Guideline Adherence in Antibiotic Prescribing to Patients with Respiratory Diseases in Primary Care: Prevalence and Practice Variation

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) account for a large part of antibiotic prescriptions in primary care. However, guidelines advise restrictive antibiotic prescribing for RTIs. Only in certain circumstances, depending on, e.g., comorbidity, are antibiotics indicated. Most studies on guideline adherence do not account for this. We aimed to assess guideline adherence for antibiotic prescribing for RTIs as well as its variation between general practices (GPs), accounting for patient characteristics. We used data from electronic health records of GPs in the Netherlands. We selected patients who consulted their GP for acute cough, rhinitis, rhinosinusitis or sore throat in 2014. For each disease episode we assessed whether, according to the GP guideline, there was an indication for antibiotics, using the patient’s sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidity and co-medication. We assessed antibiotic prescribing for episodes with no or an unsure indication according to the guidelines. We analysed 248,896 episodes. Diagnoses with high rates of antibiotic prescribing when there was no indication include acute tonsillitis (57%), strep throat (56%), acute bronchitis (51%) and acute sinusitis (48%). Prescribing rates vary greatly between diagnoses and practices. Reduction of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing remains a key target to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Insight into reasons for guideline non-adherence may guide successful implementation of the variety of interventions already available for GPs and patients.

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Use of antibiotics and asthma medication for acute lower respiratory tract infections in people with and without asthma: retrospective cohort study

Respiratory Research ◽

10.1186/s12931-019-1233-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rachel Denholm ◽

Esther T. van der Werf ◽

Alastair D. Hay

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Lower Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Practice Variation ◽

Asthma Medication ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Asthma Status ◽

Tract Infections

Abstract Background Antibiotics are overused in patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs), but less is known about their use in patients with asthma, or the use of asthma medication for ALRTI in patients without asthma. Our aim was to describe the frequency, variation and drivers in antibiotic and asthma medication prescribing for ALRTI in adults with and without asthma in primary care. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis of patients aged ≥12 years, diagnosed with an ALRTI in primary care in 2014–15 was conducted using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Current asthma status, asthma medication and oral antibiotic use within 3 days of ALRTI infection was determined. Treatment frequency was calculated by asthma status. Mixed-effect regression models were used to explore between-practice variation and treatment determinants. Results There were 127,976 ALRTIs reported among 110,418 patients during the study period, of whom 17,952 (16%) had asthma. Respectively, 81 and 79% of patients with and without asthma received antibiotics, and 41 and 15% asthma medication. There were significant differences in between-practice prescribing for all treatments, with greatest differences seen for oral steroids (odds ratio (OR) 18; 95% CI 7–82 and OR = 94; 33–363, with and without asthma) and asthma medication only (OR 7; 4–18 and OR = 17; 10–33, with and without asthma). Independent predictors of antibiotic prescribing among patients with asthma included fewer previous ALRTI presentations (≥2 vs. 0 previous ALRTI: OR = 0.25; 0.16–0.39), higher practice (OR = 1.47; 1.35–1.60 per SD) and prior antibiotic prescribing (3+ vs. 1 prescriptions OR = 1.28; 1.04–1.57) and concurrent asthma medication (OR = 1.44; 1.32–1.57). Independent predictors of asthma medication in patients without asthma included higher prior asthma medication prescribing (≥7 vs. 0 prescriptions OR = 2.31; 1.83–2.91) and concurrent antibiotic prescribing (OR = 3.59; 3.22–4.01). Conclusion Findings from the study indicate that antibiotics are over-used for ALRTI, irrespective of asthma status, and asthma medication is over-used in patients without asthma, with between-practice variation suggesting considerable clinical uncertainty. Further research is urgently needed to clarify the role of these medications for ALRTI.

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Change in the use of diagnostic tests in the management of lower respiratory tract infections: a register-based study in primary care

BJGP Open ◽

10.3399/bjgpopen20x101015 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. bjgpopen20X101015 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna B Moberg ◽

Olof Cronberg ◽

Magnus Falk ◽

Katarina Hedin

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Diagnostic Tests ◽

Lower Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Acute Bronchitis ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Tract Infections ◽

Over Time

BackgroundDifferentiating between pneumonia and acute bronchitis is often difficult in primary care. There is no consensus regarding clinical decision rules for pneumonia, and guidelines differ between countries. Use of diagnostic tests and change of management over time is not known.AimTo calculate the proportion of diagnostic tests in the management of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in a low antibiotic prescribing country, and to evaluate if the use and prescription pattern has changed over time.Design & settingA register-based study on data from electronic health records from January 2006 to December 2014 in the Kronoberg county of south east Sweden.MethodData regarding use of C-reactive protein (CRP), chest x-rays (CXRs), microbiological tests, and antibiotic prescriptions were assessed for patients aged 18–79 years, with the diagnosis pneumonia, acute bronchitis, or cough.ResultsA total of 54 229 sickness episodes were analysed. Use of CRP increased during the study period from 61.3% to 77.5% for patients with pneumonia (P<0.001), and from 53.4% to 65.7% for patients with acute bronchitis (P<0.001). Use of CXR increased for patients with acute bronchitis from 3.1% to 5.1% (P<0.001). Use of microbiological tests increased for patients with pneumonia, from 1.8% to 5.1% (P<0.001). The antibiotic prescription rate decreased from 18.6 to 8.2 per 1000 inhabitants per year for patients with acute bronchitis, but did not change for patients with pneumonia.ConclusionUse of CRP and microbiological tests in the diagnostics of LRTIs increased despite the fact that the incidence of pneumonia and acute bronchitis was stable.

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Protocol for an ‘efficient design’ cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate a complex intervention to improve antibiotic prescribing for CHIldren presenting to primary care with acute COugh and respiratory tract infection: the CHICO study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041769 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. e041769

Author(s):

Penny Seume ◽

Scott Bevan ◽

Grace Young ◽

Jenny Ingram ◽

Clare Clement ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Research Ethics ◽

Phase Iii ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Acute Cough ◽

Hospital Admission Rate ◽

Routinely Collected Data ◽

Patient Consent ◽

Tract Infections

IntroductionRespiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children are common and present major resource implications for primary care. Unnecessary use of antibiotics is associated with the development and proliferation of antimicrobial resistance. In 2016, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)-funded ‘TARGET’ programme developed a prognostic algorithm to identify children with acute cough and RTI at very low risk of 30-day hospitalisation and unlikely to need antibiotics. The intervention includes: (1) explicit elicitation of parental concerns, (2) the results of the prognostic algorithm accompanied by prescribing guidance and (3) provision of a printout for carers including safety netting advice. The CHIldren’s COugh feasibility study suggested differential recruitment of healthier patients in control practices. This phase III ‘efficiently designed’ trial uses routinely collected data at the practice level, thus avoiding individual patient consent. The aim is to assess whether embedding a multifaceted intervention into general practitioner (GP) practice Information Technology (IT) systems will result in reductions of antibiotic prescribing without impacting on hospital attendance for RTI.Methods and analysisThe coprimary outcomes are (1) practice rate of dispensed amoxicillin and macrolide antibiotics, (2) hospital admission rate for RTI using routinely collected data by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). Data will be collected for children aged 0–9 years registered at 310 practices (155 intervention, 155 usual care) over a 12-month period. Recruitment and randomisation of practices (using the Egton Medical Information Systems web data management system) is conducted via each CCG stratified for children registered and baseline dispensing rates of each practice. Secondary outcomes will explore intervention effect modifiers. Qualitative interviews will explore intervention usage. The economic evaluation will be limited to a between-arm comparison in a cost–consequence analysis.Ethics and disseminationResearch ethics approval was given by London-Camden and Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee (ref:18/LO/0345). This manuscript refers to protocol V.4.0. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.Trial registration numberISRCTN11405239.

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Antibiotic Use and Appropriateness in the Treatment of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Tunisian Primary Care and Emergency Departments (Barometer Study): a Multicenter Cross-sectional Observational Clinical Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1027359/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Khaoula Bel Haj Ali ◽

Adel Sekma ◽

Selma Messous ◽

Imen Trabelsi ◽

Jalel Ben Youssef ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Clinical Study ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Antibiotic Prescription ◽

Acute Bronchitis ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

History Of ◽

Tract Infections

Abstract BackgroundLittle is known about the pattern and appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions in patients with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs).Objective Describe the antibiotics used to treat ARTIs in Tunisian primary care offices and emergency departments (EDs), and assess the appropriateness of their use.MethodsIt was a multicenter cross-sectional observational clinical study conducted at 63 primary care offices and 6 EDS during a period of 8 months. Appropriateness of antibiotic prescription was evaluated by trained physicians using the medication appropriateness index (MAI). The MAI ratings generated a weighted score of 0 to 18 with higher scores indicating low appropriateness. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and national and institutional standards. The study was approved by the Ethics committee of Monastir Medical Faculty.ResultsFrom the 12880 patients screened we included 9886 patients. The mean age was 47.4, and 55.4% were men. The most frequent diagnosis of ARTI was were acute bronchitis (45.3%), COPD exacerbation (16.3%), tonsillitis (14.6%), rhinopharyngitis (12.2%) and sinusitis (11.5%). The most prescribed classes of antibiotics were penicillins (58.3%), fluoroquinolones (17.6%), and macrolides (16.9%). Antibiotic therapy was inappropriate in 75.5% of patients of whom 65.2% had bronchitis. 65% of patients had one or more antibiotic prescribing inappropriateness criteria as assessed by the MAI. The most frequently rated criteria were with expensiveness (75.8%) and indication (40%). Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and levofloxacin were the most inappropriately prescribed antibiotics. History of cardiac ischemia ([OR] 3.66; 95% [CI] 2.17-10.26; p<0.001), asthma ([OR] 3.29, 95% [CI] 1.77-6.13; p<0.001), diabetes ([OR] 2.09, 95% [CI] 1.54-2.97; p=0.003), history of COPD ([OR] 1.75, 95% [CI] 1.43-2.15; p<0.001) and age >65 years (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-1.58; p<0.001) were associated with a higher likelihood of inappropriate prescribing.ConclusionOur findings indicate a high inappropriate use of antibiotics in ARTIs treated in in primary care and EDs. This was mostly related to antibiotic prescription in acute bronchitis and overuse of expensive broad spectrum antibiotics. Future interventions to improve antibiotic prescribing in primary care and EDs is needed.Trial registrationthe trial is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov registry (NCT04482231)

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Evidence Based Practice in Using Antibiotics for Acute Tonsillitis in Primary Care Practice

PRILOZI ◽

10.1515/prilozi-2017-0023 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 63-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Valentina Risteska Nejashmikj ◽

Snezana Stojkovska ◽

Irena Kondova Topuzovska ◽

Katarina Stavrikj

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

General Practitioners ◽

Primary Care Practice ◽

Care Practice ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

National Guidelines ◽

Acute Tonsillitis ◽

First Choice ◽

Centor Score ◽

Tract Infections

Abstract The increased use of antibiotics for acute tonsillitis is a public health problem. 80% of the antibiotic prescriptions for acute tonsillitis are done in the Primary Care practice (PCP). The inappropriate use of the antibiotic causes bacterial resistance and treatment failure. Only patients with acute tonsillitis caused by Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GAS) have benefit of the antibiotic treatment, which is a predict cause in 5-20%. In order to assess the antibiotic prescribing for acute tonsillitis by the doctors in the PCP in Macedonia we use the data from the national project about antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections which was conducted in November 2014 during a period of 4 weeks as part of the E-quality program sponsored by the IPCRG. 86 general practitioners from Macedonia have participated. The group of 1768 patients, from 4 months to 88 years of age, with diagnosis of acute tonsillitis was analyzed. The antibiotic prescriptions according to the Centor score criteria were compared to the Cochran’s guidelines which are translated and recommended as national guidelines. 88.8% of the patients with acute tonsillitis were treated with antibiotics, of which 52.9% with Centor score 0 to 2 were treated inappropriate. The diagnosis is mostly made based on the clinical picture and the symptoms. Only (23.6%) of the patients were treated with antibiotics (Penicillin V and cephalexin) according to the guidelines. We concluded that there is a low adherence to the national guidelines. The clinical assessment is not accurate in determining the etiology. Also, there is a high nonadherence in prescribing the first choice of antibiotics. We emphasize the need to change the general practitioners’ prescription behavior according to the guidelines.

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Does diagnostic uncertainty increase antibiotic prescribing in primary care?

npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine ◽

10.1038/s41533-021-00229-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dan Wang ◽

Chaojie Liu ◽

Xinping Zhang ◽

Chenxi Liu

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Acute Tonsillitis ◽

Diagnostic Uncertainty ◽

Patient Tolerance ◽

Prescribing Behaviour ◽

Tolerance Of Uncertainty ◽

Tract Infections

AbstractThis study aimed to determine the association between factors relevant to diagnostic uncertainty and physicians’ antibiotic-prescribing behaviour in primary care. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 327 physicians that measured their diagnostic ability, perceived frequency of diagnostic uncertainty, tolerance, and perceived patient tolerance of uncertainty. Physician antibiotic-prescribing behaviours were assessed based on their prescriptions (n = 207,804) of three conditions: upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs, antibiotics not recommended), acute tonsillitis (cautious use of antibiotics), and pneumonia (antibiotics recommended). A two-level logistic regression model determined the association between diagnostic uncertainty factors and physician antibiotic prescribing. Physicians perceived a higher frequency of diagnostic uncertainty resulting in higher antibiotic use for URTIs and less antibiotic use for pneumonia. Higher antibiotic use for acute tonsillitis was related to a low tolerance of uncertainty of physicians and patients. This study suggests that reducing diagnostic uncertainty and improving physician and patient uncertainty management could reduce antibiotic use.

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Inappropriate Azithromycin Use in Nine Primary-Care Clinics Before and After Implementation of Provider Guidance in the EMR

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2020.869 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s292-s293

Author(s):

Alexandria May ◽

Allison Hester ◽

Kristi Quairoli ◽

Sheetal Kandiah

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

National Guidelines ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Primary Care Clinics ◽

Before And After ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Tract Infections

Background: According to the CDC Core Elements of Outpatient Stewardship, the first step in optimizing outpatient antibiotic use the identification of high-priority conditions in which antibiotics are commonly used inappropriately. Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial commonly used inappropriately in clinical practice for nonspecific upper respiratory infections (URIs). In 2017, a medication use evaluation at Grady Health System (GHS) revealed that 81.4% of outpatient azithromycin prescriptions were inappropriate. In an attempt to optimize outpatient azithromycin prescribing at GHS, a tool was designed to direct the prescriber toward evidence-based therapy; it was implemented in the electronic medical record (EMR) in January 2019. Objective: We evaluated the effect of this tool on the rate of inappropriate azithromycin prescribing, with the goal of identifying where interventions to improve prescribing are most needed and to measure progress. Methods: This retrospective chart review of adult patients prescribed oral azithromycin was conducted in 9 primary care clinics at GHS between February 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, to compare data with that already collected over a 6-month period in 2017 before implementation of the antibiotic prescribing guidance tool. The primary outcome of this study was the change in the rate of inappropriate azithromycin prescribing before and after guidance tool implementation. Appropriateness was based on GHS internal guidelines and national guidelines. Inappropriate prescriptions were classified as inappropriate indication, unnecessary prescription, excessive or insufficient treatment duration, and/or incorrect drug. Results: Of the 560 azithromycin prescriptions identified during the study period, 263 prescriptions were included in the analysis. Overall, 181 (68.8%) of azithromycin prescriptions were considered inappropriate, representing a 12.4% reduction in the primary composite outcome of inappropriate azithromycin prescriptions. Bronchitis and unspecified upper respiratory tract infections (URI) were the most common indications where azithromycin was considered inappropriate. Attending physicians prescribed more inappropriate azithromycin prescriptions (78.1%) than resident physicians (37.0%) or midlevel providers (37.0%). Also, 76% of azithromycin prescriptions from nonacademic clinics were considered inappropriate, compared with 46% from academic clinics. Conclusions: Implementation of a provider guidance tool in the EMR lead to a reduction in the percentage of inappropriate outpatient azithromycin prescriptions. Future targeted interventions and stewardship initiatives are needed to achieve the stewardship program’s goal of reducing inappropriate outpatient azithromycin prescriptions by 20% by 1 year after implementation.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

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Prevalence, aetiologies and prognosis of the symptom cough in primary care: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Family Practice ◽

10.1186/s12875-021-01501-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Milena Bergmann ◽

Jörg Haasenritter ◽

Dominik Beidatsch ◽

Sonja Schwarm ◽

Kaja Hörner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Primary Care ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Chronic Cough ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Current Guideline ◽

Acute Cough ◽

Reason For Encounter ◽

Tract Infections

Abstract Background Cough is a relevant reason for encounter in primary care. For evidence-based decision making, general practitioners need setting-specific knowledge about prevalences, pre-test probabilities, and prognosis. Accordingly, we performed a systematic review of symptom-evaluating studies evaluating cough as reason for encounter in primary care. Methods We conducted a search in MEDLINE and EMBASE. Eligibility criteria and methodological quality were assessed independently by two reviewers. We extracted data on prevalence, aetiologies and prognosis, and estimated the variation across studies. If justifiable in terms of heterogeneity, we performed a meta-analysis. Results We identified 21 eligible studies on prevalence, 12 on aetiology, and four on prognosis. Prevalence/incidence estimates were 3.8–4.2%/12.5% (Western primary care) and 10.3–13.8%/6.3–6.5% in Africa, Asia and South America. In Western countries the underlying diagnoses for acute cough or cough of all durations were respiratory tract infections (73–91.9%), influenza (6–15.2%), asthma (3.2–15%), laryngitis/tracheitis (3.6–9%), pneumonia (4.0–4.2%), COPD (0.5–3.3%), heart failure (0.3%), and suspected malignancy (0.2–1.8%). Median time for recovery was 9 to 11 days. Complete recovery was reported by 40.2- 67% of patients after two weeks, and by 79% after four weeks. About 21.1–35% of patients re-consulted; 0–1.3% of acute cough patients were hospitalized, none died. Evidence is missing concerning subacute and chronic cough. Conclusion Prevalences and incidences of cough are high and show regional variation. Acute cough, mainly caused by respiratory tract infections, is usually self-limiting (supporting a “wait-and-see” strategy). We have no setting-specific evidence to support current guideline recommendations concerning subacute or chronic cough in Western primary care. Our study presents epidemiological data under non non-pandemic conditions. It will be interesting to compare these data to future research results of the post-pandemic era.

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Pelargonium sidoides root extract for the treatment of acute cough due to lower respiratory tract infection in adults: a feasibility double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies ◽

10.1186/s12906-021-03206-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Merlin Willcox ◽

Catherine Simpson ◽

Sam Wilding ◽

Beth Stuart ◽

Dia Soilemezi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Randomised Trial ◽

Acute Bronchitis ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Root Extract ◽

Double Blind ◽

Double Blind Placebo ◽

Link Type ◽

Pelargonium Sidoides

Abstract Background Pelargonium sidoides DC (Geraniaceae) root extract, EPs®7630 or “Kaloba®”, is a widely used herbal remedy for respiratory infections, with some evidence of effectiveness for acute bronchitis. However, it is not yet widely recommended by medical professionals in the UK. There is a need to undertake appropriately designed randomised trials to test its use as an alternative to antibiotics. The aim was to assess the feasibility of conducting a double-blind randomised controlled trial of Pelargonium sidoides root extract for treatment of acute bronchitis in UK primary care, investigating intervention compliance, patient preference for dosage form and acceptability of patient diaries. Study design Feasibility double-blind randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial. Methods We aimed to recruit 160 patients with cough (≤ 21 days) caused by acute bronchitis from UK general practices. Practices were cluster-randomised to liquid or tablet preparations and patients were individually randomised to Kaloba® or placebo. We followed participants up for 28 days through self-reported patient diaries with telephone support and reviewed medical records at one month. Outcomes included recruitment, withdrawal, safety, reconsultation and symptom diary completion rates. We also assessed treatment adherence, antibiotic prescribing and consumption, mean symptom severity (at days 2–4 after randomisation) and time to symptom resolution. We interviewed 29 patients and 11 health professionals to identify barriers and facilitators to running such a randomised trial. Results Of 543 patients screened, 261 were eligible, of whom 134 (51%) were recruited and 103 (77%) returned a completed diary. Overall, 41% (41/100) of patients took antibiotics (Kaloba® liquid group: 48% [15/31]; placebo liquid group: 23% [6/26]; Kaloba® tablet group: 48% [9/21]; placebo tablet group: 50% [11/22]). Most patients adhered to the study medication (median 19 out of 21 doses taken in week 1, IQR 18–21 - all arms combined). There were no serious adverse events relating to treatment. Most patients interviewed found study recruitment to be straightforward, but some found the diary too complex. Conclusions It was feasible and acceptable to recruit patients from UK primary care to a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of herbal medicine (Kaloba®) for the treatment of acute bronchitis, with good retention and low data attrition. Trial registration HATRIC was registered on the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN17672884) on 16 August 2018, retrospectively registered. The record can be found at http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN17672884.

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Impact of antibiotics for children presenting to general practice with cough on adverse outcomes: secondary analysis from a multicentre prospective cohort study

British Journal of General Practice ◽

10.3399/bjgp18x698873 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 68 (675) ◽

pp. e682-e693 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Niamh M Redmond ◽

Sophie Turnbull ◽

Beth Stuart ◽

Hannah V Thornton ◽

Hannah Christensen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Linear Models ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Acute Cough

BackgroundClinicians commonly prescribe antibiotics to prevent major adverse outcomes in children presenting in primary care with cough and respiratory symptoms, despite limited meaningful evidence of impact on these outcomes.AimTo estimate the effect of children’s antibiotic prescribing on adverse outcomes within 30 days of initial consultation.Design and settingSecondary analysis of 8320 children in a multicentre prospective cohort study, aged 3 months to <16 years, presenting in primary care across England with acute cough and other respiratory symptoms.MethodBaseline clinical characteristics and antibiotic prescribing data were collected, and generalised linear models were used to estimate the effect of antibiotic prescribing on adverse outcomes within 30 days (subsequent hospitalisations and reconsultation for deterioration), controlling for clustering and clinicians’ propensity to prescribe antibiotics.ResultsSixty-five (0.8%) children were hospitalised and 350 (4%) reconsulted for deterioration. Clinicians prescribed immediate and delayed antibiotics to 2313 (28%) and 771 (9%), respectively. Compared with no antibiotics, there was no clear evidence that antibiotics reduced hospitalisations (immediate antibiotic risk ratio [RR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.47 to 1.45; delayed RR 0.70, 95% CI = 0.26 to 1.90, overall P = 0.44). There was evidence that delayed (rather than immediate) antibiotics reduced reconsultations for deterioration (immediate RR 0.82, 95% CI = 0.65 to 1.07; delayed RR 0.55, 95% CI = 0.34 to 0.88, overall P = 0.024).ConclusionMost children presenting with acute cough and respiratory symptoms in primary care are not at risk of hospitalisation, and antibiotics may not reduce the risk. If an antibiotic is considered, a delayed antibiotic prescription may be preferable as it is likely to reduce reconsultation for deterioration.

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