The role of evidence in the decline of antibiotic use for common respiratory infections in primary care.

Journal article

Antibiotic prescribing in primary care for common respiratory infections increased steadily until the mid 1990s, when the trend reversed noticeably. During the subsequent decade, antibiotic prescribing reduced by up to one-third in some countries. Explanations for this reduction have focused on a decline in the incidence and severity of common respiratory infections, and on the resulting decrease in the number of patients seeking consultation. We argue that evidence from primary-care research...

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Authors: Cosby, J; Francis, N; Butler, C

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Lancet. Infectious diseases
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 749-756
• Publication date: 2007-11-01
• DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(07)70263-3
• EISSN: 1474-4457
• ISSN: 1473-3099
• Language: English
• Keywords: Humans; Primary Health Care; Evidence-Based Medicine; Canada; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Role; Great Britain; Physician's Practice Patterns; United States; Respiratory Tract Infections