Prescription of Antibacterial Drugs for Treatment of Otitis Media and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in General Practice in Denmark

Abstract

In a multipractice study 577 general practitioners registered all patients to whom they prescribed antibacterial drugs. In all, 7 849 patients were registered. Of these, 40% were treated for upper respiratory tract infection or otitis media.

Seventy-seven per cent of all patients treated for otitis media were less than 15 years of age. Sexty-seven per cent treated for sinusitis, and 55% of all patients treated for tonsillitis acuta were between 15 and 45 years. Significantly more women than men were treated for sinusitis, while the same number of men and women were treated for otitis media and tonsillitis acuta.

Of all acid-stable and broad-spectrum penicillins prescribed in general practice, 63% and 47% respectively were used in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection or otitis media.

Acid-stable penicillins were prescribed for the majority of patients with otitis media and acute tonsillitis treated with antibacterial agents. By contrast, only 22% of patients with sinusitis were treated with phenoxymethyl-penicillin, while 36% of these patients were treated with azidocillin. Seventy-three per cent of all azidocillin prescribed in general practice was used in the treatment of patients with sinusitis.

77 % saumtlicher wegen Otitis mediaBehandelten waren noch nicht 15 Jahre alt. 67% der wegen Sinuitis und 55% der wegen Tonsillitis acuta Behandelten waren zwischen 15 und 45 Jahre alt. Auffallend mehr Frauen als Maunner wurden wegen Sinuitis behandelt, wauhrend gleich viele Maunner und Frauen wegen Otitis media bzw. Tonsillitis acuta behandelt wurden.