264Antibiotic use associated with acute gastroenteritis in Australian primary care. (2nd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Wen-Qiang; Kirk, Martyn; Hall, John; Liu, Bette
• Is Part Of: International journal of epidemiology. Volume 50(2021)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2021-09-02
• Subjects: Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyab168.272
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-5771

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Inappropriate antibiotic use is a global health concern as it increases antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are not routinely recommended for treating acute gastroenteritis, non-typhoidal salmonella and campylobacter infections. We investigated adherence to these recommendations in primary care. Methods: We used a large electronic database of primary care records to identify presentations for acute gastroenteritis, non-typhoidal salmonella and campylobacter infections and antibiotic prescribing from 1 st Jan 2013 to 31 December 2018. We estimated the proportions of cases prescribed antibiotics according to various characteristics and examined the antibiotics prescribed. Results: A total of 86998, 1106, and 1952 participants were identified with acute gastroenteritis, non-typhoidal salmonella, and campylobacter infections and correspondingly 10% (8720/86998), 40% (437/1106), and 57% (1118/1952) of these cases were prescribed antibiotics in the period up to 5 days post-diagnosis. Patients residing in outer regional/remote areas and those from Northern Territory and Queensland were more likely to be prescribed antibiotics than those residing in major cities and those from other states (p < =0.04). No dominant antibiotic class was prescribed for acute gastroenteritis. Quinolones (28.6%) and macrolides (27.0%) were the most frequently prescribed antibiotics for non-typhoidal salmonella, and macrolides (69%) were the predominant antibiotics prescribed for campylobacter. Conclusion: The high proportion of antibiotics dispensed in the general population with acute gastroenteritis, non-typhoidal salmonella and campylobacter infections suggests that antimicrobial stewardship needs to include better education and awareness around treatment guidelines for such infections. Key messages: Antibiotics use was common for Australian population with acute gastroenteritis, particularly those with non-typhoidal salmonella and campylobacter infections.