Duration of antibiotic treatment for common infections in English primary care: cross sectional analysis and comparison with guidelines.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the duration of prescriptions for antibiotic treatment for common infections in English primary care and to compare this with guideline recommendations.

Design

Cross sectional study.

Setting

General practices contributing to The Health Improvement Network database, 2013-15.

Participants

931 015 consultations that resulted in an antibiotic prescription for one of several indications: acute sinusitis, acute sore throat, acute cough and bronchitis, pneumonia, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute otitis media, acute cystitis, acute prostatitis, pyelonephritis, cellulitis, impetigo, scarlet fever, and gastroenteritis.

Main outcome measures

The main outcomes were the percentage of antibiotic prescripti

SUBMITTER: Pouwels KB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6391655 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature