Antibiotic prescription practices for common infections and knowledge about antibiotic costs by private-practice pediatricians in Greece

作者：Maltezou H C^*; Katerelos P; Asimaki H; Roilides E; Theodoridou M

来源：Minerva Pediatrica, 2014, 66(3): 209-216.

• Anti-bacterial agents
• Infection
• Prescriptions
• Private practice
• Pediatrics

Aim. Greece is among the European countries with the highest antibiotic consumption in the community. We investigated the antibiotic prescription practices by private-practice paediatricians, using the 2007 national guidelines for antibiotic use as the gold standard.
Methods. A standardized questionnaire was distributed to 520 private-practice pediatricians. There were 6 scenarios about common infections.
Results. A total of 124 pediatricians participated (23.8% response rate). Compliance with the first recommended antibiotic was 48% for streptococcal pharyngitis, 30.6% for community-acquired pneumonia, 12.4% for urinary tract infection, 67.8% for bacterial skin infection, 48.8% for acute otitis media, and 18.2% for bacterial pneumonia. The highest variation in antibiotic prescription concerned the community-acquired pneumonia scenario (11 antibiotics, including 6 beyond the guidelines). The overall mean compliance rate with the first recommended antibiotic was 37.4%. The mean compliance rates were 49.2%, 36.4%, 35.8%, and 27.5% in the <40, 41-50, 51-60, and >60 years age groups, respectively (P value<0.001).
Conclusion. Five years after the first guidelines about antibiotic use were issued in Greece, a wide range of antibiotic prescription practices by private-practice pediatricians was discovered, with only one every three pediatricians complying fully with them.

• 出版日期2014-6