Dataset Information

Comparative Analysis of Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing in Early Life: A Population-Based Study Across Birth Cohorts in Denmark and Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Comparing antibiotic prescribing between countries can provide important insights into potential needs of improving antibiotic stewardship programs. We aimed to compare outpatient antibiotic prescribing in early life between children born in Denmark and Germany.

Methods

Using the Danish nationwide healthcare registries and a German claims database (GePaRD, ~ 20% population coverage), we included children born between 2004 and 2016, and followed them regarding outpatient antibiotic prescriptions until end of enrollment or the end of 2018. We then determined the median time to first antibiotic prescription. Based on all prescriptions in the first 2 years of life, we calculated the rate of antibiotic treatment episodes and for the children's first prescriptions in this period, we determined established quality indicators. All analyses were stratified by birth year and country.

Results

In the 2016 birth cohorts, the median time to first antibiotic prescription was ~ 21 months in Denmark and ~ 28 in Germany; the rate of antibiotic treatment episodes per 1000 person-years was 537 in Denmark and 433 in Germany; the percentage of prescribed antibiotics with higher concerns regarding side effects and/or resistance potential was 6.2% in Denmark and 44.2% in Germany. In the 2016 birth cohorts, the age at first antibiotic prescription was 50-59% higher compared to the 2004 birth cohorts; the rate of antibiotic treatment episodes was 43-44% lower.

Conclusions

Infants in Denmark received antibiotics markedly earlier and more frequently than in Germany, while quality indicators of antibiotic prescribing were more favorable in Denmark. Although both countries experienced positive changes towards more rational antibiotic prescribing in early life, our findings suggest potential for further improvement. This particularly applies to prescribing antibiotics with a lower potential for side effects and/or resistance in Germany.

SUBMITTER: Scholle O

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10904695 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Comparative Analysis of Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing in Early Life: A Population-Based Study Across Birth Cohorts in Denmark and Germany.

Scholle Oliver O Rasmussen Lotte L Reilev Mette M Viebrock Jost J Haug Ulrike U

Infectious diseases and therapy 20240123 2

<h4>Introduction</h4>Comparing antibiotic prescribing between countries can provide important insights into potential needs of improving antibiotic stewardship programs. We aimed to compare outpatient antibiotic prescribing in early life between children born in Denmark and Germany.<h4>Methods</h4>Using the Danish nationwide healthcare registries and a German claims database (GePaRD, ~ 20% population coverage), we included children born between 2004 and 2016, and followed them regarding outpatie ...[more]

PMID: 38261237

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Project description:ImportanceIn the US, 50% of all pediatric outpatient antibiotics prescribed are unnecessary or inappropriate. Less is known about the appropriateness of pediatric outpatient antibiotic prescribing.ObjectiveTo identify the overall percentage of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions that are optimal according to guideline recommendations for first-line antibiotic choice and duration.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional study obtained data on any clinical encounter for a patient younger than 20 years with at least 1 outpatient oral antibiotic, intramuscular ceftriaxone, or penicillin prescription filled in the state of Tennessee from January 1 to December 31, 2022, from IQVIA's Longitudinal Prescription Claims and Medical Claims databases. Each clinical encounter was assigned a single diagnosis corresponding to the lowest applicable tier in a 3-tier antibiotic tier system. Antibiotics prescribed for tier 1 (nearly always required) or tier 2 (sometimes required) diagnoses were compared with published national guidelines. Antibiotics prescribed for tier 3 (rarely ever required) diagnoses were considered to be suboptimal for both choice and duration.Main outcomes and measuresPrimary outcome was the percentage of optimal antibiotic prescriptions consistent with guideline recommendations for first-line antibiotic choice and duration. Secondary outcomes were the associations of optimal prescribing by diagnosis, suboptimal antibiotic choice, and patient- and clinician-level factors (ie, age and Social Vulnerability Index) with optimal antibiotic choice, which were measured by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs calculated using a multivariable logistic regression model.ResultsA total of 506 633 antibiotics were prescribed in 488 818 clinical encounters (for 247 843 females [50.7%]; mean [SD] age, 8.36 [5.5] years). Of these antibiotics, 21 055 (4.2%) were for tier 1 diagnoses, 288 044 (56.9%) for tier 2 diagnoses, and 197 660 (39.0%) for tier 3 diagnoses. Additionally, 194 906 antibiotics (38.5%) were optimal for antibiotic choice, 259 786 (51.3%) for duration, and 159 050 (31.4%) for both choice and duration. Acute otitis media (AOM) and pharyngitis were the most common indications, with 85 635 of 127 312 (67.3%) clinical encounters for AOM and 42 969 of 76 865 (55.9%) clinical encounters for pharyngitis being optimal for antibiotic choice. Only 257 of 4472 (5.7%) antibiotics prescribed for community-acquired pneumonia had a 5-day duration. Optimal antibiotic choice was more likely in patients who were younger (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.98-0.98) and were less socially vulnerable (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.82-0.86).Conclusions and relevanceThis cross-sectional study found that less than one-third of antibiotics prescribed to pediatric outpatients in Tennessee were optimal for choice and duration. Four stewardship interventions may be targeted: (1) reduce the number of prescriptions for tier 3 diagnoses, (2) increase optimal prescribing for AOM and pharyngitis, (3) provide clinician education on shorter antibiotic treatment courses for community-acquired pneumonia, and (4) promote optimal antibiotic prescribing in resource-limited settings.

Project description:ImportanceAcute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the syndrome for which antibiotics are most commonly prescribed; viruses for which antibiotics are ineffective cause most ARIs.ObjectivesTo characterize antibiotic prescribing among outpatients with ARI during influenza season and to identify targets for reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for common ARI diagnoses, including among outpatients with laboratory-confirmed influenza.Design, setting, and participantsCohort study enrolling outpatients aged 6 months or older with ARI evaluated at outpatient clinics associated with 5 US Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network sites during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 influenza seasons. All patients received influenza testing by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for research purposes only. Antibiotic prescriptions, medical history, and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes were collected from medical and pharmacy records, as were group A streptococcal (GAS) testing results in a patient subset.ExposureVisit for ARI, defined by a new cough of 7 days' duration or less.Main outcomes and measuresAntibiotic prescription within 7 days of enrollment. Appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing was based on diagnosis codes, clinical information, and influenza and GAS testing results.ResultsOf 14 987 patients with ARI (mean [SD] age, 32 [24] years; 8638 [58%] women; 11 892 [80%] white), 6136 (41%) were prescribed an antibiotic. Among these 6136 patients, 2522 (41%) had diagnoses for which antibiotics are not indicated; 2106 (84%) of these patients were diagnosed as having a viral upper respiratory tract infection or bronchitis (acute or not otherwise specified). Among the 3306 patients (22%) not diagnosed as having pneumonia and who had laboratory-confirmed influenza, 945 (29%) were prescribed an antibiotic, accounting for 17% of all antibiotic prescriptions among patients with nonpneumonia ARI. Among 1248 patients with pharyngitis, 1137 (91%) had GAS testing; 440 of the 1248 patients (35%) were prescribed antibiotics, among whom 168 (38%) had negative results on GAS testing. Of 1200 patients with sinusitis and no other indication for antibiotic treatment who received an antibiotic, 454 (38%) had symptoms for 3 days or less prior to the outpatient visit, suggesting acute viral sinusitis not requiring antibiotics.Conclusions and relevanceAntibiotic overuse remains widespread in the treatment of outpatient ARIs, including among patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza, although study sites may not be representative of other outpatient settings. Identified targets for improved outpatient antibiotic stewardship include eliminating antibiotic treatment of viral upper respiratory tract infections and bronchitis and improving adherence to prescribing guidelines for pharyngitis and sinusitis. Increased access to sensitive and timely virus diagnostic tests, particularly for influenza, may reduce unnecessary antibiotic use for these syndromes.

Dataset Information

Comparative Analysis of Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing in Early Life: A Population-Based Study Across Birth Cohorts in Denmark and Germany.

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Comparative Analysis of Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing in Early Life: A Population-Based Study Across Birth Cohorts in Denmark and Germany.

Similar Datasets

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