Publication
Title
Patient and prescriber determinants for the choice between amoxicillin and broader-spectrum antibiotics : a nationwide prescription-level analysis
Author
Abstract
Objectives Bacterial resistance to antibiotics, driven by antibiotic consumption, imposes a major threat to the effective treatment of bacterial infections. In addition to reducing the amount of antibiotics prescribed, avoiding broad-spectrum antibiotics could extend the lifetime of the current arsenal of antibiotic substances. Therefore, we documented prescriber and patient characteristics associated with the choice between amoxicillin and broader-spectrum alternatives (co-amoxiclav or moxifloxacin) in recent years in Belgium. Methods Complete reimbursement claims data (200209) for antibiotic prescriptions in outpatient care, including patient and prescriber characteristics, were collected for both young children (15 years) and the adult population (3060 years). A backwards selection procedure within generalized estimating equations retained the most relevant determinants. Results The age, gender and social category of the patient were found to be predictive of the extent to which amoxicillin was prescribed instead of the broader-spectrum alternatives, with female patients generally taking a higher proportion of amoxicillin than male patients. The age category of 4044-year-old prescribers exhibited a preference for broad-spectrum antibiotics compared with both younger and older age groups. Significant interactions between the region and the prescriber's qualification (general practitioner or paediatrician) on the choice of antibiotic for children were found. Conclusions Patient (age, gender and social category) and prescriber characteristics (age, gender, region and qualification) had an influence on whether amoxicillin or the alternative broad-spectrum antibiotics were prescribed. These findings should help policy makers to better target future campaigns to promote prudent prescribing of antibiotics.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy. - London, 1975, currens
Publication
London : 2013
ISSN
0305-7453 [print]
1460-2091 [online]
DOI
10.1093/JAC/DKT170
Volume/pages
68 :10 (2013) , p. 2383-2392
ISI
000326973500035
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Infectious disease models: wildlife ecology, ecological disturbance and transmission to humans.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 02.07.2013
Last edited 04.03.2024
To cite this reference