Clinical indications for antibiotic prescribing in Danish general practice

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Rational antibiotic prescribing is crucial in general practice to combat antimicrobial resistance.
• An updated overview of antibiotic prescribing patterns in Denmark is needed to guide interventions.
• Understanding clinical indications for antibiotic use is key to optimizing prescribing practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical indications for antibiotic prescriptions in Danish general practice.
• To analyze the distribution of antibiotic prescriptions by indication, age, and gender.

Main Methods:

• A register-based study analyzed all antibiotic prescriptions issued in Danish general practice in 2023.
• Data were extracted from the 'Antibiotikastatistik' register.
• Descriptive statistics were used to analyze prescription distributions by indication, age, and gender.

Main Results:

• Nearly 2 million antibiotic prescriptions were issued in 2023.
• Respiratory tract infections (28.4%) and urinary tract infections (26.7%) were the most common indications.
• Over 23% of prescriptions had unspecific or missing indications; prophylactic use was common in elderly patients.

Conclusions:

• This study provides a comprehensive overview of antibiotic prescription indications in Danish general practice.
• Findings can inform the development of targeted antibiotic stewardship interventions.
• Addressing unspecific indications is essential for improving rational antibiotic use.