Prescription pattern analysis for antibiotics in working-age workers diagnosed with common cold

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health threat.
• Inappropriate antimicrobial use, especially for viral infections like the common cold, drives AMR.
• Limited baseline data exists on antibiotic prescribing for common colds in Japan prior to national AMR action plans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the patterns and predictors of inappropriate antibiotic use for the common cold among working-age individuals in Japan.
• To establish baseline data on antibiotic prescribing for common colds before the implementation of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of large-scale claims data from annual health check-ups.
• Inclusion of 18,659 working-age workers diagnosed with the common cold over at least five years.
• Logistic regression to identify factors associated with antibiotic prescription.

Main Results:

• Antibiotics were prescribed to 49.2% of patients diagnosed with the common cold.
• Predictive factors for antibiotic prescription included younger age, male sex, absence of chronic diseases, and diagnosis at small clinics (0-19 beds).
• Cephems were the most frequently prescribed antibiotic class.

Conclusions:

• Significant antibiotic prescribing for the common cold was observed in working-age populations in Japan.
• Targeted interventions, such as medical staff education and public awareness campaigns for specific demographics (younger, male, non-chronic disease patients) visiting smaller clinics, are needed.
• Addressing inappropriate antibiotic use is crucial for preventing the acceleration of antimicrobial resistance.