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Do specialists give special antibiotic treatment?
1Klinisk mikrobiologisk afdeling, Centralsygehuset i Slagelse.
Danish Medical Bulletin
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Danish specialists prescribed antibiotics infrequently, mainly for respiratory and skin infections. Their antibiotic use was limited, contributing minimally to ecological and economic concerns associated with antibiotic resistance.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Increasing antibiotic use poses ecological and economic challenges.
- Understanding prescription habits is crucial for intervention strategies in Denmark.
- Danish patients are referred to specialists by general practitioners for advanced care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate antibiotic prescription patterns among Danish specialists.
- To assess the volume and types of antibiotics prescribed by specialists.
- To compare specialist prescribing habits with those of general practitioners.
Main Methods:
- A one-week study in 1988 involving 180 (60%) Danish specialists.
- Registration of all antibiotic prescriptions issued by participating specialists.
- Analysis of prescribed daily dosages (PDD) and antibiotic classes used.
Main Results:
- Specialists treated an average of 3.2 patients with antibiotics weekly.
- Commonly treated infections included upper respiratory tract, skin, and gynecological conditions.
- Specialists used less penicillin but more erythromycin, tetracycline, or local antibiotics compared to general practitioners.
Conclusions:
- Danish specialists' antibiotic prescriptions were limited, accounting for approximately 10% of non-hospital use.
- Specialists' contribution to antibiotic-related ecological and economic problems in Denmark is considered limited.
- The study highlights specific antibiotic preferences among specialists.