[General practitioners' requests for advisory services to biologists regarding selective reporting of antibiotic...

This study aimed to assess the rate at which general practitioners (GPs) sought advice from biologists after selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) was introduced for enterobacterial urinary tract infections in adult women. This study also aimed to describe the characteristics and reasons for these requests, as well as the acceptability of selective reporting of AST. A prospective descriptive study was conducted as part of the ABC-MG trial in 2023-24. We collected data on the number of selective reporting of AST, requests for advices, and the reasons for these requests. A telephone questionnaire was administered to GPs who had requested advices. A total of 4,144 selective reporting of AST were performed for 537 GPs. The rate of requests for advice related to selective reporting of AST was 1.0%. Half of GPs were satisfied with the use of selective reporting of AST and praised its added-value in combating antibiotic resistance and limiting the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The main constraints were the need to contact a biologist for a full reporting of AST, delays in introducing antibiotic therapy, lack of clarity in selective reporting of AST, and unsuitable results in cases of suspected simple acute kidney infection. The implementation and use of selective reporting of AST are well accepted by GPs and result in a low rate of requests to biologists. These are promising tools for use in antibiotic management programs.