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Research article:

Antibiotic prescribing for common infections in UK general practice: variability and drivers

Reference:

Victoria Palin, Anna Mölter, Miguel Belmonte, Darren Ashcroft, Andrew White, William Welfare, Tjeerd van Staa(2018) Antibiotic prescribing for common infections in UK general practice: variability and drivers. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, doi:

Link to article
Abstract
Objectives: To examine variations across general practices and factors associated with antibiotic prescribing for common infections in UK primary care to identify potential targets for improvement and optimisation of prescribing. Methods: Oral antibiotics prescribing for common infections were analysed using anonymised UK primary care electronic health records between 2000 and 2015 using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). The rate of prescribing for each condition was observed over time and the correlation of prescribing between each condition estimated within a practice. Drivers of prescribing were estimated using logistic regression in a matched patient cohort (1:1 by age, sex and date). Results: Over 8 million patient records were examined in 587 general practices in the UK. Practices varied considerably in their propensity to prescribe antibiotics and this variance increased over time (except in cases of urinary tract infection (UTI)). Change points in prescribing did not reflect updates to national guidelines and prescribing for different infectious conditions varied within practices. A previous history of antibiotic use significantly increased the risk of receiving a subsequent antibiotic (by 22-48% for patients with ≥ 3 antibiotic prescriptions in the past 12 months), as did higher BMI, history of smoking and flu vaccinations. Other drivers for receiving an antibiotic varied considerably for each condition. Conclusions: Large variability in antibiotic prescribing between practices was observed. Prescribing guidelines alone do not positively influence a change in prescribing, suggesting more targeted interventions are required to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the UK.
Author for correspondence
Victoria Palin
Email for correspondence
victoria.palin@manchester.ac.uk

Code list: res70: Otitis externa

38 codes in list

Code Coding system Description Entity type List name
2D95.00 Read O/E - tympanic membrane red diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F500.00 Read Perichondritis of pinna diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F500000 Read Unspecified perichondritis of pinna diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F500100 Read Acute perichondritis of pinna diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F500200 Read Chronic pinna perichondritis diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F500211 Read Chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F500300 Read Chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F500z00 Read Perichondritis of pinna NOS diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501.00 Read Infective otitis externa diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501000 Read Unspecified infective otitis externa diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501100 Read Acute infective otitis externa diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501111 Read Abscess, external ear diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501112 Read Cellulitis, external ear diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501200 Read Acute infection of pinna diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501300 Read Acute swimmers' ear diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501400 Read Infective otitis externa due to erysipelas diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501411 Read Erysipelas - otitis externa diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501700 Read Infective otitis externa due to impetigo diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501711 Read Impetigo - otitis externa diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501900 Read Other acute external ear infections diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501E00 Read Other chronic infective otitis externa diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501F00 Read Chronic infective otitis externa NOS diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501G00 Read Haemorrhagic otitis externa diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501y00 Read Other specified infective otitis externa diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F501z00 Read Infective otitis externa NOS diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F502.00 Read Other otitis externa diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F502z00 Read Otitis externa NOS diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F502z11 Read Inflammation ear external diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F506.00 Read Abscess of external ear diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F586.00 Read Otorrhoea diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F586000 Read Unspecified otorrhoea diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F586011 Read Discharging ear NOS diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F586200 Read Otorrhagia diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F586z00 Read Otorrhoea NOS diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F587.00 Read Otalgia diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F587000 Read Unspecified otalgia diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F587.11 Read Ear pain diagnostic res70: Otitis externa
F587z00 Read Otalgia NOS diagnostic res70: Otitis externa

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