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BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance is fueled by inappropriate use of antibiotics. Global and national strategies support rational use of antibiotics to retain treatment options and reduce resistance. In Germany, the ARena project (Sustainable reduction of antibiotic-induced antimicrobial resistance) intended to promote rational use of antibiotics for acute non-complicated infections by addressing network-affiliated physicians, primary care teams and patients through multiple interacting interventions. The present study documented patterns of antibiotic prescribing for patients with acute non-complicated infections who consulted a physician in these networks at the start of the ARena project. It explored variation across subgroups of patients and draws comparisons to prescribing patterns of non-targeted physicians. MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional analysis used mixed logistic regression models to explore factors associated with the primary outcome, which was the proportion of patients with acute non-complicated infections consulting primary care practices who received an antibiotic prescription. Secondary outcomes concerned the prescription of different types of antibiotics. Descriptive methods were used to summarize the data referring to targeted physicians in primary care networks, non-targeted physicians (reference groups), and patient subgroups. ResultsOverall, antibiotic prescription rates were 31.7% in reference groups and 32.0% in primary care networks. General practitioners prescribed antibiotics more frequently than other medical specialist groups (otolaryngologists vs. General practitioners OR=0.465 CI=[0.302; 0.719], p |
