Antibiotic prescribing for adults with XXXX : congruence with guidelines.

@entity1 @entity115 @entity2177 @entity2886 @entity1729 @entity803 @entity166
European guidelines for treating @entity1729 ( @entity1729 ) aim to reduce nonevidence-based variation in prescribing, and better target and increase the use of first-line antibiotics. However, their application in primary care is unknown. We explored congruence of both antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic choice with European Respiratory Society (ERS)/European Society of Clinical Microbiology and @entity166 (ESCMID) guidelines for managing @entity1729 . The present study was an analysis of prospective observational data from @entity1 presenting to primary care with acute cough/ @entity1729 . Clinicians recorded symptoms on presentation, and their examination and management. @entity1 were followed up with self-complete diaries. 1,776 (52.7%) @entity1 were prescribed antibiotics. Given @entity1 ' clinical presentation, clinicians could have justified an antibiotic prescription for 1,915 (71.2%) @entity1 according to the ERS/ESCMID guidelines. 761 (42.8%) of those who were prescribed antibiotics received a first-choice antibiotic (i.e. @entity803 or @entity115 ). @entity2177 was prescribed for 37 (2.1%) and @entity2886 for 117 (6.6%). A lack of specificity in definitions in the ERS/ESCMID guidelines could have enabled clinicians to justify a higher rate of antibiotic prescription. More studies are needed to produce specific clinical definitions and indications for treatment. First-choice antibiotics were prescribed to the minority of @entity1 who received an antibiotic prescription.
