Barriers and facilitators to prudent antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections: A qualitative study with general practitioners in Malta

Background Antibiotic resistance is a leading global public health concern and antibiotic use is a key driver. Effective interventions are needed to target key stakeholders, including general practitioners (GPs). In Malta, little is known about factors that influence GPs’ antibiotic prescribing, making it challenging to implement targeted interventions. We therefore aimed to explore GPs’ understanding of antibiotic use and resistance, and describe their perceived barriers and facilitators to prudent antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections in Malta. Methods Face-to-face individual semi-structured interviews were held with a quota sample of 20 GPs in 2014. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim, and later analysed iteratively using manifest and latent content analysis. Findings were collated in a socioecological model to depict how GPs as individuals are embedded within larger social systems and contexts, and how each component within this system impacts their prescribing behaviour. Findings We found that GPs’ antibiotic prescribing decisions are complex and impacted by numerous barriers and facilitators at the individual, interpersonal, organisational, community, and public policy level. Predominant factors found to impact GPs’ antibiotic prescribing included not only intrinsic GP factors such as knowledge, awareness, experience, and misconceptions, but also several external factors. At the interpersonal level, GPs’ perceived patient demand and behaviour to be a persistent issue that impacts their prescribing decisions. Similarly, some GPs found pressure from drug reps to be concerning despite being considered an important source of information. Organisational and public policy-level issues such as lack of access to relevant antibiotic prescribing guidelines and current antibiotic resistance data from the community, were also considered major barriers to appropriate antibiotic prescribing. Utilisation of diagnostic testing was found to be low and GPs’ perceptions on the introduction of rapid point-of-care tests to support antibiotic prescription decisions, were mixed. Conclusion This study revealed the complexity of the antibiotic prescribing decision and the numerous barriers and facilitators that impact it, visualised through a socioecological model. Addressing GPs’ antibiotic prescribing practices will require targeted and coordinated implementation activities at all levels to change behaviour and address misconceptions, whilst also improving the physical and social environment. Trial registration number NCT03218930; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03218930.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of Parental Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Antibiotic Use in Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Turkey

10.21203/rs.3.rs-518954/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aslınur Albayrak ◽

Nazmi Mutlu Karakaş ◽

Bensu Karahalil

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Tract Infections

Abstract BackgroundUpper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common in children. Most URTIs have been shown to be of viral origin. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is one of the main causes of antibiotic resistance. The problem of unnecessary antibiotic use among children is a concern for antibiotic resistance in low- and middle-income developing countries.MethodsOur study is a cross-sectional survey study. It was carried out between 14 December 2020 and 1 April 2021 for parents over 18 years of age with a child under 18 years’ old who applied to the general pediatrics outpatient clinics of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Department of Pediatrics.Results554 parents responded to the questionnaire. A total of 15.7% of parents stated to use antibiotics in any child with fever. 37% of parents believed that antibiotics could cure infections caused by viruses. 6.3% of parents declared that they put pressure on pediatricians to prescribe antibiotics. 85.6% of the parents stated that they never gave their children non-prescription antibiotics when they had a high fever. 80.9% of them declared that they never used past antibiotics in the presence of a new infection. Female gender, high level of education, high income level and low number of antibiotics used in the last 1 year were found to be statistically significant with the better knowledge level of the parents (p <0.05).ConclusionAccording to the results of our study of parents' lack of knowledge about antibiotics in Turkey, though generally it shows proper attitude and behavior. It shows that some of the restrictions imposed by the National Action Plan are partially working. However, it is still necessary to continue to inform parents, pediatricians and pharmacists about the use of antibiotics, and to be more sensitive about the prescribing of antibiotics, and if necessary, sanctions should be imposed by the state in order to prevent unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of parental knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding antibiotic use in acute upper respiratory tract infections in children under 18 years of age: a cross-sectional study in Turkey

BMC Pediatrics ◽

10.1186/s12887-021-03020-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aslınur Albayrak ◽

Nazmi Mutlu Karakaş ◽

Bensu Karahalil

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Tract Infections

Abstract Background Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common in children. Antibiotics still continue to be prescribed although most URTIs are of viral origin. This is inappropriate use and this unnecessary administration contributes or may cause antibiotic resistance. The problem of unnecessary antibiotic use among children is a concern for antibiotic resistance in low- and middle-income developing countries. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of parents of children with upper respiratory tract infections regarding antibiotic use and their antibiotic administration practices in a tertiary care hospital in Turkey. Methods Our study is a cross-sectional survey study. It was carried out between 14 December 2020 and 1 April 2021 for parents over 18 years of age with a child under 18 years’ old who applied to the general pediatrics outpatient clinics of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Department of Pediatrics. Results Five hundred fifty-four parents responded to the questionnaire (93.2% rate of response). A total of 15.7% of parents stated to use antibiotics in any child with fever. 37% of parents believed that antibiotics could cure infections caused by viruses. 6.3% of parents declared that they put pressure on pediatricians to prescribe antibiotics. While 28% of the parents who thought that the use of inappropriate antibiotics would not change the effect and resistance of the treatment, 41% thought that new antibiotics could be developed continuously. 85.6% of the parents stated that they never gave their children non-prescription antibiotics when they had a high fever. 80.9% of them declared that they never used past antibiotics in the presence of a new infection. Conclusion According to the results of our study of parents’ lack of knowledge about antibiotics in Turkey, though generally it shows proper attitude and practices. It shows that some of the restrictions imposed by the National Action Plan are partially working. However, it is still necessary to continue to inform parents, pediatricians and pharmacists about the use of antibiotics, and to be more sensitive about the prescribing of antibiotics, and if necessary, sanctions should be imposed by the state in order to prevent unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.

Download Full-text

Inappropriate antibiotic use for respiratory infections in outpatient settings

Journal of Fatima Jinnah Medical University ◽

10.37018/dquy6587 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 67-71

Author(s):

Saman Omer ◽

Bushra Tayyaba Khan ◽

Omer Jalil ◽

Muhammad Waqar Aslam Khan ◽

Quratulain Mehdi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Prescribing Indicators ◽

Acute Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Prescribing Trends ◽

Tract Infections

Background: Overuse of antibiotics is a significant problem in low- and middle-income countries where recommended treatment guidelines are not routinely practiced, resulting in antimicrobial resistance. Acute respiratory tract infections, mostly viral in origin, remain the clinical category for most commonly prescribed antibiotics. Due to the lack of local evidence about antibiotic prescribing trends in such infections, this study was conducted to evaluate the prescribing patterns in general and antibiotic prescribing trends specifically in prescriptions with the diagnosis of acute respiratory infections in district Mirpur of Azad Kashmir. Patients and methods: A prospective cross-sectional study carried out in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, and outpatient departments of public health facilities in district Mirpur, Kashmir, from Aug to Oct 2020. Data were collected from 10 different public health facilities in District Mirpur, Kashmir including, three rural health centers (RHC) and five basic health units (BHU). Prescribing pattern analysis by objective observations of the prescriptions after patient-physician encounter against the World Health Organization defined core prescribing indicators. The appropriateness of antibiotic use was analyzed against clinical practice guidelines. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 was used for data analysis. Descriptive analysis was done to find frequencies and percentages for categorical data and means and standard deviation for continuous data. Results: Total number of prescriptions evaluated was 144. Number of prescriptions containing antibiotics was 118 (82%) (standard, 20 - 26.8%). Inappropriate use of antibiotics was seen in 78% of cases where no antibiotics were indicated. The average number of medicines per prescription was 3.11 (standard, 2.1), whereas 79% of medicines prescribed were from the national essential medicine list (standard, 100%). Only 2.5% (standard, 100%) of the medications were prescribed with generic names. Conclusion: This study shows an inappropriate and overuse of antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections, indicating a lack of adherence to core prescribing indicators and clinical guidelines by the physicians in outpatient clinics of Mirpur.

Download Full-text

1118. Trends of Paediatric Prescribing for Common Infections in British Columbia

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.982 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S397-S397

Author(s):

Ariana Saatchi ◽

David M Patrick ◽

James McCormack ◽

Andrew Morris ◽

Fawziah Marra

Keyword(s):

Urinary Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Urinary Tract Infections ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Pediatric Care ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Tract Infections

Abstract Background Antibiotic prescribing in pediatric care is highly prevalent, and quite often children are prescribed for conditions which are commonly self-limiting and viral in etiology. The purpose of this study was to examine the scope of pediatric antibiotic prescribing by indication, from 2013 to 2016, and identify potential new targets for provincial antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Methods Antibiotic prescription data for children were extracted from a provincial prescription database, and linked to physician billing data in order to obtain diagnostic information. Prescription rates were then calculated, and trends were examined by indication. Major categories included: upper respiratory tract infection, acute otitis media, lower respiratory tract, skin and soft tissue, and urinary tract infections. Results Our database included an average of 244,763 children per year, and 5,896,173 total antibiotic prescriptions. Increased indication-specific rates of prescribing were observed in children aged 0–2 years, for every category. Children aged 3–18 years experienced decreased prescribing across all indications, with the exception of urinary tract infections for those aged between 10–18 years. Urinary tract infections increased by 134% for children aged 0–2 years, and 75% for those aged 10–18 years, from 2013 to 2016. Although antibiotic use for upper respiratory tract infections decreased by 11% for all ages, these diagnoses continue to be prescribed for at rates 2 – 5 times higher than other conditions. Conclusion Although this study found a decrease in prescribing over time across all indications, antibiotic use continues to be a concern for upper respiratory tract infections in pediatric care. These diagnoses generally do not require antibiotics, and inappropriate prescribing is a major factor in antimicrobial resistance. The increased prescribing rates in the youngest age group (0–2 years) offers a new target for provincial stewardship efforts. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Download Full-text

A study of antibiotic prescribing: the experience of Lithuanian and Russian GPs

Open Medicine ◽

10.2478/s11536-012-0062-4 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 790-799 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lina Jaruseviciene ◽

Ruta Radzeviciene-Jurgute ◽

Jeffrey Lazarus ◽

Arnoldas Jurgutis ◽

Ingvar Ovhed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Tract Infections ◽

Decision Making Model ◽

Physician Patient

AbstractBackground. Globally, general practitioners (GPs) write more than 90% of all antibiotic prescriptions. This study examines the experiences of Lithuanian and Russian GPs in antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections, including their perceptions of when it is not indicated clinically or pharmacologically. Methods. 22 Lithuanian and 29 Russian GPs participated in five focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results. We identified four main thematic categories: patients’ faith in antibiotics as medication for upper respiratory tract infections; patient potential to influence a GP’s decision to prescribe antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections; impediments perceived by GPs in advocating clinically grounded antibiotic prescribing with their patients, and strategies applied in physician-patient negotiation about antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections. Conclusions. Understanding the nature of physician-patient interaction is critical to the effective pursuit of clinically grounded antibiotic use as this study undertaken in Lithuania and the Russian Federation has shown. Both physicians and patients must be targeted to ensure correct antibiotic use. Further, GPs should be supported in enhancing their communication skills about antibiotic use with their patients and encouraged to implement a shared decision-making model in their practices.

Download Full-text

Systematic Review of Factors Associated with Antibiotic Prescribing for Respiratory Tract Infections

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00209-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 60 (7) ◽

pp. 4106-4118 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Rachel McKay ◽

Allison Mah ◽

Michael R. Law ◽

Kimberlyn McGrail ◽

David M. Patrick

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Medical Subject Headings ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Tract Infections

ABSTRACTAntibiotic use is a modifiable driver of antibiotic resistance. In many circumstances, antibiotic use is overly broad or unnecessary. We systematically assessed factors associated with antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections (RTI). Studies were included if they used actual (not self-reported or intended) prescribing data, assessed factors associated with antibiotic prescribing for RTIs, and performed multivariable analysis of associations. We searched Medline, Embase, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts using keyword and MeSH (medical subject headings) search terms. Two authors reviewed each abstract and independently appraised all included texts. Data on factors affecting antibiotic prescribing were extracted. Our searches retrieved a total of 2,848 abstracts, with 97 included in full-text review and 28 meeting full inclusion criteria. Compared to other factors, diagnosis of acute bronchitis was associated with increased antibiotic prescribing (range of adjusted odds ratios [aOR], 1.56 to 15.9). Features on physical exam, such as fever, purulent sputum, abnormal respiratory exam, and tonsillar exudate, were also associated with higher odds of antibiotic prescribing. Patient desire for an antibiotic was not associated or was modestly associated with prescription (range of aORs, 0.61 to 9.87), in contrast to physician perception of patient desire for antibiotics, which showed a stronger association (range of aORs, 2.11 to 23.3). Physician's perception of patient desire for antibiotics was strongly associated with antibiotic prescribing. Antimicrobial stewardship programs should continue to expand in the outpatient setting and should emphasize clear and direct communication between patients and physicians, as well as signs and symptoms that do and do not predict bacterial etiology of upper respiratory tract infections.

Download Full-text

Selection and co-selection of antibiotic resistances among Escherichia coli by antibiotic use in primary care: an ecological analysis

10.1101/573360 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Koen B Pouwels ◽

Berit Muller-Pebody ◽

Timo Smieszek ◽

Susan Hopkins ◽

Julie V Robotham

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Primary Care ◽

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Urinary Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Urinary Tract Infections ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

E Coli ◽

Tract Infections

AbstractThe majority of studies that link antibiotic usage and resistance focus on simple associations between the resistance against a specific antibiotic and the use of that specific antibiotic. However, the relationship between antibiotic use and resistance is more complex. Here we evaluate which antibiotics, including those mainly prescribed for respiratory tract infections, are associated with increased resistance among Escherichia coli isolated from urinary samples.Monthly primary care prescribing data were obtained from National Health Service (NHS) Digital. Positive E. coli records from urine samples in English primary care (n=888,207) between April 2014 and January 2016 were obtained from the Second Generation Surveillance System. Elastic net regularization was used to evaluate associations between prescribing of different antibiotic groups and resistance against amoxicillin, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, co-amoxiclav and nitrofurantoin at the clinical commissioning group (CCG) level. England is divided into 209 CCGs, with each NHS practice prolonging to one CCG.Amoxicillin prescribing (measured in DDD/ 1000 inhabitants / day) was positively associated with amoxicillin (RR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 – 1.04) and ciprofloxacin (RR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04 – 1.17) resistance. In contrast, nitrofurantoin prescribing was associated with lower levels of resistance to amoxicillin (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84 – 0.97). CCGs with higher levels of trimethoprim prescribing also had higher levels of ciprofloxacin resistance (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.10 – 1.59).Amoxicillin, which is mainly (and often unnecessarily) prescribed for respiratory tract infections is associated with increased resistance against various antibiotics among E. coli causing urinary tract infections. Our findings suggest that when predicting the potential impact of interventions on antibiotic resistances it is important to account for use of other antibiotics, including those typically used for other indications.Author summaryAntibiotic resistance is increasingly recognised as a threat to modern healthcare. Effective antibiotics are crucial for treatment of serious bacterial infections and are necessary to avoid that complicated surgical procedures and chemotherapy becoming life-threatening. Antibiotic use is one of the main drivers of antibiotic resistance. The majority of antibiotic prescriptions are prescribed in primary care, however, a large proportion of these antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary. Understanding which antibiotics are causing antibiotic resistance to what extent is needed to prevent under- or over-investment in interventions lowering use of specific antibiotics, such as rapid diagnostic tests for respiratory tract infection.We have statistically evaluated which antibiotics are associated with higher and lower levels of antibiotic resistance against common antibiotics among Escherichia coli bacteria sampled from the urinary tract by comparing antibiotic prescribing and resistance in different geographical areas in England. Our model shows that amoxicillin, the most commonly used antibiotic in England and mainly used for respiratory tract infections, is associated with increased resistance against several other antibiotics among bacteria causing urinary tract infections. The methods used in this study, that overcome several of the limitations of previous studies, can be used to explore the complex relationships between antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in other settings.

Download Full-text

Variations in antibiotic use for respiratory tract infections

International Journal for Population Data Science ◽

10.23889/ijpds.v1i1.154 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rachel Mckay ◽

Michael Law ◽

Kimberlyn McGrail ◽

David Patrick

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Fee For Service ◽

Physician Visits ◽

Population Distributions ◽

Significant Public Health ◽

Tract Infections

ABSTRACT ObjectivesAntibiotic resistance is a significant public health issue, driven in large part by selection pressure induced by antibiotic use. Despite knowledge that a reduction in inappropriate antibiotic use is important, significant and sustained behaviour change has remained difficult to achieve. Previous studies have suggested that prescribing decisions vary with patient comorbidities and age, as well as the physician’s age, claim volume, specialty, and continuity of care with the particular patient. Regional level variation has also been reported. The goal of this study is to explore variations in antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) at the levels of patients, physicians, and regions. ApproachWe used data on fee-for-service physician visits from the universal Medical Services Plan (MSP) for all residents of British Columbia, Canada from 2002 to 2012. We identified a cohort of patient visits for RTI (ICD-9 codes 460-466, 480, or 487). We derived measures of healthcare use and comorbidities at the patient level, and measures of physician claim volume and frequency of respiratory tract infection management, at the level of the physician. We used data on antibiotics filled by individuals, the number of all medications filled by individuals each year, and counts of prescriptions written by physicians (and filled) by month, from the provincial drug insurance database. We linked antibiotic prescriptions to physician visits by patient and prescriber as antibiotics dispensed within 5 days after the RTI visit. We calculated measures of regional population distributions. We used data on meteorological temperature readings assigned to each region, for each day, and calculated 28-day moving averages. We linked data on patient demographics, physician demographics, and hospitalizations to our dataset. Our analysis will use hierarchical generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) with logit link to account for the clustering effects of patients among physicians and regions, to model the odds of an antibiotic prescription being dispensed. Measures of variation will be discussed. ResultsBetween April 1, 2005 and March 31, 2012, there were over 10.5 million visits by nearly 3 million individuals, served by over 8000 physicians in 88 regions. Antibiotics were prescribed in 37% of all visits. ConclusionThese are preliminary results, with full analytic results available in the coming months. These results will have implications for better understanding the extent of variations in antibiotic prescribing, and some of the drivers of these variations, as well as the potential to inform ongoing efforts to improve the appropriateness of antibiotic use.

Download Full-text