Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns and Appropriateness for Children in Primary Healthcare Settings in Beijing City, China, 2017–2019

(1) Background: Few studies have focused on antibiotic use and appropriateness in children in primary health institutions (PHIs). This study aimed to identify the patterns and appropriateness of antibiotic use for children in PHIs in Beijing, China. (2) Methods: Outpatient prescriptions of 327 PHIs from 2017 to 2019 for patients < 18 years old were collected. Prescriptions were described using quantity indicators. Antibiotics were categorized according to ATC classification J01 and Access, Watch, Reserve grouping. Appropriateness was reviewed by experts using three subtypes of irrational prescriptions (irregular, inappropriate, and abnormal). (3) Results: 20,618 prescriptions were collected in total. The antibiotic prescription rate (APR) was 15.1% (N = 3113). Among antibiotic prescriptions, J01FA Macrolides were the most used (N = 1068, 34.9%). The Watch group constituted 89.0% (N = 2818) of total antibiotic use. Bronchitis (N = 1059, 35.2%) was the most common diagnosis. A total of 292 instances of irrational antibiotic use were identified, with inappropriate prescriptions being the most prevalent subtype (N = 233, 79.8%). (4) Conclusion: Although APR for children in PHIs in Beijing was relatively low, the pattern of antibiotic use differed from other countries. Further studies are needed to optimize antibiotic use for children in PHIs under different levels of economic development.

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Antibiotic Use Among Hospitalized Children and Neonates in China: Results From Quarterly Point Prevalence Surveys in 2019

Frontiers in Pharmacology ◽

10.3389/fphar.2021.601561 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Chu-ning Wang ◽

Jianning Tong ◽

Bin Yi ◽

Benedikt D. Huttner ◽

Yibing Cheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Point Prevalence ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Hospitalized Children ◽

Prevalence Survey ◽

Common Diagnosis ◽

Tract Infections ◽

The Impact

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a significant clinical problem in pediatric practice in China. Surveillance of antibiotic use is one of the cornerstones to assess the quality of antibiotic use and plan and assess the impact of antibiotic stewardship interventions.Methods: We carried out quarterly point prevalence surveys referring to WHO Methodology of Point Prevalence Survey in 16 Chinese general and children’s hospitals in 2019 to assess antibiotic use in pediatric inpatients based on the WHO AWaRe metrics and to detect potential problem areas. Data were retrieved via the hospital information systems on the second Monday of March, June, September and December. Antibiotic prescribing patterns were analyzed across and within diagnostic conditions and ward types according to WHO AWaRe metrics and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification.Results: A total of 22,327 hospitalized children were sampled, of which 14,757 (66.1%) were prescribed ≥1 antibiotic. Among the 3,936 sampled neonates (≤1 month), 59.2% (n = 2,331) were prescribed ≥1 antibiotic. A high percentage of combination antibiotic therapy was observed in PICUs (78.5%), pediatric medical wards (68.1%) and surgical wards (65.2%). For hospitalized children prescribed ≥1 antibiotic, the most common diagnosis on admission were lower respiratory tract infections (43.2%, n = 6,379). WHO Watch group antibiotics accounted for 70.4% of prescriptions (n = 12,915). The most prescribed antibiotic ATC classes were third-generation cephalosporins (41.9%, n = 7,679), followed by penicillins/β-lactamase inhibitors (16.1%, n = 2,962), macrolides (12.1%, n = 2,214) and carbapenems (7.7%, n = 1,331).Conclusion: Based on these data, overuse of broad-spectrum Watch group antibiotics is common in Chinese pediatric inpatients. Specific interventions in the context of the national antimicrobial stewardship framework should aim to reduce the use of Watch antibiotics and routine surveillance of antibiotic use using WHO AWaRe metrics should be implemented.

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Informing the development of a standardised approach to measure antibiotic use in secondary care: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026792 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. e026792

Author(s):

Selina Patel ◽

Arnoupe Jhass ◽

Susan Hopkins ◽

Laura Shallcross

Keyword(s):

Secondary Care ◽

Scale Up ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Consumption ◽

Antibiotic Usage ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Primary Data ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Antibiotic Consumption Surveillance

IntroductionEcological and individual-level evidence indicates that there is an association between level of antibiotic exposure and the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. The Global Point Prevalence Survey in 2015 estimated that 34.4% of hospital inpatients globally received at least one antimicrobial. Antimicrobial stewardship to optimise antibiotic use in secondary care can reduce the high risk of patients acquiring and transmitting drug-resistant infections in this setting. However, differences in the availability of data on antibiotic use in this context make it difficult to develop a consensus of how to comparably monitor antibiotic prescribing patterns across secondary care. This review will aim to document and critically evaluate methods and measures to monitor antibiotic use in secondary care.Methods and analysisWe will search Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and websites of key organisations for published reports where an attempt to measure antibiotic usage among adult inpatients in high-income hospital settings has been made. Two independent reviewers will screen the studies for eligibility, extract data and assess the study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A description of the methods and measures used in antibiotic consumption surveillance will be presented. An adaptation of the Affordability, Practicability, Effectiveness, Acceptability, Side-effects Equity framework will be used to consider the practicality of implementing different approaches to measuring antibiotic usage in secondary care settings. A descriptive comparison of definitions and estimates of (in)appropriate antibiotic usage will also be carried out.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for this study as no primary data will be collected. The results will be published in relevant peer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant conferences or meetings where possible. This review will inform future approaches to scale up antibiotic consumption surveillance strategies to attempt to maximise impact through standardisation.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018103375

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Trends and patterns of antibiotic prescribing at orthopedic inpatient departments of two private-sector hospitals in Central India: A 10-year observational study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0245902 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. e0245902

Author(s):

Kristina Skender ◽

Vivek Singh ◽

Cecilia Stalsby-Lundborg ◽

Megha Sharma

Keyword(s):

Design Patterns ◽

Central India ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Essential Medicines ◽

World Health ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Defined Daily Doses

Background Frequent antibiotic prescribing in departments with high infection risk like orthopedics prominently contributes to the global increase of antibiotic resistance. However, few studies present antibiotic prescribing patterns and trends among orthopedic inpatients. Aim To compare and present the patterns and trends of antibiotic prescription over 10 years for orthopedic inpatients in a teaching (TH) and a non-teaching hospital (NTH) in Central India. Methods Data from orthopedic inpatients (TH-6446; NTH-4397) were collected using a prospective cross-sectional study design. Patterns were compared based on the indications and corresponding antibiotic treatments, mean Defined Daily Doses (DDD)/1000 patient-days, adherence to the National List of Essential Medicines India (NLEMI) and the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines (WHOMLEM). Antibiotic prescriptions were analyzed separately for the operated and the non-operated inpatients. Linear regression was used to analyze the time trends of antibiotic prescribing; in total through DDD/1000 patient-days and by antibiotic groups. Results Third generation cephalosporins were the most prescribed antibiotic class (TH-39%; NTH-65%) and fractures were the most common indications (TH-48%; NTH-48%). Majority of the operated inpatients (TH-99%; NTH-97%) were prescribed pre-operative prophylactic antibiotics. The non-operated inpatients were also prescribed antibiotics (TH-40%; NTH-75%), although few of them had infectious diagnoses (TH-8%; NTH-14%). Adherence to the NLEMI was lower (TH-31%; NTH-34%) than adherence to the WHOMLEM (TH-65%; NTH-62%) in both hospitals. Mean DDD/1000 patient-days was 16 times higher in the TH (2658) compared to the NTH (162). Total antibiotic prescribing increased over 10 years (TH-β = 3.23; NTH-β = 1.02). Conclusion Substantial number of inpatients were prescribed antibiotics without clear infectious indications. Adherence to the NLEMI and the WHOMLEM was low in both hospitals. Antibiotic use increased in both hospitals over 10 years and was higher in the TH than in the NTH. The need for developing and implementing local antibiotic prescribing guidelines is emphasized.

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Interventions to Reduce Antibiotic Prescribing in LMICs: A Scoping Review of Evidence from Human and Animal Health Systems

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics8010002 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 2 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Annie Wilkinson ◽

Ayako Ebata ◽

Hayley MacGregor

Keyword(s):

Animal Health ◽

Drug Distribution ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

System Quality ◽

Middle Income ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Healthcare Settings

This review identifies evidence on supply-side interventions to change the practices of antibiotic prescribers and gatekeepers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A total of 102 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 70 studies evaluated interventions and 32 provided insight into prescribing contexts. All intervention studies were from human healthcare settings, none were from animal health. Only one context study examined antibiotic use in animal health. The evidence base is uneven, with the strongest evidence on knowledge and stewardship interventions. The review found that multiplex interventions that combine different strategies to influence behaviour tend to have a higher success rate than interventions based on single strategies. Evidence on prescribing contexts highlights interacting influences including health system quality, education, perceptions of patient demand, bureaucratic processes, profit, competition, and cultures of care. Most interventions took place within one health setting. Very few studies targeted interventions across different kinds of providers and settings. Interventions in hospitals were the most commonly evaluated. There is much less evidence on private and informal private providers who play a major role in drug distribution in LMICs. There were no interventions involving drug detailers or the pharmaceutical companies despite their prominent role in the contextual studies.

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Diagnose-Specific Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns at Otorhinolaryngology Inpatient Departments of Two Private Sector Healthcare Facilities in Central India: A Five-Year Observational Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16214074 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (21) ◽

pp. 4074

Author(s):

Elisabeth Silfwerbrand ◽

Sumeer Verma ◽

Cora Sjökvist ◽

Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg ◽

Megha Sharma

Keyword(s):

Private Sector ◽

Treatment Guidelines ◽

Inappropriate Prescribing ◽

Central India ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

World Health ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Prescription Data ◽

Suppurative Otitis Media ◽

Common Diagnosis

Antibiotics are over-prescribed in low-and-middle-income countries, where the infection rate is high. The global paucity of standard treatment guidelines and reliable diagnose-specific prescription data from high-infection risk departments such as the otorhinolaryngology (ENT: ears, nose and throat) is a barrier to rationalize antibiotic use and combat antibiotic resistance. The study was conducted to present diagnose-specific antibiotic prescribing patterns of five years at ENT inpatient departments of two private-sector Indian hospitals. Data of all consecutive inpatients (n = 3527) were collected but analyzed for the inpatients aged >15 years (n = 2909) using the World Health Organization’s methodologies. Patient records were divided into four diagnoses groups: surgical, non-surgical, chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), and others. Of 2909 inpatients, 51% had surgical diagnoses. An average of 83% of patients in the clean surgery group and more than 75% in the viral and non-infectious groups were prescribed antibiotics. CSOM was the most common diagnosis (31%), where 90% of inpatients were prescribed antibiotics. Overall, third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones were most commonly prescribed. This study highlights the inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics to patients of clean surgeries, viral infections, and non-infectious groups. The single-prophylactic dose of antibiotic for clean-contaminated surgeries was replaced by the prolonged empirical prescribing. The use of microbiology investigations was insignificant.

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966. A Closer Look at Antibiotic Prescribing for Upper Respiratory Illnesses (URI) in People with HIV Compared with People Without HIV

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz359.068 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S31-S31

Author(s):

Anum Abbas ◽

Mackenzie R Keintz ◽

Elizabeth Lyden ◽

Jihyun Ma ◽

Sara H Bares ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Private Insurance ◽

Primary Care Clinic ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Care Clinic ◽

Antibiotic Overuse ◽

Exact Test ◽

Icd 10

Abstract Background Antibiotic overuse is widespread, increasing healthcare cost and promoting antimicrobial resistance. People with HIV (PWH) who develop URIs may be assumed “higher risk,” compared with non-PWH, but comparative antibiotic use evaluations have not been performed. We evaluated antibiotic prescribing patterns for URI diagnoses (cough, sinusitis, bronchitis, and cold) in PWH and non-PWH. Methods This was an observational, single-center study comparing PWH and non-PWH diagnosed with URI (using ICD 10 codes for URI syndromes: cough, sinusitis, bronchitis, and cold) between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2018. Patients were empaneled in an outpatient primary care clinic or specialty care clinic in one healthcare system. Appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing was defined based on published guidelines. Fisher’s exact test compared categorical variables with antibiotic prescribing patterns. Each encounter was considered an independent event. Results The two groups (PWH and non-PWH) were similar, with 34% of subjects in both groups being female. PWH had median CD4+ count of 610 cells/mm3 with 91% on antiretrovirals and 77% with HIV RNA < 20 copies/mL. Overall, 37% of visits resulted in antibiotic prescriptions, 92% of which were inappropriate (discordant with guidelines). Antibiotics were prescribed slightly more frequently in non-PWH (40% vs. 33%, P = 0.056; Figure 1) and inappropriate more often in non-PWH (37% vs. 30%, P = 0.029). Over 20% of PWH antibiotic prescriptions were too long, and 22% of non-PWH received the wrong drug (Figure 2; P = 0.011). 47% of the non-PWH receiving antibiotics for URI had private insurance (compared with other payers; P < 0.0001) vs. 33% in PWH (P = 0.32) (Figure 3). Conclusion Outpatient antibiotic overuse remains prevalent among patients evaluated for URIs. This is the first study, to our knowledge, comparing antibiotic use for URIs in PWH compared with non-PWH. Counterintuitively, we found less-frequent inappropriate antibiotic use in PWH. We speculate that PWH are more likely to be evaluated by infectious disease/HIV specialists, possibly explaining the lower rate of antibiotic prescriptions for URIs in this population. Future analyses will evaluate the association between provider specialty and inappropriate antibiotic use. Disclosures All Authors: No reported Disclosures.

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Diarrhoea and preadmission antibiotic exposure in COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study of 1153 hospitalised patients

BMJ Open Gastroenterology ◽

10.1136/bmjgast-2020-000593 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. e000593

Author(s):

Bilal Akhter Mateen ◽

Sandip Samanta ◽

Sebastian Tullie ◽

Sarah O’Neill ◽

Zillah Cargill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mortality Risk ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Antibiotic Exposure ◽

Test Results ◽

Risk Of Mortality ◽

Hospitalised Patients ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Residual Confounding

ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to describe community antibiotic prescribing patterns in individuals hospitalised with COVID-19, and to determine the association between experiencing diarrhoea, stratified by preadmission exposure to antibiotics, and mortality risk in this cohort.Design/methodsRetrospective study of the index presentations of 1153 adult patients with COVID-19, admitted between 1 March 2020 and 29 June 2020 in a South London NHS Trust. Data on patients’ medical history (presence of diarrhoea, antibiotic use in the previous 14 days, comorbidities); demographics (age, ethnicity, and body mass index); and blood test results were extracted. Time to event modelling was used to determine the risk of mortality for patients with diarrhoea and/or exposure to antibiotics.Results19.2% of the cohort reported diarrhoea on presentation; these patients tended to be younger, and were less likely to have recent exposure to antibiotics (unadjusted OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.97). 19.1% of the cohort had a course of antibiotics in the 2 weeks preceding admission; this was associated with dementia (unadjusted OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.14 to 7.49). After adjusting for confounders, neither diarrhoea nor recent antibiotic exposure was associated with increased mortality risk. However, the absence of diarrhoea in the presence of recent antibiotic exposure was associated with a 30% increased risk of mortality.ConclusionCommunity antibiotic use in patients with COVID-19, prior to hospitalisation, is relatively common, and absence of diarrhoea in antibiotic-exposed patients may be associated with increased risk of mortality. However, it is unclear whether this represents a causal physiological relationship or residual confounding.

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A gut reaction

University of Western Ontario Medical Journal ◽

10.5206/uwomj.v85i1.4200 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 85 (1) ◽

pp. 5-7

Author(s):

Dalia Hasan ◽

Kristen Reilly

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Resistance ◽

Medical Literature ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Modern Medicine ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Antibiotic Overuse ◽

Obesity And Diabetes

The development of antibiotics is one of the greatest advances of modern medicine. While antibiotics have dramatically improved morbidity and mortality rates worldwide, current evidence asserts that one should err on the side of caution when prescribing antibiotics. The medical literature is accumulating studies on alarming consequences of inappropriate antibiotic use. Due to antibiotic overexposure, a North American “hypervirulant” strain of Clostridium difficile has emerged causing more severe gastrointestinal manifestations than previous strains. More recently, antibiotic overuse has been associated with obesity and diabetes mellitus. Unnecessary antibiotic use has led to increasing rates of bacterial resistance rendering more antibiotics ineffective. We are currently on the brink of an era which could reverse all the progress made with the introduction of antibiotics. The salient health consequences of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions and the threat of a postantibiotic era command attention to practical initiatives that improve antibiotic prescribing patterns.

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Antimicrobial use at the end of life: a scoping review

BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care ◽

10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002558 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. bmjspcare-2020-002558

Author(s):

Jack Fairweather ◽

Lesley Cooper ◽

Jacqueline Sneddon ◽

R Andrew Seaton

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Adverse Effects ◽

End Of Life ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Ovid Medline ◽

Tract Infections

ObjectiveTo examine antibiotic use in patients approaching end of life, in terms of frequency of prescription, aim of treatment, beneficial and adverse effects and contribution to the development of antimicrobial resistance.DesignScoping reviewData sourcesAn information scientist searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, The Cochrane library, PubMed Clinical Queries, NHS Evidence, Epistemonikos, SIGN, NICE, Google Scholar from inception to February 2019 for any study design including, but not limited to, randomised clinical trials, prospective interventional or observational studies, retrospective studies and qualitative studies. The search of Ovid MEDLINE was updated on the 10 June 2020.Study selectionStudies reporting antibiotic use in patients approaching end of life in any setting and clinicians’ attitudes and behaviour in relation to antibiotic prescribing in this populationData extractionTwo reviewers screened studies for eligibility; two reviewers extracted data from included studies. Data were analysed to describe antibiotic prescribing patterns across different patient populations, the benefits and adverse effects (for individual patients and wider society), the rationale for decision making and clinicians behaviours and attitudes to treatment with antibiotics in this patient group.ResultsEighty-eight studies were included. Definition of the end of life is highly variable as is use of antibiotics in patients approaching end of life. Prescribing decisions are influenced by patient age, primary diagnosis, care setting and therapy goals, although patients’ preferences are not always documented or adhered to. Urinary and lower respiratory tract infections are the most commonly reported indications with outcomes in terms of symptom control and survival variably reported. Small numbers of studies reported on adverse events and antimicrobial resistance. Clinicians sometimes feel uncomfortable discussing antibiotic treatment at end of life and would benefit from guidelines to direct care.ConclusionsUse of antibiotics in patients approaching the end of life is common although there is significant variation in practice. There are a myriad of intertwined biological, ethical, social, medicolegal and clinical issues associated with the topic.

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Medical and psychosocial factors associated with antibiotic prescribing in primary care: survey questionnaire and factor analysis

British Journal of General Practice ◽

10.3399/bjgp17x688885 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 67 (656) ◽

pp. e168-e177 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Tau-Hong Lee ◽

Joshua GX Wong ◽

David CB Lye ◽

Mark IC Chen ◽

Victor WK Loh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Factor Analysis ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Latent Factors ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Kap Survey

BackgroundAcute upper respiratory infections (AURI) are the leading causes of antibiotic prescribing in primary care although antibiotics are often not indicated.AimTo gain an understanding of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of GPs in Singapore and the associated latent factors to guide the implementation of an effective programme to reduce antibiotic use in primary care.Design and setting:An anonymous survey on the KAP of antibiotic use in AURI of GPs in Singapore.MethodKAP survey questionnaires were posted to all GPs from a database. To ascertain the latent factors affecting prescribing patterns, exploratory factor analysis was performed.ResultsAmong 427 responses, 351 (82.2%) were from GPs working in private practice. It was found that 58.4% of GPs in the private versus 72.4% of those in the public sector recognised that >80% of AURIs were caused by viruses (P = 0.02). The majority of GPs (353/427; 82.7%) felt that antibiotics were overprescribed in primary care. Significant factors associated with low antibiotic prescribing were good medical knowledge and clinical competency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.4 to 4.3), good clinical practice (aOR 2.7 [95% CI = 2.0 to 3.6]), availability of diagnostic tests (aOR 1.4 [95% CI = 1.1 to 1.8]), and desire to improve clinical practice (aOR 1.5 [95% CI = 1.2 to 1.9]). The conservative practice of giving antibiotics ‘to be on the safe side’ is significantly less likely to be associated with low antibiotic prescribing (aOR 0.7 [95% CI = 0.5 to 0.9]).ConclusionThis is the first KAP survey on antibiotic prescribing for AURI among GPs in Singapore. With the latent factors identified, future interventions should be directed at addressing these factors to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.

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