Dataset Information

Systemic antibiotic prescribing to paediatric outpatients in 5 European countries: a population-based cohort study.

ABSTRACT: To describe the utilisation of antibiotics in children and adolescents across 5 European countries based on the same drug utilisation measures and age groups. Special attention was given to age-group-specific distributions of antibiotic subgroups, since comparison in this regard between countries is lacking so far.Outpatient paediatric prescriptions of systemic antibiotics during the years 2005-2008 were analysed using health care databases from the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy and Germany. Annual antibiotic prescription rates per 1,000 person years were estimated for each database and stratified by age (?4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-18 years). Age-group-specific distributions of antibiotic subgroups were calculated for 2008.With 957 prescriptions per 1000 person years, the highest annual prescription rate in the year 2008 was found in the Italian region Emilia Romagna followed by Germany (561), the UK (555), Denmark (481) and the Netherlands (294). Seasonal peaks during winter months were most pronounced in countries with high utilisation. Age-group-specific use varied substantially between countries with regard to total prescribing and distributions of antibiotic subgroups. However, prescription rates were highest among children in the age group ?4 years in all countries, predominantly due to high use of broad spectrum penicillins.Strong increases of antibiotic prescriptions in winter months in high utilising countries most likely result from frequent antibiotic treatment of mostly viral infections. This and strong variations of overall and age-group-specific distributions of antibiotic subgroups across countries, suggests that antibiotics are inappropriately used to a large extent.

SUBMITTER: Holstiege J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4099488 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Systemic antibiotic prescribing to paediatric outpatients in 5 European countries: a population-based cohort study.

Holstiege Jakob J Schink Tania T Molokhia Mariam M Mazzaglia Giampiero G Innocenti Francesco F Oteri Alessandro A Bezemer Irene I Poluzzi Elisabetta E Puccini Aurora A Ulrichsen Sinna Pilgaard SP Sturkenboom Miriam C MC Trifirò Gianluca G Garbe Edeltraut E

BMC pediatrics 20140705

<h4>Background</h4>To describe the utilisation of antibiotics in children and adolescents across 5 European countries based on the same drug utilisation measures and age groups. Special attention was given to age-group-specific distributions of antibiotic subgroups, since comparison in this regard between countries is lacking so far.<h4>Methods</h4>Outpatient paediatric prescriptions of systemic antibiotics during the years 2005-2008 were analysed using health care databases from the UK, the Net ...[more]

PMID: 24997585

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Project description:BackgroundEvidence and guidelines do not support use of systemic steroids for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs), but such practice appears common. We aim to quantify such use and determine its predictors.Methods and findingsWe conducted a cohort study based on a large United States national commercial claims database, the IBM MarketScan, to identify patients aged 18-64 years with an ARTI diagnosis (acute bronchitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, otitis media, allergic rhinitis, influenza, pneumonia, and unspecified upper respiratory infections) recorded in ambulatory visits from 2007 to 2016. We excluded those with systemic steroid use in the prior year and an extensive list of steroid-indicated conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and various autoimmune diseases. We calculated the proportion receiving systemic steroids within 7 days of the ARTI diagnosis and determined its significant predictors. We identified 9,763,710 patients with an eligible ARTI encounter (mean age 39.6, female 56.0%) and found 11.8% were prescribed systemic steroids (46.1% parenteral, 47.3% oral, 6.6% both). All ARTI diagnoses but influenza predicted receiving systemic steroids. There was high geographical variability: the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of receiving parenteral steroids was 14.48 (95% confidence interval [CI] 14.23-14.72, p < 0.001) comparing southern versus northeastern US. The corresponding aOR was 1.68 (95% CI 1.66-1.69, p < 0.001) for oral steroids. Other positive predictors for prescribing included emergency department (ED) or urgent care settings (versus regular office), otolaryngologist/ED doctors (versus primary care), fewer comorbidities, and older patient age. There was an increasing trend from 2007 to 2016 (aOR 1.93 [95% CI 1.91-1.95] comparing 2016 to 2007, p < 0.001). Our findings are based on patients between 18 and 64 years old with commercial medical insurance and may not be generalizable to older or uninsured populations.ConclusionsIn this study, we found that systemic steroid use in ARTI is common with a great geographical variability. These findings call for an effective education program about this practice, which does not have a clear clinical net benefit.

Project description:BackgroundTo reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance, there is a pressing need for worldwide implementation of effective interventions to promote more prudent prescribing of antibiotics for acute LRTI. This study is a process analysis of the GRACE/INTRO trial of a multifactorial intervention that reduced antibiotic prescribing for acute LRTI in six European countries. The aim was to understand how the interventions were implemented and to examine effects of the interventions on general practitioners' (GPs') and patients' attitudes.MethodsGPs were cluster randomised to one of three intervention groups or a control group. The intervention groups received web-based training in either use of the C-reactive protein (CRP) test, communication skills and use of a patient booklet, or training in both. GP attitudes were measured before and after the intervention using constructs from the Theory of Planned Behaviour and a Website Satisfaction Questionnaire. Effects of the interventions on patients were assessed by a post-intervention questionnaire assessing patient enablement, satisfaction with the consultation, and beliefs about the risks and need for antibiotics.ResultsGPs in all countries and intervention groups had very positive perceptions of the intervention and the web-based training, and felt that taking part had helped them to reduce prescribing. All GPs perceived reducing prescribing as more important and less risky following the intervention, and GPs in the communication groups reported increased confidence to reduce prescribing. Patients in the communication groups who received the booklet reported the highest levels of enablement and satisfaction and had greater awareness that antibiotics could be unnecessary and harmful.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the interventions should be broadly acceptable to both GPs and patients, as well as feasible to roll out more widely across Europe. There are also some indications that they could help to engender changes in GP and patient attitudes that will be helpful in the longer-term, such as increased awareness of the potential disadvantages of antibiotics and increased confidence to manage LRTI without them. Given the positive effects of the booklet on patient beliefs and attitudes, it seems logical to extend the use of the patient booklet to all patients.

Project description:IntroductionAntibiotics are the most commonly prescribed drug class in children. Real-world data mining on the paediatric population showed potential associations between antibiotic use and acute liver injury.ObjectiveWe assessed risk estimates of liver injury associated with antibiotic use in children and adolescent outpatients.MethodsA large, multi-database, population-based, case-control study was performed in people <18 years of age from two European countries (Italy and The Netherlands) during the period 2000-2008. All potential cases of liver injury were automatically extracted from three databases and then manually validated based on Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) criteria and by exclusion of all competing causes for liver injury. Up to 100 control participants were sampled for each case and were matched on index date of the event, age, sex and database. Based on prescription data, antibiotic exposure was categorized as current, recent or past use by calculating the time period between the end of prescription and the index date. Multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses were applied to calculate odds ratios (ORs) as a measure of the association (with 95% confidence interval [CI]).ResultsWe identified 938 cases of liver injury and matched to 93,665 controls. Current use of overall antibiotics is associated with a threefold increased risk of liver injury compared with past use (adjusted OR [ORadj] 3.22, 95% CI 2.57-4.03). With regard to individual antibiotics, the risk is significantly increased for current use of each antibiotic (p < 0.005), except for azithromycin. Risk estimates vary from the lowest ORadj of 1.86 (95% CI 1.08-3.21) for amoxicillin to the highest ORadj of 24.16 (95% CI 11.78-49.54) for cotrimoxazole (i.e. sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim) and 26.70 (95% CI 12.09-58.96) for ceftriaxone. Sensitivity analyses confirm the associations for ceftriaxone, cotrimoxazole, and clarithromycin.ConclusionAntibiotic-induced liver injury in children is heterogeneous across the use of individual antibiotics. When prescribing ceftriaxone, cotrimoxazole and clarithromycin in children, paediatricians should definitely be aware of their potential risk of liver injury, even if for short periods.

Project description:BackgroundInfections caused by antibiotic resistant pathogens are increasing, with antibiotic overuse a key contributing factor.ObjectiveThe CareTrack Kids (CTK) team assessed the care of children in Australia aged 0-15 years in 2012 and 2013 to determine the proportion of care in line with clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for 17 common conditions. This study analyses indicators relating to paediatric antibiotic overuse to identify those which should be prioritised by antimicrobial stewardship and clinical improvement programs.MethodA systematic search was undertaken for national and international CPGs relevant to 17 target conditions for Australian paediatric care in 2012-2013. Recommendations were screened and ratified by reviewers. The sampling frame comprised three states containing 60% of the Australian paediatric population (South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland). Multi-stage cluster sampling was used to select general practices, specialist paediatric practices, emergency departments and hospital inpatient services, and medical records within these. Medical records were reviewed by experienced paediatric nurses, trained to assess eligibility for indicator assessment and compliance with indicators. Adherence rates were estimated.ResultsTen antibiotic overuse indicators were identified; three for tonsillitis and one each for seven other conditions. A total of 2621 children were assessed. Estimated adherence for indicators ranged from 13.8 to 99.5% while the overall estimate of compliance was 61.9% (95% CI: 47.8-74.7). Conditions with high levels of appropriate avoidance of antibiotics were gastroenteritis and atopic eczema without signs of infection, bronchiolitis and croup. Indicators with less than 50% adherence were asthma exacerbation in children aged > 2 years (47.1%; 95% CI: 33.4-61.1), sore throat with no other signs of tonsillitis (40.9%; 95% CI: 16.9, 68.6), acute otitis media in children aged > 12 months who were mildly unwell (13.8%; 95% CI: 5.1, 28.0), and sore throat and associated cough in children aged < 4 years (14.3%; 95% CI: 9.9, 19.7).ConclusionThe results of this study identify four candidate indicators (two for tonsillitis, one for otitis media and one for asthma) for monitoring by antibiotic stewardship and clinical improvement programs in ambulatory and hospital paediatric care, and intervention if needed.

Dataset Information

Systemic antibiotic prescribing to paediatric outpatients in 5 European countries: a population-based cohort study.

Publications

Systemic antibiotic prescribing to paediatric outpatients in 5 European countries: a population-based cohort study.

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