Contracted doctors continue to prescribe significantly fewer antibiotics
03.04.2023 16:09
In 2021, only two million of a total of 18.5 million infection patients with the corresponding prescription. Only six percent of children and adolescents with upper respiratory tract infections receive an antibiotic
For more serious bacterial infections, antibiotics are an indispensable part of therapy. However, their effectiveness is threatened by the increasing spread of antibiotic resistance. In recent years, increased attention has therefore been paid to consistently reducing the use of antibiotics through targeted use. For the outpatient sector, infections of the upper respiratory tract are particularly important, as a particularly large number of insured people are affected by this.
Significant change in mentality among the population
While in 2014 around five million of the approximately 17 million patients with an upper respiratory tract infection were prescribed an antibiotic, in 2021 there were only two million patients - with almost 18.5 million patients with a corresponding diagnosis. In addition to the stricter indication, a clear change in mentality can also be observed in the population. The changed approach is particularly clear in the area of child and adolescent medicine. In 2021, only six percent of children and adolescents with an upper respiratory tract infection received an antibiotic. These are the central results of a current evaluation of statutory medical prescription data for the years 2014 to 2021, which the Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance (Zi) published today.
“The decision to administer an antibiotic must be based on a strict assessment of the benefits of treatment and possible harm caused by adverse drug reactions. Prescriptions that are not indicated carry the risk of potential harm to patients and, at the same time, possibly little benefit from the antibiotic. The aim is therefore to always prescribe as few antibiotics as possible, but still as much as necessary. Doctors in private practice now follow this guiding principle comprehensively,” said Zi CEO Dr. Dominik von Stillfried.
Significant contribution to preventing antibiotic resistance
By prescribing more and more defensively, the contracted doctors made a significant contribution to preventing antibiotic resistance, von Stillfried continued: “In particular, the significant decline in antibiotic use in the children and adolescent age segment marks a profound change in pediatric care. The significant decline reflects the fact that doctors are now weighing things up even more carefully and patients are also more critical. This is certainly supported by numerous initiatives, such as the RESIST and Arena projects supported by the Innovation Fund.”