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Effect of antibiotic prescribing strategies and an information leaflet on longer-term re-consultation for acute lower respiratory tract infection

Effect of antibiotic prescribing strategies and an information leaflet on longer-term re-consultation for acute lower respiratory tract infection
Effect of antibiotic prescribing strategies and an information leaflet on longer-term re-consultation for acute lower respiratory tract infection
Aim: To assess the effects of antibiotic prescribing strategy on reconsultation in the year following presentation with acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI).

Design of study: Balanced factorial randomised trial.

Setting: Primary care.

Method: Eight hundred and seven subjects, aged ?3 years, had acute illness presenting with cough as the main symptom, plus at least one symptom or sign from sputum, chest pain, dyspnoea or wheeze. The subjects were randomised to one of three prescribing strategies (antibiotics, delayed antibiotic, no antibiotic) and a leaflet. Prior antibiotic use and reconsultation were assessed by medical record review.

Results: Patients who had been prescribed antibiotic for cough in the previous 2 years were much more likely to reconsult (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.62 to 4.01) and use of a delayed prescription strategy is associated with reduced reconsultation in this group. In those with prior antibiotic exposure, there was a 34% reduction in consultation rate in the no antibiotic group (IRR = 0.66, 0.30 to 1.44, P = 0.295) and a 78% reduction for the delayed antibiotic group (IRR = 0.22, 0.10 to 0.49, P<0.001) when compared with those given immediate antibiotics. This effect was not observed in patients who had not been prescribed antibiotics in the previous 2 years; there was no reduction in consultations in the no antibiotic group (IRR = 1.23, 0.79 to 1.92, P = 0.358) or the delayed antibiotic group (1.19, 0.78 to 1.80, P = 0.426). There was an increase in consultation rate with an information leaflet (IRR = 1.27, 0.86 to 1.87, P = 0.229). Past attendance with cough, or past attendance with other respiratory illness and smoking, also predicted reconsultation with cough.

Conclusion: Delayed antibiotic prescribing for LRTI appears effective in modifying reconsultation behaviour, particularly in those with a prior history of antibiotic prescription for LRTI.
anti-bacterial agents, primary health care, referral and consultation, respiratory tract infections
0960-1643
728-734
Moore, Michael
1be81dad-7120-45f0-bbed-f3b0cc0cfe99
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Rumsby, Kate
dd9f1fe4-f17b-4a93-9e28-17104eab5b38
Kelly, Jo
b7094829-aeb1-4bc1-b64c-7b7c716f73b5
Watson, Louise
8e5f1d7d-fd0c-4f9e-a0cd-b35abe80fcea
Warner, Greg
72005519-1aa0-42da-b370-7ebd99792539
Fahey, Tom
c0fd145a-af82-4c37-bce0-1c2e3e30c0f9
Williamson, Ian
12381296-edbf-4ac5-969b-dcb559c22f27
Moore, Michael
1be81dad-7120-45f0-bbed-f3b0cc0cfe99
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Rumsby, Kate
dd9f1fe4-f17b-4a93-9e28-17104eab5b38
Kelly, Jo
b7094829-aeb1-4bc1-b64c-7b7c716f73b5
Watson, Louise
8e5f1d7d-fd0c-4f9e-a0cd-b35abe80fcea
Warner, Greg
72005519-1aa0-42da-b370-7ebd99792539
Fahey, Tom
c0fd145a-af82-4c37-bce0-1c2e3e30c0f9
Williamson, Ian
12381296-edbf-4ac5-969b-dcb559c22f27

Moore, Michael, Little, Paul, Rumsby, Kate, Kelly, Jo, Watson, Louise, Warner, Greg, Fahey, Tom and Williamson, Ian (2009) Effect of antibiotic prescribing strategies and an information leaflet on longer-term re-consultation for acute lower respiratory tract infection. British Journal of General Practice, 59 (567), 728-734. (doi:10.3399/bjgp09X472601). (PMID:19843421)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Aim: To assess the effects of antibiotic prescribing strategy on reconsultation in the year following presentation with acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI).

Design of study: Balanced factorial randomised trial.

Setting: Primary care.

Method: Eight hundred and seven subjects, aged ?3 years, had acute illness presenting with cough as the main symptom, plus at least one symptom or sign from sputum, chest pain, dyspnoea or wheeze. The subjects were randomised to one of three prescribing strategies (antibiotics, delayed antibiotic, no antibiotic) and a leaflet. Prior antibiotic use and reconsultation were assessed by medical record review.

Results: Patients who had been prescribed antibiotic for cough in the previous 2 years were much more likely to reconsult (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.62 to 4.01) and use of a delayed prescription strategy is associated with reduced reconsultation in this group. In those with prior antibiotic exposure, there was a 34% reduction in consultation rate in the no antibiotic group (IRR = 0.66, 0.30 to 1.44, P = 0.295) and a 78% reduction for the delayed antibiotic group (IRR = 0.22, 0.10 to 0.49, P<0.001) when compared with those given immediate antibiotics. This effect was not observed in patients who had not been prescribed antibiotics in the previous 2 years; there was no reduction in consultations in the no antibiotic group (IRR = 1.23, 0.79 to 1.92, P = 0.358) or the delayed antibiotic group (1.19, 0.78 to 1.80, P = 0.426). There was an increase in consultation rate with an information leaflet (IRR = 1.27, 0.86 to 1.87, P = 0.229). Past attendance with cough, or past attendance with other respiratory illness and smoking, also predicted reconsultation with cough.

Conclusion: Delayed antibiotic prescribing for LRTI appears effective in modifying reconsultation behaviour, particularly in those with a prior history of antibiotic prescription for LRTI.

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More information

Published date: October 2009
Keywords: anti-bacterial agents, primary health care, referral and consultation, respiratory tract infections

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 72932
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/72932
ISSN: 0960-1643
PURE UUID: 1a8944a5-f767-4c57-93af-0ae24bf43730
ORCID for Michael Moore: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5127-4509
ORCID for Paul Little: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3664-1873

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Date deposited: 25 Feb 2010
Last modified: 11 Jul 2024 01:43

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Contributors

Author: Michael Moore ORCID iD
Author: Paul Little ORCID iD
Author: Kate Rumsby
Author: Jo Kelly
Author: Louise Watson
Author: Greg Warner
Author: Tom Fahey
Author: Ian Williamson

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