A decade of outpatient antimicrobial use in older adults in Ontario: a descriptive study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Antimicrobials are frequently prescribed to community-dwelling older adults. Our aim was to examine the prevalence, quantity and indications of antimicrobial prescriptions to older residents of Ontario.

Methods

We conducted a population-based analysis of outpatient antimicrobial prescriptions to residents of Ontario aged 65 years or more from 2006 to 2015. Antimicrobial prescriptions, infectious disease diagnoses and prescriber information were determined from linked health care databases. Our analyses were primarily focused on antibiotics, which account for most antimicrobial use.

Results

We identified 2 879 779 unique Ontario residents aged 65 years or more over our study period. On average, 40.7% (range 40.1%-41.5%) of older adult outpatients in any give

SUBMITTER: Tan C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5741418 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature