Respiratory tract infections: diagnosis and use of antibiotics by family physicians in north-eastern Poland

• Published in: International journal of antimicrobial agents Vol. 23; no. 5; pp. 446 - 450
• Main Authors: Chlabicz, Sławomir, Małgorzata-Ołtarzewska, Alicja, Pytel-Krolczuk, Barbara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 01.05.2004; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Ambulatory Care; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotic prescription; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchitis - drug therapy; Drug Utilization; Family physicians; Family Practice; Humans; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pharyngitis - drug therapy; Poland; Practice Patterns, Physicians; Respiratory tract infections; Respiratory Tract Infections - diagnosis; Respiratory Tract Infections - drug therapy; Sinusitis - drug therapy; Tonsillitis - drug therapy; Poland; Europe; Respiratory tract infections; Antibiotic prescription; Family physicians; Human; Respiratory disease; Attitude; General practitioner; Respiratory system infection; Respiratory tract; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Medical prescription; Professional practice; Diagnosis; Antibacterial agent
• ISSN: 0924-8579; 1872-7913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2003.10.009

The aim of our study was to describe the pattern of antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections. Forty-four family physicians from Białystok (north-eastern Poland) filled in questionnaires regarding 1315 patients with respiratory tract infections. Antibiotics were prescribed in 803 cases (61.1%). The four principle diagnoses associated with prescribing an antibiotic were: bacterial pharyngitis/tonsillitis, acute bronchitis, unspecified bacterial superinfection and acute sinusitis for which a total of 572 antibiotic treatments were given (71.2% of all antibiotic prescriptions). The study shows that Polish family physicians diagnose respiratory tract infections empirically and frequently prescribe wide-spectrum antibiotics. More information is required about the diagnostic value of certain clinical symptoms such as purulent sputum, duration of cough and indications for broad-spectrum antibiotic use.