Publication
Title
Presentation, antibiotic management and associated outcome in Polish adults presenting with acute cough/LRTI
Author
Abstract
Objective. In-depth knowledge of existing practice is required to inform interventions aimed at antibiotic prescribing quality improvement. We set out to describe the presentation, antimicrobial management and associated outcome of adults presenting in general practice with acute cough/lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in Poland. Methods. Observational study of 301 adults with acute cough/LRTI. Clinicians completed a case report form (CRF) describing presentation, history and management and patients completed a symptom diary for up to 28 days after consultation. Results. Two hundred and twenty-one patients (with CRF and symptom diary completed) were analysed. The median duration of feeling unwell before presentation was 4 days. Clinicians recorded an average of eight symptoms for patients at presentation. Apart from cough, patients most commonly reported feeling generally unwell (91.9%), limitation of normal activities (80.5%), coryza (80.1%) and phlegm production (76.0%). Auscultation abnormalities were present in 55.0%. Overall, medicines were prescribed for 95.0%; 72.4% were prescribed antibiotics [mostly macrolides/lincosamides (38.8%) and amoxicillin/co-amoxiclav (36.3%)) with 11.3% advised to take antibiotics only if still necessary after a specified delay. Mucolytics were prescribed for 61.1%. Antibiotic prescription was strongly associated with a diagnosis of LRTI and the presence of auscultation abnormalities. The median duration of cough after presentation was 8 days. Conclusions. Antibiotics continue to be frequently prescribed for acute cough/LRTI in Poland, and the decision to prescribe was strongly associated with clinicians findings of abnormalities on auscultation and diagnosis of LRTI. Delayed prescribing was infrequent. Mucolytics were commonly prescribed despite evidence of no effect.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Family practice. - Oxford
Publication
Oxford : 2011
ISSN
0263-2136
DOI
10.1093/FAMPRA/CMR019
Volume/pages
28 :6 (2011) , p. 608-614
ISI
000297241800004
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 06.02.2012
Last edited 15.11.2022
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