antibiotic overuse needs to be reduced. Earlier studies of out-of-hours care have indicated that antibiotic prescribing is less appropriate than that of in-hours care. However, no study has compared the out-of-hours treatment of infections to in-hours treatment within the same population.Methods: This retrospective, descriptive study was based on data retrieved from the Kronoberg Infection Database in Primary Care (KIDPC), which consists of all visits to primary care with an infection diagnosis or prescription of antibiotics during 2006-2014. The purpose was to study the trends in antibiotic prescribing and to compare consultations and prescriptions between in-hours and out-of-hours.Results: The visit rate for all infections was 434 visits per 1000 inhabitants per year. The visit rate was stable during the study period, but the antibiotic prescribing rate decreased from 266 prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants in 2006 to 194 prescriptions in 2014 (mean annual change - 8.5 [95% CI - 11.9 to - 5.2]). For the out-of-hours visits (12% of the total visits), a similar reduction in antibiotic prescribing was seen. The decrease was most apparent among children and in respiratory tract infections. When antibiotic prescribing during out-of-hours was compared to in-hours, the unadjusted relative risk of antibiotic prescribing was 1.37 (95% CI 1.36 to 1.38), but when adjusted for age, sex, and diagnosis, the relative risk of antibiotic prescribing was 1.09 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.10). The reduction after adjustment was largely explained by a higher visit rate during out-of-hours for infections requiring antibiotics (acute otitis media, pharyngotonsillitis, and lower urinary tract infection). The choices of antibiotics used for common diagnoses were similar.Conclusions: Although the infection visit rate was unchanged over the study period, there was a significant reduction in antibiotic prescribing, especially to children and for respiratory tract infections. The higher antibiotic prescribing rate during out-of-hours was small when adjusted for age, sex, and diagnosis. No excess prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics was seen. Therefore, interventions selectively aiming at out-of-hours centres seem to be unmotivated in a low-prescribing context.
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| 2. |
- Cronberg, Olof, et al.
(författare)
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Factors influencing antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections in primary care - a comparison of physicians with different antibiotic prescribing rates
- 2024
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 0281-3432 .- 1502-7724.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundThere has been a notable decrease in antibiotic prescribing in the last thirty years in Sweden. Little is known about factors influencing antibiotic prescribing over several years.ObjectiveTo compare primary care physicians who, over time, reduced their antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections with those who remained either high or low prescribers regarding potentially influencing factors.Design and settingA register-based study including all RTI visits in primary care in Region Kronoberg, Sweden 2006-2014. The data were divided into three 3-year periods.SubjectsThe data comprised all physicians who had diagnosed at least one RTI for each of the three-year periods. The antibiotic prescribing rate adjusted for the patients' sex and age group was calculated for each physician and period, and based on the change between the first and the third period, the physicians were divided into three prescriber groups: The High Prescribing Group, the Decreasing Prescribing Group, and the Low Prescribing Group.Main outcome measuresFor the three prescriber groups, we compared factors influencing antibiotic prescribing such as the characteristics of the physicians, their use of point-of-care tests, their choice of diagnoses, and whether the patients returned and received antibiotics.ResultsThe High Prescribing Group ordered more point-of-care tests, registered more potential bacterial diagnoses, prescribed antibiotics at lower C-reactive protein levels, and prescribed antibiotics more often despite negative group A Streptococci test than in the Low Prescribing Group. The Decreasing Prescribing Group was between the High Prescribing Group and the Low Prescribing Group regarding these variables. The lower prescription rate in the Low Prescribing Group did not result in more return visits or new antibiotic prescriptions within 30 days.ConclusionPoint-of-care testing and its interpretation differed between the prescriber groups. Focus on interpreting point-of-care test results could be a way forward in antibiotic stewardship. High prescribers used antibiotics at lower CRP levels and were more likely to identify a potential bacterial diagnosis.Many physicians reduced their antibiotic prescribing during the study period. Nine out of ten low prescribers remained low prescribers.Seeing a low-prescribing physician did not lead to more return visits or antibiotic changes.
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| 3. |
- Cronberg, Olof, et al.
(författare)
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Factors influencing antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections in primary care–a comparison of physicians with different antibiotic prescribing rates
- 2024
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 0281-3432 .- 1502-7724.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: There has been a notable decrease in antibiotic prescribing in the last thirty years in Sweden. Little is known about factors influencing antibiotic prescribing over several years. Objective: To compare primary care physicians who, over time, reduced their antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections with those who remained either high or low prescribers regarding potentially influencing factors. Design and setting: A register-based study including all RTI visits in primary care in Region Kronoberg, Sweden 2006–2014. The data were divided into three 3-year periods. Subjects: The data comprised all physicians who had diagnosed at least one RTI for each of the three-year periods. The antibiotic prescribing rate adjusted for the patients’ sex and age group was calculated for each physician and period, and based on the change between the first and the third period, the physicians were divided into three prescriber groups: The High Prescribing Group, the Decreasing Prescribing Group, and the Low Prescribing Group. Main outcome measures: For the three prescriber groups, we compared factors influencing antibiotic prescribing such as the characteristics of the physicians, their use of point-of-care tests, their choice of diagnoses, and whether the patients returned and received antibiotics. Results: The High Prescribing Group ordered more point-of-care tests, registered more potential bacterial diagnoses, prescribed antibiotics at lower C-reactive protein levels, and prescribed antibiotics more often despite negative group A Streptococci test than in the Low Prescribing Group. The Decreasing Prescribing Group was between the High Prescribing Group and the Low Prescribing Group regarding these variables. The lower prescription rate in the Low Prescribing Group did not result in more return visits or new antibiotic prescriptions within 30 days. Conclusion: Point-of-care testing and its interpretation differed between the prescriber groups. Focus on interpreting point-of-care test results could be a way forward in antibiotic stewardship.
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| 4. |
- Hansen, Matilde Bøgelund, et al.
(författare)
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Antibiotic use in pre-school children and the correlation with adult educational levels in two Nordic counties : a replication of a 20-year-old study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Infectious Diseases. - : Informa UK Limited. - 2374-4235 .- 2374-4243. ; 53:4, s. 281-290
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the change of antibiotic prescribing in pre-school children in the municipalities of the former Copenhagen County in Denmark and Skåne County in Sweden after 20 years of antibiotic stewardship effort. Furthermore, the variation in the prescribing of antibiotics between the municipalities and the correlation between municipal adult educational level and antibiotic prescribing in pre-school children was assessed. Methods: In this ecological study, information on antibiotic prescribing in pre-school children was obtained from a central pharmacy settlement system in each Region. The antibiotic prescribing rate was expressed in defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) and number of prescriptions/1000 inhabitants. Information on municipal adult educational levels was obtained from Statistics Denmark and Statistics Sweden. Results: The antibiotic prescribing rate during 2017 was higher in the municipalities of Copenhagen County (5.6–7.9 DDD/TID) compared to the municipalities of Skåne County (4.2–6.6 DDD/TID). In 1998 a higher rate was found in Skåne County (9.6–17.7 DDD/TID) compared to Copenhagen County (8.0–12.9 DDD/TID). A non-significant negative correlation between adult educational levels and antibiotic prescribing was observed in the municipalities of Copenhagen County (r= −0.233, p =.352) while the correlation was positive in the municipalities of Skåne County (r= +0.410, p =.018). The same correlations were observed in 1998. Conclusion: We found higher antibiotic prescribing in pre-school children in the municipalities of Copenhagen County compared to Skåne County in 2017, suggesting a possible overuse of antibiotics in Denmark. Further research should try to elucidate the reasons for the observed variation.
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| 5. |
- Rystedt, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Agreement between rapid antigen detection test and culture for group A streptococcus in patients recently treated for pharyngotonsillitis-a prospective observational study in primary care
- 2023
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0281-3432 .- 1502-7724. ; 41:1, s. 91-97
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectiveThe aim was to compare rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and throat culture for group A streptococci (GAS) among patients recently treated with penicillin V for GAS pharyngotonsillitis.Design and settingThe study was a secondary analysis within a randomized controlled trial comparing 5 versus 10 days of penicillin V for GAS pharyngotonsillitis. Patients were recruited at 17 primary health care centres in Sweden.SubjectsWe included 316 patients >= 6 years of age, having 3-4 Centor criteria, a positive RADT and a positive throat culture for GAS at inclusion, and also having a RADT and throat culture for GAS taken at a follow-up visit within 21 days.Main outcome measuresRADT and conventional throat culture for GAS.ResultsThis prospective study showed 91% agreement between RADT and culture at follow-up within 21 days. Only 3/316 participants had negative RADT with a positive throat culture for GAS at follow-up, and 27/316 patients with positive RADT had a negative culture for GAS. Log rank test did not reveal any difference in the decline over time of positive tests between RADT and throat culture (p = 0.24). Agreement between RADT and throat culture for GAS at the follow-up was not associated with treatment duration, number of days from inclusion until follow-up, throat symptoms at follow-up, gender, or age.ConclusionRADT and culture for GAS agreed to a high extent also after recent penicillin V treatment. RADT for GAS means a low risk for missing the presence of GAS.
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| 6. |
- Rystedt, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of penicillin V on the faecal microbiota in patients with pharyngotonsillitis-an observational study
- 2022
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Ingår i: JAC - Antimicrobial Resistance. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 2632-1823. ; 5:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background The intestinal microbiota functions as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance. Objectives To evaluate penicillin V (phenoxymethylpenicillin) effects on the faecal microbiota with focus on beta-lactam resistance. Methods We included 31 primary care patients with group A streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis treated with penicillin V for 5 (800 mg x 4) or 10 days (1000 mg x 3). Twenty-nine patients contributed with three faecal swab samples each. The faecal specimens were collected at the start of penicillin V treatment, after the last dose and at follow-up 7-9 days after completed treatment. Samples were inoculated semiquantitatively on selective screening agar plates to study beta-lactam resistance, species shifts among Enterobacterales and enterococci, and colonization with Candida spp. and Clostridioides difficile. Representative colonies were identified using MALDI-TOF. Results were analysed by non-parametric statistical methods. Results An increase in the proportion of patients colonized with ampicillin-resistant Enterobacterales, from 52% to 86% (P = 0.007), and Enterobacterales with decreased susceptibility to third-generation cephalosporins, from 32% to 52% (P = 0.034), was observed between the first and second samples. This increase was no longer significant at follow-up. New colonization with ampicillin-resistant Enterobacterales species and non-Enterobacterales Gram-negative species was observed, and persisted at follow-up. Conclusions Following treatment with penicillin V, we observed decreased susceptibility to ampicillin and third-generation cephalosporins, and prolonged colonization with non-Escherichia coli Gram-negative species. These findings challenge the perception that penicillin V has limited ecological effect on the intestinal microbiota, and emphasizes the importance of avoiding even narrow-spectrum antimicrobials when possible.
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| 7. |
- Tell, David, et al.
(författare)
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Clinical course of pharyngotonsillitis with group A streptococcus treated with different penicillin V strategies, divided in groups of Centor Score 3 and 4: a prospective study in primary care
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMC Infectious Diseases. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2334. ; 22:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Sore throat is a common reason for prescribing antibiotics in primary care, and 10 days of treatment is recommended for patients with pharyngotonsillitis with group A streptococcus (GAS). Our group recently showed that penicillin V (PcV) four times daily for 5 days was non-inferior in clinical outcome to PcV three times daily for 10 days. This study compares duration, intensity of symptoms, and side effects in patients with a Centor Score (CS) of 3 or 4 respectively, after treatment with PcV for 5 or 10 days and evaluates whether all patients with pharyngotonsillitis with a CS of 3 or 4 should be treated for 5 days or if severity of symptoms or CS suggest a longer treatment period. Method Data on symptoms and recovery from patient diaries from 433 patients included in a RCT comparing PcV 800 mg x 4 for 5 days or PcV 1 g x 3 for 10 days was used. Patients six years and older with CS-3 or CS-4 and positive rapid antigen detection test for GAS-infection were grouped based on CS and randomized treatment. Comparisons for categorical variables were made with Pearson's chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test. Continuous variables were compared with the Mann-Whitney U test. Results Patients with CS-3 as well as patients with CS-4 who received PcV 800 mg x 4 for 5 days self-reported that they recovered earlier compared to patients with CS-3 or CS-4 who received treatment with PcV 1 g x 3 for 10 days. In addition, the throat pain as single symptom was relieved 1 day earlier in patients with CS-4 and 5 days of treatment compared to patients with CS-4 and 10 days of treatment. No differences in side effects between the groups were found. Conclusion Intense treatment with PcV four times a day for 5 days seems clinically beneficial and strengthens the suggestion that the 4-dose regimen with 800 mg PcV for 5 days may be the future treatment strategy for GAS positive pharyngotonsillitis irrespectively of CS-3 or CS-4. Trail registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02712307 (3 April 2016).
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| 8. |
- Tyrstrup, Mia, et al.
(författare)
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Antibiotic prescribing in relation to diagnoses and consultation rates in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden : use of European quality indicators
- 2017
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0281-3432 .- 1502-7724. ; 35:1, s. 10-18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To assess the quality of antibiotic prescribing in primary care in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden using European disease-specific antibiotic prescribing quality indicators (APQI) and taking into account the threshold to consult and national guidelines. Design: A retrospective observational database study. Setting: Routine primary health care registration networks in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden. Subjects: All consultations for one of seven acute infections [upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia and cystitis] and the antibiotic prescriptions in 2012 corresponding to these diagnoses. Main outcome measures: Consultation incidences for these diagnoses and APQI values (a) the percentages of patients receiving an antibiotic per diagnosis, (b) the percentages prescribed first-choice antibiotics and (c) the percentages prescribed quinolones. Results: The consultation incidence for respiratory tract infection was much higher in Belgium than in the Netherlands and Sweden. Most of the prescribing percentage indicators (a) were outside the recommended ranges, with Belgium deviating the most for URTI and bronchitis, Sweden for tonsillitis and the Netherlands for cystitis. The Netherlands and Sweden prescribed the recommended antibiotics (b) to a higher degree and the prescribing of quinolones exceeded the proposed range for most diagnoses (c) in Belgium. The interpretation of APQI was found to be dependent on the consultation incidences. High consultation incidences were associated with high antibiotic prescription rates. Taking into account the recommended treatments from national guidelines improved the results of the APQI values for sinusitis in the Netherlands and cystitis in Sweden. Conclusion: Quality assessment using European disease-specific APQI was feasible and their inter-country comparison can identify opportunities for quality improvement. Their interpretation, however, should take consultation incidences and national guidelines into account. Differences in registration quality might limit the comparison of diagnosis-linked data between countries, especially for conditions such as cystitis where patients do not always see a clinician before treatment.Key points The large variation in antibiotic use between European countries points towards quality differences in prescribing in primary care. •The European disease-specific antibiotic prescribing quality indicators (APQI) provide insight into antibiotic prescribing, but need further development, taking into account consultation incidences and country-specific guidelines. •The incidence of consultations for respiratory tract infections was almost twice as high in Belgium compared to the Netherlands and Sweden. •Comparison between countries of diagnosis-linked data were complicated by differences in data collection, especially for urinary tract infections.
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| 9. |
- Tyrstrup, Mia, et al.
(författare)
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Children with respiratory tract infections in Swedish primary care; prevalence of antibiotic resistance in common respiratory tract pathogens and relation to antibiotic consumption
- 2017
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Ingår i: BMC Infectious Diseases. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2334. ; 17:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The majority of antibiotics consumed in developed countries are prescribed in primary care. However, little is known about resistance levels in the primary care population. Method: Nasopharyngeal cultures were obtained from children, 0-10 years of age, seeking care at their Primary Health Care Centre with symptoms of respiratory tract infection. Parental questionnaires were used to retrieve information about the child's previous antibiotic consumption. Result: Cultures from 340 children were gathered. The level of resistant Haemophilus influenzae was low and the prevalence of penicillin non-susceptible pneumococci (PNSP MIC ≥ 0.125 mg/L) was 6% compared to 10% (p = 0.31) in corresponding cultures from children diagnosed at the local clinical microbiology laboratory. Antibiotic treatment within the previous 4 weeks predisposed for resistant bacteria in the nasopharynx, OR: 3.08, CI 95% (1.13-8.42). Conclusion: Low prevalence of PNSP supports the use of phenoxymethylpenicillin as empirical treatment for childhood upper respiratory tract infections attending primary care in our setting. It is important that studies on resistance are performed in primary care populations to evaluate data from microbiological laboratories. Recent antibiotic treatment increases risk of bacterial resistance in children and continuous work to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing should be prioritised.
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| 10. |
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