OBJECTIVES: To improve antimicrobial prescribing behaviour of general practitioners in large-scale out-of-hours services for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection (LUTI) in females aged 20-80 years, which is regarded as one of the most prevalent bacterial infections in primary care.
METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was used in two regional large-scale out-of-hours services. A simple, multifaceted intervention was offered in a 16 week period in one region (the intervention region). During the two washout periods, at 5 and 17 months, we observed diagnoses and prescriptions. The main outcome measure was the share of appropriate and inappropriate prescriptions.
RESULTS: The proportion of patients with LUTI ranged from 1.0% to 2.1%. The relative proportion of appropriate prescriptions in the intervention region increased from 26.9% to 69.4%, but decreased afterwards to 40.8%.
CONCLUSIONS: A simple, multifaceted intervention for treatment of LUTI during out-of-hours care may improve the quality of antimicrobial prescribing, although the improvement may not be sustained in the longer term.
Written by:
Willems L, Denckens P, Philips H, Henriquez R, Remmen R. Are you the author?
General Practice, Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wlrijk Antwerp, Belgium.
Reference: J Antimicrob Chemother. 2012 Aug 23. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1093/jac/dks336
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22923482
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